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How to Host a Rust Server on a VPS (2026)

Published May 4, 2026 · 6 min read · Galaxy Cloud Solutions

Rust is one of those games where owning the server changes the experience entirely — you control the wipe schedule, the map size, the rules, and who gets banned. A community server with the right settings keeps a regular playerbase in a way that official servers never do. Here is how to get one running.

⚡ Host a Rust server from $20/mo — Use code LAUNCH2026 for 50% off

What You Need

• VPS with at least 4GB RAM and 80GB disk (Rust server files plus map data)
• Ubuntu 24.04
• A free Steam Game Server Login Token from steamcommunity.com/dev/managegameservers (App ID: 258550)

Step 1: Install SteamCMD

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y lib32gcc-s1 curl screen
mkdir -p ~/steamcmd && cd ~/steamcmd
curl -sqL "https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_linux.tar.gz" | tar zxf -

Step 2: Download the Rust Server

mkdir -p ~/rust
~/steamcmd/steamcmd.sh +force_install_dir ~/rust +login anonymous +app_update 258550 validate +quit

Step 3: Create a Start Script

cat > ~/rust/start.sh << 'EOF'
#!/bin/bash
cd ~/rust
screen -dmS rust ./RustDedicated   -batchmode   +server.port 28015   +server.level "Procedural Map"   +server.seed 12345   +server.worldsize 3000   +server.maxplayers 50   +server.hostname "My Rust Server"   +server.description "A fresh Rust server"   +server.identity "myserver"   +server.globalchat true   +rcon.port 28016   +rcon.password "yourRconPassword"   +server.gamemode "vanilla"
EOF
chmod +x ~/rust/start.sh

Step 4: Get Your GSLT Token

Go to steamcommunity.com/dev/managegameservers, set App ID to 258550, and generate a token. Add it to your start script:

+server.gamemode "vanilla"   +server.steam.gslt "YOUR_TOKEN_HERE"

Step 5: Open Ports and Start

sudo ufw allow 28015/udp
sudo ufw allow 28015/tcp
sudo ufw allow 28016/tcp
~/rust/start.sh

Rust takes 5-10 minutes to generate the map on first start. Check progress with screen -r rust.

Wipe Schedule

Most Rust servers wipe on Facepunch's forced wipe schedule (first Thursday of the month) or run their own wipe cycle. To wipe your server, delete the map and player data files:

screen -S rust -X quit
rm ~/rust/server/myserver/proceduralmap.*.*.map
rm ~/rust/server/myserver/proceduralmap.*.*.sav*
~/rust/start.sh