Start your own Rust server in Windows

Whether you want to host a server locally for yourself or want to build something publically with port forwarding to allow players ourside your network to join we will cover it here.

SteamCMD

You will need to download SteamCMD to continue. Unzip the file and place it in a SteamCMD directory and run the executable, after prompted for your own commands with Steam> you can close because we will be building a batch(.bat) file for installing and updating your server installation directory executed.

You'll want to create a install directory for your Rust server; in this tutorial you'll have a RustServer folder at the Base of your C:\ drive.

SteamCMD update and install file

steamcmd ^
+force_install_dir C:\RustServer\ ^
+login anonymous ^
+app_update 258550 validate ^
+quit
pause

Starting your rust server

The easiest way to start a rust server is using an executable batch(.bat) file with all your configured startup settings, many of the here console variable (covars) can also be included in your server.cfg file.

Rust Server Start Batch File

echo off
: start
RustDedicated.exe ^
-batchmode ^
+server.port 28015 ^
+server.level "Procedural Map" ^
+server.seed 1234 ^
+server.worldsize 4000 ^
+server.maxplayers 10  ^
+server.hostname "Name of Server as Shown on the Client Server List" ^
+server.description "Description shown on server connection window." ^
+server.url "http://yourwebsite.com" ^
+server.headerimage "http://yourwebsite.com/serverimage.jpg" ^
+server.identity "server" ^
+rcon.port 28016 ^
+rcon.password letmein ^
+rcon.web 1
+app.port 28082
-queryport 28017
goto start