Installing Oxide/uMod Plugins on Your Rust Server

Oxide (also known as uMod) is the most popular modding framework for Rust servers. It enables thousands of community-created plugins that add features ranging from quality-of-life improvements to entirely new gameplay systems. This guide covers installing Oxide and managing plugins on your Witchly.host Rust server.

What Is Oxide/uMod?

Oxide is an open-source modding framework that runs alongside the Rust server. It provides:

A plugin loading system that supports C# plugins
Permission management for controlling player access to plugin features
Configuration file generation for each plugin
Data storage for plugin-persistent data
Hook system that lets plugins interact with game events

When Oxide is installed, your server moves from the Community tab to the Modded tab in the Rust server browser.

Installing Oxide

To install Oxide on your Witchly.host Rust server:

Log in to Dashboard and select your Rust server
Stop your server
Navigate to the Startup tab
Look for the Oxide or Mod Framework option
Enable Oxide/uMod
Start your server — Oxide will be downloaded and installed automatically

After the server starts, you should see Oxide-related messages in the console confirming it loaded successfully. An oxide directory will be created in your server files containing plugins, config, data, and logs folders.

Installing Plugins

Finding plugins:

The primary source for Rust plugins is uMod.org. Browse by category or search for specific functionality. Each plugin page includes:

Description and features
Installation instructions
Configuration options
Required permissions
Compatibility information

Installing a plugin:

Download the plugin .cs file from uMod.org
Go to your server in Dashboard
Navigate to the Files tab
Open the oxide/plugins/ directory
Click Upload and select the downloaded .cs file
The plugin will compile and load automatically — check the console for confirmation

You do not need to restart your server to load new plugins. Oxide detects new files in the plugins directory and compiles them automatically.

Installing via SFTP:

For bulk plugin installations, use SFTP (port 2022):

Connect with your SFTP client (see our SFTP guide)
Navigate to oxide/plugins/
Upload your .cs plugin files
Oxide will auto-detect and load them

Popular Plugins

Here are some of the most popular and useful Rust plugins:

Gather Manager

Adjusts resource gathering rates (2x, 3x, 5x, etc.)
Configure rates per resource type
Essential for modded servers

Clans

Adds a clan system with tags, invites, and management
Integrates with chat and other plugins
Great for community-focused servers

Kits

Create starter kits and VIP kits for players
Set cooldowns and permissions per kit
Customize items, amounts, and conditions

StackSize Controller (StackSize)

Modify how many items can stack in a single inventory slot
Reduce inventory management tedium
Configure per-item stack sizes

ZoneManager

Create custom zones with specific rules (no PvP, no building, etc.)
Essential for safe zones, event areas, and spawn protection
Works with many other plugins for zone-specific behavior

NTeleportation

Adds teleportation commands: /home, /tpr, /town
Set homes, teleport to other players, and create warp points
Configurable cooldowns and limits per permission group

Better Chat

Customize chat formatting with colors, titles, and groups
Display ranks and roles in chat
Supports multiple chat groups and priorities

Auto Door Closer

Automatically closes doors after a configurable delay
Improves base security for players who forget to close doors

Configuring Plugins

Most plugins generate a configuration file on first load:

After a plugin loads, check oxide/config/ for a file matching the plugin name (e.g., GatherManager.json)
Open the file through the Files tab or SFTP
Modify settings as needed
Save the file
Reload the plugin from the console: oxide.reload PluginName

Example — GatherManager configuration:

{
  "Options": {
    "DisableResourceDispenser": false,
    "GatherMultiplier": {
      "Wood": 2.0,
      "Stones": 2.0,
      "Metal Ore": 2.0,
      "Sulfur Ore": 2.0,
      "HQM Ore": 2.0
    },
    "QuarryMultiplier": {
      "Stone": 2.0,
      "Metal Ore": 2.0,
      "Sulfur Ore": 2.0,
      "HQM Ore": 2.0
    },
    "PickupMultiplier": {
      "Wood": 2.0,
      "Stone": 2.0,
      "Metal Ore": 2.0,
      "Sulfur Ore": 2.0
    }
  }
}

Managing Permissions

Oxide includes a built-in permission system. Many plugins require permissions to be granted before players can use features.

Console commands for permissions:

// Grant a permission to a group
oxide.grant group default pluginname.permission

// Grant a permission to a specific player
oxide.grant user <steamid64> pluginname.permission

// Revoke a permission
oxide.revoke group default pluginname.permission

// Show a player's permissions
oxide.show user <steamid64>

// Show a group's permissions
oxide.show group default

// Add a player to a group
oxide.usergroup add <steamid64> groupname

// Create a new group
oxide.group add vip

Default groups:

default — All players are in this group automatically
admin — Players with admin/moderator access
Create custom groups (e.g., vip, donator) for tiered permissions

Plugin Management Commands

Use these console commands to manage plugins:

Command	Description
`oxide.reload PluginName`	Reloads a specific plugin (applies config changes)
`oxide.reload *`	Reloads all plugins
`oxide.unload PluginName`	Unloads a plugin without deleting it
`oxide.load PluginName`	Loads a previously unloaded plugin
`plugins`	Lists all loaded plugins and their status
`oxide.version`	Shows the installed Oxide version

Updating Plugins

Plugins should be updated regularly for bug fixes, new features, and compatibility with Rust updates:

Check uMod.org for newer versions of your installed plugins
Download the updated .cs file
Upload it to oxide/plugins/, replacing the old file
Oxide will automatically recompile and reload the plugin

After a forced wipe / Rust update:

Some plugins may break after major Rust updates
Check uMod.org for updated versions before restarting your server
Remove incompatible plugins temporarily if they prevent the server from starting
Watch the console for plugin compilation errors after an update

Troubleshooting

Plugin fails to compile:

Check the console for compilation error messages
Verify the plugin is compatible with your current Rust/Oxide version
Download the latest version from uMod.org
Check the plugin’s page for known issues or dependencies

Plugin loads but does not work:

Verify required permissions are granted: oxide.show group default
Check the plugin’s configuration file for correct settings
Some plugins depend on other plugins — check for required dependencies
Reload the plugin: oxide.reload PluginName

Server performance issues after adding plugins:

Some plugins are more resource-intensive than others
Disable or remove plugins you are not actively using
Check for plugins that run on every server tick — these can be expensive
See our Performance and Optimization guide for more details

Too many plugins:

Each plugin adds overhead, even when idle
Aim for quality over quantity — install only what your community actually uses
The Radtown (10 GB) handles 15-25 plugins comfortably
The Launch Site (16 GB) supports 30+ plugins with proper configuration

Best Practices

Start with essentials — Install core plugins first (Gather Manager, teleportation, kits) and add more based on player requests
Read plugin documentation — Each plugin’s uMod page has installation, configuration, and permission details
Test before going live — If possible, test new plugins during off-peak hours
Keep plugins updated — Outdated plugins cause security risks and compatibility issues
Back up before changes — Create a backup before adding or updating plugins (see our Backups guide)
Monitor performance — Watch server TPS and memory usage after adding new plugins

Need help with plugin installation or configuration? Our team is available on Discord.