RCON Remote Administration for Rust

RCON Remote Administration for Rust

RCON (Remote Console) allows you to administer your Rust server remotely without needing to be in-game or logged into the dashboard. With RCON, you can run console commands, monitor server activity, manage players, and configure settings from a desktop application or web interface.

What Is RCON?

RCON is a protocol that provides remote access to your server’s console. Any command you can run in the dashboard console can also be run through RCON. This is particularly useful for:

• Quick administration — Run commands without logging into the dashboard
• Multi-server management — Manage multiple servers from a single application
• Real-time monitoring — Watch server output, chat, and events in real time
• Mobile administration — Some RCON tools offer mobile-friendly interfaces
• Team administration — Give moderators RCON access without panel access

Finding Your RCON Details

Your RCON connection information is available in your dashboard:

1. Log in to Dashboard and select your Rust server
2. Navigate to the Startup tab
3. Look for the following values:
   • Server IP — Your server’s IP address
   • RCON Port — The port used for RCON connections (usually your game port)
   • RCON Password — The password required to authenticate (found in startup variables)

Important: Never share your RCON password publicly. Anyone with your RCON credentials has full administrative control over your server.

RCON Tools

Several third-party tools provide RCON connectivity for Rust servers. Here are the most popular options:

RustAdmin

RustAdmin is the most widely used Rust RCON tool, offering a full-featured desktop application for Windows.

Features:

• Real-time console output and chat monitoring
• Player list with Steam profile links
• Quick-action buttons for common commands (kick, ban, mute)
• Chat input for communicating with players
• Server information display (player count, FPS, entities)
• Multiple server support with saved profiles

Setup:

1. Download RustAdmin from the official website
2. Open the application and click Add Server
3. Enter your server details:
   • IP: Your server’s IP address
   • Port: Your RCON port
   • Password: Your RCON password
4. Click Connect
5. You should see the server console output and player list

WebRCON

WebRCON is a browser-based RCON client that works on any device with a web browser.

Features:

• No software installation required
• Works on Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile devices
• Real-time console and chat
• Command input and history

Setup:

1. Open a WebRCON tool in your browser (several free options are available online)
2. Enter your server IP, RCON port, and password
3. Click Connect
4. Use the console to send commands

Rust Server Manager

A comprehensive Windows application that combines RCON with additional management features.

Features:

• RCON console access
• Scheduled commands and automated tasks
• Player tracking and logging
• Chat monitoring and filtering

Essential RCON Commands

Once connected via RCON, you have access to all Rust server commands. Here are the most commonly used:

Server Management:

Command	Description
server.save	Forces an immediate world save
server.writecfg	Saves configuration changes permanently
quit	Gracefully shuts down the server
status	Shows connected players with SteamIDs
serverinfo	Displays server performance stats
ent count	Shows total entity count
fps	Shows server FPS (frames per second)

Player Management:

Command	Description
players	Lists all connected players
kick <steamid/name> "reason"	Kicks a player from the server
ban <steamid/name> "reason"	Permanently bans a player
banid <steamid> "name" "reason"	Bans by SteamID (works for offline players)
unban <steamid>	Removes a player ban
banlist	Shows all banned players
mute <steamid/name>	Mutes a player in chat
unmute <steamid/name>	Unmutes a player

Communication:

Command	Description
say "message"	Sends a server-wide message
global.say "message"	Alternative server-wide message

Oxide Plugin Commands:

Command	Description
plugins	Lists all loaded Oxide plugins
oxide.reload PluginName	Reloads a specific plugin
oxide.reload *	Reloads all plugins
oxide.grant group default permission	Grants a permission to a group
oxide.revoke group default permission	Revokes a permission

Security Best Practices

RCON provides full administrative access to your server, making security critical:

Use a strong RCON password:

• Minimum 16 characters with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols
• Never use dictionary words, server names, or common passwords
• Change your RCON password periodically

Limit who has access:

• Only share RCON credentials with trusted administrators
• Consider using different permission levels (owner vs. moderator) through Oxide rather than giving everyone RCON access
• Keep a record of who has RCON access

Secure your connection:

• Avoid using RCON over public Wi-Fi networks without a VPN
• Close RCON client connections when not actively administrating
• Do not leave RCON tools running unattended on shared computers

Monitor RCON usage:

• Review server logs for unexpected RCON connections
• If you suspect unauthorized access, change your RCON password immediately
• Check for commands you did not issue in the console logs

If you suspect a compromise:

1. Change your RCON password immediately in the Startup tab of your dashboard
2. Restart your server to force-disconnect any active RCON sessions
3. Review recent console logs for suspicious activity
4. Check for unauthorized admin grants: banlist and moderatorid list
5. Verify server configuration has not been tampered with

Setting Up Moderator Access

Instead of giving moderators full RCON access, consider using Rust’s built-in moderator system:

1. Grant moderator status: moderatorid <steamid64> "PlayerName" "Moderator"
2. Save: server.writecfg
3. Moderators can use admin commands in-game (F1 console) without needing RCON

This is safer because:

• Moderators cannot shut down or fully reconfigure the server
• Their access is tied to their Steam account, not a shared password
• You can revoke access individually without changing shared credentials

Scheduled Commands

Some RCON tools support scheduled commands, useful for:

• Automatic broadcasts: Remind players about rules, Discord links, or events at regular intervals
• Scheduled saves: Force saves at specific times in addition to auto-save
• Timed announcements: Warn players about upcoming wipes or maintenance

Example schedule in RustAdmin:

Every 30 minutes: say "Join our Discord: discord.witchly.host"
Every 60 minutes: say "Server wipes every Thursday at 6 PM EST"
Every 300 seconds: server.save

Troubleshooting

Cannot connect to RCON:

• Verify the IP address, port, and password are correct
• Ensure your server is running and fully started
• Check that you are using the RCON port, not the game port (they may differ)
• Some RCON tools require WebSocket connections — verify your tool supports Rust’s RCON protocol

RCON connection drops frequently:

• Check your internet connection stability
• Some tools have timeout settings — increase the timeout value
• Reconnect and check the server console for any related error messages

Commands not working:

• Verify the command syntax — Rust commands are case-sensitive
• Some commands require Oxide to be installed
• Check that you are connected with the correct password (read-only vs. full access)

Lag when using RCON:

• RCON itself should not cause server lag
• If running commands that affect game state (teleporting many entities, etc.), lag may occur
• Avoid running heavy commands during peak hours

Need help with RCON setup? Contact our support team on Discord.