--- title: "Deploy a Rust server on the Game Panel" description: "Learn how to deploy a Rust server on the OVHcloud Game Panel, track the installation, and join your server from the Rust client." url: https://docs.ovhcloud.com/en/guides/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-quick-start-rust lang: en lastUpdated: 2026-08-25 --- > For AI agents: the complete documentation index is available at https://docs.ovhcloud.com/en/llms.txt, the full documentation bundle is available at https://docs.ovhcloud.com/en/llms-full.txt. # Deploy a Rust server on the Game Panel ## Objective The OVHcloud Game Panel lets you deploy a Rust server with automated installation and port configuration. **This guide explains how to deploy and connect to a Rust server on the OVHcloud Game Panel.** ## Requirements - A [VPS](https://www.ovhcloud.com/en-gb/vps/) or a [dedicated server](https://www.ovhcloud.com/en-gb/bare-metal/) in your OVHcloud account with the Game Panel feature enabled. - Access to the Game Panel. Refer to [Log in to the Game Panel](https://docs.ovhcloud.com/en/guides/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-log-in/index.md). ## Instructions ### Step 1 — Access the Game Panel Log in to your OVHcloud Game Panel. From the left-hand menu, go to the `Game Servers` section and click `Add Game Server `. ### Step 2 — Create a Rust server Select **Rust** from the game list. You can use the search field at the top of the window to find it faster. A configuration window opens. ![Selecting Rust from the game list in the Game Panel](/images/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-quick-start-rust/select-rust.png) ### Step 3 — Configure the Rust server In this section, you can set a name for your server in the **Server Name** field. An **RCON Password** is also generated automatically. It is used by the game's RCON system to administer the server remotely. Click `Regenerate ` to obtain a new one, or replace it with a password of your choice (at least 8 characters). You can change it again once the server is installed. :::warning Make sure you keep this password in a secure place. Anyone who knows it can run administration commands on your server. ::: You can expand `Advanced Settings ` to adjust options such as ports binding, volumes, environment variables and resource limits. The defaults are suitable for most game servers. ![Rust server configuration form with the server name and advanced settings](/images/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-quick-start-rust/configure-server.png) :::info If this is your first Rust server on the Game Panel and the default ports are available, all required ports are configured automatically. No manual setup is needed. The Rust image uses three ports: `28015/UDP` (Game), `28017/UDP` (Steam Query) and `28082/TCP` (Rust+ companion app). If these ports are already taken by another game server, the Game Panel assigns free host ports instead. ::: ### Step 4 — Launch the installation Click `Install ` to launch the installation. The deployment starts and a progress window tracks the following stages: 1. Pulling container image. 2. Preparing server files. 3. Creating container. 4. Starting container. ### Step 5 — Monitor the installation Once the container has started, a confirmation window is displayed. Click `Open Logs / Console ` to follow the installation progress in real time. You can also open it at any time with the `Log/Console ` button on your server. ![Confirmation window with the Open Logs / Console button](/images/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-quick-start-rust/installation-started.png) The console displays the installation steps, then the download of the Rust server files via SteamCMD, with a progress percentage. ![Rust server installation logs in the Game Panel console](/images/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-quick-start-rust/installation-logs.png) :::warning The Rust server files represent a download of several gigabytes. The server keeps the **Installing** status for the whole download, then while the game world is generated. Refer to the console to follow the actual progress. ::: ### Step 6 — Verify the server is running Confirm the server status is **Running** and that CPU and RAM activity is visible. You can use the `Log/Console ` and `Settings ` controls to manage the server, and the `Stop ` and `Restart ` controls to change its power state. ![Rust server with Running status and CPU and RAM activity](/images/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-quick-start-rust/server-running.png) ### Step 7 — Confirm installation is complete Once the download is complete, the console displays the startup of the Rust server, then the generation of the game world (height map, biomes, monuments). This step can take several minutes. The status may briefly display **Unhealthy** while the server finishes starting up and does not yet answer the health check. This is expected during a first installation. The server status changes to **Running** once the world is generated and the server is listening. Your Rust server is then ready to accept connections. ### Step 8 — Retrieve connection information Once your server is started, copy the IP address and port from the **Connection** column of the Game Servers list. Use the copy button to copy them to the clipboard. ### Step 9 — Join your server in Rust To join your server from the Rust client: 1. Launch **Rust**. 2. Press the `F1` key to open the game console. 3. Enter the following command, replacing `IP` and `PORT` with the values from the **Connection** column: ```console client.connect IP:PORT ``` ### Configure the game settings The `Game Config ` section lets you adjust the main settings of your Rust server without editing the configuration files by hand: | Setting | Description | | --------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | | `Server name` | The name displayed in the in-game server browser. | | `Gamemode` | `vanilla`, `Softcore`, `Hardcore` or `Primitive`. | | `Map type` | `Procedural Map`, `Barren`, `Hapis Island` or `Savas Island`. | | `Map seed` | The seed used to generate a procedural map. | | `Map size` | The size of the generated map. | | `Player limit` | The maximum number of simultaneous players. | | `Save interval` | The interval between two saves of the game world. | | `Tick rate` | The server refresh rate. | Additional options, such as the server description, the PvE mode or the fall damage, are available in the `server.cfg` configuration file, in the same section. For advanced configuration, use the [File Manager](https://docs.ovhcloud.com/en/guides/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-file-manager/index.md) to edit the Rust configuration files directly. ## Go further - [Getting started with the Game Panel](https://docs.ovhcloud.com/en/guides/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-getting-started/index.md) - [Manage users on the Game Panel](https://docs.ovhcloud.com/en/guides/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-manage-users/index.md) - [How to create and restore backups on the Game Panel](https://docs.ovhcloud.com/en/guides/bare-metal-cloud/virtual-private-servers/game-panel-backups/index.md) Join our [community of users](https://community.ovhcloud.com/).