How to edit Rust convars: hostname, world size, seed and max players

Your Rust server's name, world size, seed, and player cap are controlled by convars, which you set from the Startup tab or the server.cfg file in your GuavaHost panel.

Your Rust server's name, world size, seed, and player cap are controlled by convars, which you set from the Startup tab or the server.cfg file in your GuavaHost panel.

Convars (console variables) are the settings that tell Rust how to run. You can change the important ones without touching a single file.

Two ways to change settings

  • The Startup tab is the easy route. It exposes the core settings as simple fields, and the panel rebuilds your start command for you.
  • The server.cfg file and the Console tab are the advanced route, giving you access to every convar Rust supports.

Editing from the Startup tab

  • Open the Startup tab in your panel.
  • Edit the variables you want. Common ones include Hostname (your server name), World Size, Seed, Max Players, Description, Server URL and Server Image.
  • Save your changes.
  • Restart the server from the Console tab so the new values load.

Common Rust convars

If you prefer to set things by hand, these are the ones you will use most:

  • server.hostname sets the name shown in the server browser
  • server.description is the blurb on your server info page
  • server.worldsize sets the map size, usually between 1000 and 6000 (around 3500 to 4000 is typical)
  • server.seed picks the map layout
  • server.maxplayers sets the player cap
  • server.headerimage is the banner image URL
  • server.url links to your website or Discord
  • server.tags adds browser tags like weekly or vanilla

Editing server.cfg directly

Your config lives in the Files tab under server/<identity>/cfg/server.cfg, where <identity> is your server's identity folder. You can edit it there, or set a convar live in the Console and make it permanent by running:

server.writecfg

That writes your current settings back to server.cfg so they survive a restart.

Changing world size or seed

Changing server.worldsize or server.seed generates a brand new map on the next restart, which clears everything built in the world just like a map wipe. Because of that, take a snapshot on the Backups tab first if the server is live. For a clean, scheduled way to roll the seed and size, use the built-in GuavaHost Rust Wiper, which handles the change and can announce it to your Discord. Also keep in mind that a larger world size uses more RAM, so raise it gradually and watch your memory.

Still stuck? Jump into our Discord at discord.gg/GuavaHost and the team will help you out.