How to Improve Rust Server Performance

Managing a Rust server with players can be a difficult task, especially if there are ongoing performance issues. These situations can arise due to an overwhelming amount of entities, large maps, or simply too many players for the server to handle.

Fortunately, there are some tips and tricks you can implement on the server to improve its performance, allowing players to have fun in your community.

These range from running simple commands to installing useful plugins to remove unwanted entities. With this in mind, we have created this HolyHosting guide to show the different ways to improve your Rust server performance.

Rust Server Performance

There is a lot of information and possible configurations to implement on your Rust server to improve its performance. Because of this, we have summarized the most important details in the table below.

Decrease Animals

Changing the amount of animals and creatures can significantly improve in-game performance, as it saves server resources. For example, if you disable chickens from spawning, it allows the server to focus on more important tasks.

Rust Chicken

It can also be used in-game if you are an administrator or in the server startup configuration file. Basically, the command format is [animal].population "[value]", which can be used to change the population of any animal.

Limit Server FPS

Frames per second (FPS) determine how smoothly the game runs, but can be predefined by the server. This is achieved by using the fps.limit "value" command, which can be any number up to the desired frame rate.

Scheduled Restarts

Similar to other game servers, restarting them from time to time keeps everything in check. In other words, doing this daily can greatly reduce stress and improve server performance.

Smaller Map Size

This may be common knowledge, but having a map that is too large requires more server resources. If you have a 5k world, consider reducing it to 2-3k instead.

Doing this will reduce the amount of stress on the server, as it does not need too many resources to handle it. However, this depends on the number of users you have actively playing on your server.

Alternatively, you can find and load a world that is ideal for your performance.

Performance Plugins

Another wonderful way to boost your Rust server performance is through the use of plugins. These range from cleaning unwanted entities to monitoring any issues. We have created a list of the most popular and useful plugins below.

- Performance Monitor: This is a useful tool for tracking server memory, plugin hook times, and other valuable information. Once installed, you can customize the settings to your liking.

- Performance UI: Similar to the previous plugin, this displays server information. However, it uses a user-friendly interface that shows hook rates, latencies, frame rates, and response times.

- Entity Cleanup: Unlike the others, this plugin allows you to clean up building blocks, deployables, and other entities. Whether by setting a default interval for each deletion or doing it manually with commands, this is an extremely useful tool. There is even a whitelist to ignore entities during its cleanup process.

or by doing it manually with commands, this is an extremely useful tool. There is even a whitelist to ignore entities during its cleanup process.

- Auto Purge: An alternative to the previous plugin, this purges a specific amount of entities created by inactive players. This can significantly improve performance, as unused resources are removed from the server.

- Remover Tool: By far the most popular plugin to use, the Remover Tool allows administrators and regular players to remove unwanted entities. These can be structures, objects, and other types that may be cluttering the server.

Upgrading the Server

If you have done everything above and there are still in-game issues, it could mean you need more dedicated memory on the server. For example, 4 GB is the bare minimum for Rust and cannot handle a large number of players or entities.

Allowing the server to have additional resources is an excellent way to reduce stress and improve performance. However, this option is not for everyone, as it requires payment. Although it is worth the investment if you want to run a large community.

Common Issues

Server Lagging

In some cases, the server will continue to lag or experience performance issues even if you have tried to optimize it. This is probably due to an underlying issue with your map and its entities, which can be resolved by wiping the world or loading a new one.

Unable to Use Commands

After trying to use default commands and having them fail, check their format. You must enter them correctly without errors for them to work. Once this is correct, try again and it should work.