🛠️ Rust Server Setup Guide 🛠️

This guide provides step-by-step instructions to set up and run a Rust server using PowerShell and a pre-configured script.

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📋 Prerequisites

1. 👨‍💻 Administrator Access: You will need administrator privileges on your computer to execute some of the commands in this setup.
2. 📂 Required Files:
   • rust-server-carbon.ps1: The PowerShell script for setting up and configuring the server.
   • Carbon.Windows.Release.zip: The Carbon file, used by the server.
   • miniupnpc.zip: Contains UPnP utilities required for port mapping.

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Step 1: Preparation 🧰

1. 📂 Place all required files in the same folder:

   • Make sure rust-server-carbon.ps1, Carbon.Windows.Release.zip, and miniupnpc.zip are in the same directory on your computer.

2. 📥 Extract miniupnpc.zip:

   • Right-click on miniupnpc.zip and select “Extract All.”
   • Extract it to C:\miniupnpc. The extracted folder should contain upnpc-static.exe, which the script will use for network configuration.

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Step 2: Configuring the Server Script ⚙️

If you want to customize the server’s IP address or directory, you can manually edit the following variables in rust-server-carbon.ps1:

• 💻 $LocalIP: Set this to your local IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.115). If you don’t know your local IP address, you can find it by opening Command Prompt and typing ipconfig.
• 📁 $ServerDir: Set this to the path where you want the Rust server files to be installed (e.g., C:\rust_server).
• 📄 $CarbonZipPath: Set this to the full path of Carbon.Windows.Release.zip.

If you're not comfortable editing these values, the script will use defaults.

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Step 3: Run the PowerShell Script 🚀

1. 🔓 Open PowerShell as Administrator:

   • Right-click on the Start Menu and select Windows PowerShell (Admin). This will open PowerShell with administrator privileges.

2. 📂 Navigate to the Folder:

   • In PowerShell, navigate to the folder where you placed the rust-server-carbon.ps1 script. Use the cd command to change directories. For example:

     cd "C:\path\to\your\folder"

3. ▶️ Temporarily Allow Script Execution:

   • If you encounter an error about the script not being digitally signed, bypass this restriction temporarily by running:

     Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process -ExecutionPolicy Bypass

4. ▶️ Run the Script:

   • Run the script by typing the following command:

     .\rust-server-carbon.ps1

   • This script will do the following:
     • ✅ Check for administrator privileges.
     • 🔗 Set up UPnP port forwarding to allow players to connect to the server.
     • 🛡️ Configure Windows Firewall rules to allow network traffic on the required ports.
     • 📂 Create the Rust server directory.
     • 🛠️ Download and install SteamCMD, a tool for installing dedicated game servers.
     • 🎮 Install the Rust server.
     • 📦 Extract Carbon.Windows.Release.zip to the server directory for additional functionalities.
     • 📜 Generate a start_server.bat file to start the server with specific configurations.
   • Follow any on-screen prompts. If there are any errors, check if all required files are in place and that PowerShell has the necessary permissions.

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Step 4: Start the Server 🕹️

1. ▶️ Run start_server.bat:

   • Once the script completes successfully, navigate to your Rust server directory (default: C:\rust_server).
   • Double-click on start_server.bat to start your Rust server. This file was created by the script and contains the necessary commands to launch the server with your settings.

2. ✅ Confirm the Server is Running:

   • A new Command Prompt window should open, showing logs of the server starting up.
   • Look for messages indicating that the server has successfully started. You should see the configured ports (22220 for the game, 22222 for RCON, etc.) and other information.

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Step 5: Connecting to Your Server 🌐

1. 🌍 Find Your Public IP Address:

   • The PowerShell script will display your public IP address at the end of the setup. Alternatively, you can go to WhatIsMyIP to find it.

2. 🔗 Connect to Your Server:

   • Launch Rust on your computer.
   • Open the game console (press F1 in Rust) and type the following command to connect:

     client.connect [Your Public IP Address]:22220
     

     Replace [Your Public IP Address] with the IP address you obtained in the previous step.

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🛠️ Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues, here are some common troubleshooting tips:

• 🚪 Ports Not Open:

  • Ensure that UPnP is enabled on your router. The PowerShell script uses UPnP to open ports automatically.
  • You may need to log into your router and manually forward the ports (22220 for the game, 22222 for RCON, 27015 for Steam, and 22288 for Rust+) if UPnP is not working.

• 🛡️ Firewall Blocking Connection:

  • Check that Windows Firewall or any third-party firewall is not blocking Rust’s network traffic. The PowerShell script should add firewall rules, but you may need to verify them in Windows Firewall settings.

• 🔄 Server Not Responding:

  • Double-check that rust-server-carbon.ps1 is configured correctly and that all paths are accurate.
  • Ensure all required files are present, especially Carbon.Windows.Release.zip and miniupnpc.zip.

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This guide provides all the necessary steps for setting up and running a Rust server on Windows. If you have additional questions or encounter specific issues, refer to the Troubleshooting section or reach out for support.

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Happy hosting! 🎉