Free on your own PC

Free Rust server on your own PC

Run a Rust dedicated server on hardware you already own. NodeMesh installs it, keeps it running and relays your friends' connections — no port forwarding, and no monthly bill for one host.

Free on your own PC — one host, no time limit.

How it works on your PC

1

Install the agent

Sign up, then paste one command from your dashboard on the PC that will run the server — PowerShell on Windows, a terminal on Linux. The agent installs as a service and pairs with your account.

2

Pick the game

Choose the game in the panel. NodeMesh downloads the dedicated server, sets it up and starts it, and you watch every step in the live console.

3

Share the address

Switch on the traffic relay for the server and the panel gives you a public address. Send it to your friends: their traffic goes through the relay to your PC, so you never open a port on your router.

What your PC needs

Memory for the server (minimum)8 GB
Memory for the server (recommended)12 GB
WindowsSupported (newer, in beta)
LinuxSupported

The memory figures are for the game server alone. If you also play on the same PC, the game itself needs its own memory on top.

Friends join without port forwarding

Rust players connect over UDP. The relay forwards the server's game port to your PC, so you make no changes to your router.

Mods

Turn on Oxide from the Mods tab, then search uMod and install plugins with one click, or upload a .cs plugin by hand. Oxide works on Linux hosts; on a Windows host the server runs vanilla and the panel tells you why Oxide is not offered.

What is free

One host — your own PC — is free with no time limit, for up to 5 game servers: the web panel and console, the config editor, the mod manager, auto-restart on crash and the traffic relay. Extra hosts cost credits.

See pricing →

Beta: this game runs on NodeMesh today, but our full hardware test of it is not finished yet. We would rather say so than call it stable.

Questions

Do I have to buy Rust again for the server?

No. The Rust dedicated server is a free download on Steam. NodeMesh fetches it for you anonymously, so no Steam login is stored on your PC.

Is it really free?

Yes, for one host. Running game servers on your own PC is free with no time limit — up to 5 servers, traffic relay included. You only pay, in credits, if you add more hosts.

Can I use Oxide plugins on Windows?

Not yet. The vanilla Rust server runs on Windows hosts, but Oxide and uMod plugins need a Linux host for now.

How much memory does a Rust server need?

A lot — the requirements above show what NodeMesh asks for. Bigger maps, more players and more plugins need more.

What happens when my PC is off?

The server goes offline too: it runs on your PC, not on ours. Leave the PC on while your friends play, or use a spare PC as the host.

Your server, on your PC

Create an account, install the agent and pick the game. One host is free with no time limit.

Create a free account