{"id":14723,"date":"2025-03-17T15:09:46","date_gmt":"2025-03-17T15:09:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ggservers.com\/knowledgebase\/?post_type=ht_kb&#038;p=14723"},"modified":"2025-03-17T17:57:04","modified_gmt":"2025-03-17T17:57:04","slug":"rust-server-server-cfg-vs-serverauto-cfg","status":"publish","type":"ht_kb","link":"https:\/\/ggservers.com\/knowledgebase\/article\/rust-server-server-cfg-vs-serverauto-cfg\/","title":{"rendered":"Rust Server: server.cfg vs. serverauto.cfg"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ggservers.com\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/banner10_1mgbruh.png\" alt=\"\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When configuring your Rust server, you&#8217;ll encounter two important files: <code>server.cfg<\/code> and <code>serverauto.cfg<\/code>. Although similar in name, these files serve different purposes and load differently. Knowing when to use each will help you manage your server settings efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udd27 <strong>Overview of Configuration Files<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a quick breakdown of each file:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>File Name<\/th><th>Loaded Automatically?<\/th><th>Execution Method<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>server.cfg<\/strong><\/td><td>\u274c <strong>No<\/strong> (manual load required)<\/td><td>Long-term configurations; server name, description, tags, plugin settings, custom commands.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>serverauto.cfg<\/strong><\/td><td>\u2705 Yes, automatically at server startup<\/td><td>Essential settings that must load at every startup<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udcdd <strong>Detailed Explanation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><code>server.cfg<\/code><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The <code>server.cfg<\/code> file <strong>does not load automatically<\/strong> when your server starts. Instead, you must manually execute it with an in-game or RCON command each time you want to apply these settings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>server.readcfg<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s ideal for storing settings like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Server hostname and description<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rates (such as tick rate and player limits)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Plugin configurations or special settings you may occasionally adjust<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Recommended for:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Long-term settings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Settings that rarely change<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Special character support in the server name or description<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example Usage:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>server.hostname \"GGServers | The Best Rust Server!\"\nserver.description \"Welcome to GGServers Rust Server!\\nHigh-performance hardware\\nDDoS Protection\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\"\nserver.tags \"monthly,pve,roleplay\"<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u26a0\ufe0f <strong>Important:<\/strong> You must run <code>server.readcfg<\/code> via console (F1) or RCON to load these settings after editing.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><code>serverauto.cfg<\/code><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This file <strong>automatically loads every time<\/strong> your Rust server starts. This makes it the ideal location for critical settings you need consistently enforced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example of settings typically added here:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>World seed (<code>server.seed<\/code>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Map size (<code>server.worldsize<\/code>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Difficulty (<code>server.pve<\/code>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Automatic server protection settings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example Usage:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>server.seed 123456\nserver.worldsize 3500\nserver.pve false<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>\u26a0\ufe0f <strong>Important:<\/strong><br>Do <strong>NOT<\/strong> manually edit the <code>serverauto.cfg<\/code> file through your panel, as it resets automatically if modified incorrectly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udea9 <strong>When to Use Each File (Quick Summary)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>File<\/th><th>Recommended Use<\/th><th>When Does it Load?<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><code>server.cfg<\/code><\/td><td>Custom server names\/descriptions, long-term or special configs<\/td><td><strong>Manual:<\/strong> Execute using <code>server.readcfg<\/code><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><code>serverauto.cfg<\/code><\/td><td>Essential settings (map seed, map size, PvE\/PvP mode)<\/td><td><strong>Automatic:<\/strong> Every time the server restarts<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udea9 <strong>Recommended Best Practices<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use <strong><code>serverauto.cfg<\/code><\/strong> for settings, you want to ensure always loads automatically.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use <strong><code>server.cfg<\/code><\/strong> for occasional or manually-loaded settings, especially ones needing special characters.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Important:<\/strong><br>Do <strong>NOT<\/strong> add settings to <code>serverauto.cfg<\/code> manually unless absolutely necessary, as unintended edits can reset after server updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2705 <strong>Practical Examples<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s how a basic <code>server.cfg<\/code> might look:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>server.hostname \"GGServers.com | High-Quality Rust Hosting\"\nserver.description \"Fast, reliable Rust servers powered by GGServers.com\\nHosted on Ryzen CPUs\\nJoin our Discord for support!\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\"\nserver.tags \"monthly,pve,roleplay\"<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>For automatic critical settings, your <code>serverauto.cfg<\/code> typically includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>server.seed 123456789\nserver.worldsize 3500\nserver.maxplayers 150\nserver.pve false<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2757 <strong>Notes &amp; Best Practices<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Rust currently duplicates the server description due to an ongoing bug; adding multiple <code>\\n<\/code> at the end minimizes the visual issue.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Only <strong>4 tags<\/strong> are displayed publicly in Rust\u2019s server browser.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid using multiple tags from the same category (e.g., don&#8217;t use <code>weekly<\/code> and <code>monthly<\/code> simultaneously).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Difference Between <code>server.cfg<\/code> and <code>serverauto.cfg<\/code><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s a simple breakdown to help you decide which configuration file to use:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udd27 <code>server.cfg<\/code><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Does NOT load automatically.<\/strong><br><em>(You must run <code>server.readcfg<\/code> manually to apply settings.)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use for settings like <strong>server name<\/strong>, <strong>description<\/strong>, and other options that rarely change.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong><br><code>server.hostname \"My Rust Server\" server.description \"Welcome to my Rust server!\"<\/code><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2699\ufe0f <code>serverauto.cfg<\/code><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Loads automatically<\/strong> whenever your server starts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use it for essential settings such as:<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Map size (<code>server.worldsize<\/code>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Map seed (<code>server.seed<\/code>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>PvE mode (<code>server.pve<\/code>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Since it runs automatically and takes priority, most server owners prefer using this file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2705 Quick Tips:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Use <code>serverauto.cfg<\/code><\/strong> for critical, always-needed settings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Use <code>server.cfg<\/code><\/strong> for custom or long-term settings that rarely change.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udee0\ufe0f <strong>Still Need Help?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re unsure about configuring your Rust server or need additional help, please reach out to our support team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udc49 <a href=\"https:\/\/ggservers.com\/billing\/submitticket.php\">Submit a Support Ticket<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When configuring your Rust server, you&#8217;ll encounter two important files: server.cfg and serverauto.cfg. Although similar in name, these files serve different purposes and load differently. Knowing when to use each will help you manage your server settings efficiently. \ud83d\udd27 Overview of Configuration Files Here\u2019s a quick breakdown of each file:&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"ht-kb-category":[302],"ht-kb-tag":[349,381,386,380,365,385,379,376,378,377,363,303,383,384,317,359,375,382,369,336],"class_list":["post-14723","ht_kb","type-ht_kb","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","ht_kb_category-rust","ht_kb_tag-rust-admin-commands","ht_kb_tag-rust-automatic-settings","ht_kb_tag-rust-best-practices","ht_kb_tag-rust-hostname-setup","ht_kb_tag-rust-map-size","ht_kb_tag-rust-pve-settings","ht_kb_tag-rust-pvp-settings","ht_kb_tag-rust-rcon-commands","ht_kb_tag-rust-server-commands","ht_kb_tag-rust-server-configuration","ht_kb_tag-rust-server-description","ht_kb_tag-rust-server-hosting","ht_kb_tag-rust-server-performance","ht_kb_tag-rust-server-plugins","ht_kb_tag-rust-server-settings","ht_kb_tag-rust-server-cfg","ht_kb_tag-rust-serverauto-cfg","ht_kb_tag-rust-tags-configuration","ht_kb_tag-rust-tickrate","ht_kb_tag-rust-world-seed"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ggservers.com\/knowledgebase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb\/14723","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ggservers.com\/knowledgebase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ggservers.com\/knowledgebase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/ht_kb"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ggservers.com\/knowledgebase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ggservers.com\/knowledgebase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14723"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/ggservers.com\/knowledgebase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb\/14723\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14773,"href":"https:\/\/ggservers.com\/knowledgebase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb\/14723\/revisions\/14773"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ggservers.com\/knowledgebase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14723"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"ht_kb_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ggservers.com\/knowledgebase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb-category?post=14723"},{"taxonomy":"ht_kb_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ggservers.com\/knowledgebase\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb-tag?post=14723"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}