How to Configure Your Rust Server Plugins from the Panel

Plugins let you extend your Rust server with new features, custom rules, economy systems, anti-cheat tools, and much more. The RiverHosting panel gives you a dedicated Plugins page so you can manage your server's plugins without touching any files by hand.

This guide walks you through choosing a plugin framework, installing plugins, and adjusting their settings, all from inside the panel.

Before you start

• You need an active Rust server with RiverHosting. Log in to the panel at panel.riverhosting.com and open your server.
• Rust plugins require a plugin framework to be installed first. The most widely used framework is uMod (Oxide). You can select the correct framework from the Framework page in the left-hand menu before installing plugins.
• Plugins are created by the Rust community and are updated regularly. If a plugin stops working after a game update, check whether a newer version is available.

1. Choose and install a plugin framework

Before you can use plugins, your Rust server needs a plugin framework installed. Without one, plugins will not load.

1. Log in to panel.riverhosting.com and select your Rust server.
2. In the left-hand menu, click Framework.
3. You will see the available framework options. Select uMod (Oxide) for the widest plugin compatibility. This is the most commonly used framework for Rust servers.
4. Click the install or apply button to set the framework. The panel will update your server's startup configuration automatically.
5. Restart your server from the top of the page so the framework loads correctly.

2. Install plugins from the Plugins page

Once your framework is installed, you can add plugins using the built-in Plugins page.

1. In the left-hand menu, click Plugins.
2. You will see a list of available plugins you can add to your server. Browse or search for the plugin you want.
3. Click the plugin you want to install, then confirm the installation.
4. The panel will place the plugin file in the correct folder on your server.
5. Restart your server so the plugin loads. You can do this by clicking the restart button at the top of the page.

3. Configure a plugin after installation

Most plugins create a configuration file the first time they load. You can edit these files from the File Manager.

1. In the left-hand menu, click Files to open the File Manager.
2. Navigate to the oxide/config folder. Each plugin that supports configuration will have its own file here, usually named after the plugin.
3. Click the configuration file you want to edit. The panel will open it in the built-in text editor.
4. Make your changes and click Save.
5. Reload or restart your server for the changes to take effect. Many plugins also support a reload command you can run from the Console tab without a full restart.

4. Remove a plugin you no longer want

If you want to stop using a plugin, you can remove it cleanly through the File Manager.

1. In the left-hand menu, click Files.
2. Navigate to the oxide/plugins folder.
3. Find the plugin file you want to remove. Plugin files end in .cs.
4. Right-click or select the file and choose the delete option.
5. Restart your server to make sure the plugin is fully unloaded.

5. Manage admin permissions for plugins

Many plugins add their own permission groups that control who can use certain commands or features. You can grant or revoke these from the Console tab or using the RCON page in the panel.

1. In the left-hand menu, click RCON or open the Console tab.
2. Use oxide permission commands to manage access. For example, to grant a permission to a player, type a command in the format shown in the plugin's documentation.
3. Most plugin documentation pages list the exact permission names and commands you need.

Troubleshooting

• The plugin is not loading after restart. Check the Console tab for error messages. The most common cause is a plugin that is not compatible with the current version of uMod or Rust. Look for an updated version of the plugin.
• I cannot find the config file for my plugin. Config files are only created after the plugin loads for the first time. Make sure your server has started at least once with the plugin installed, then check oxide/config again.
• The server crashes after installing a plugin. Remove the plugin file from oxide/plugins using the File Manager, then restart the server. If the server comes back up cleanly, the plugin was the cause. Try a different version or contact the plugin author.
• I installed the framework but plugins still do not work. Make sure the server was fully restarted after installing the framework, not just reloaded. Open the Console tab and look for a line that confirms uMod or Oxide has loaded on startup.
• I want to wipe all plugin data when I reset the server. Plugin data is stored in oxide/data. You can delete individual folders in that directory using the File Manager if you need a clean slate for a wipe.

Need help?

If you run into a problem that is not covered here, the RiverHosting support team is happy to help.