Evaluate free RAM, world size, entity load and post-wipe checks when selecting a Rust VDS.
What does 12 GB of free RAM mean?
Facepunch lists 12 GB of free RAM, with larger maps potentially requiring more. Free memory is not total VDS memory: the OS and other services also use RAM. Measure your real world save and plugin workload rather than allocating the entire plan to Rust.
Map, entity and plugin load
World size and seed affect generation; plugins, buildings and accumulated entities change ongoing load. A fresh empty map does not represent a busy late-wipe world. Record CPU and memory alongside player activity. More RAM alone will not fix a CPU-heavy plugin.
Before a wipe
Plan map and blueprint resets separately and communicate the policy. Back up saves, configuration and plugin data. Confirm mod compatibility and test startup and player connections. Verify the current forced-update schedule with publisher announcements.
Comparing Rust server prices
Compare a VDS with managed game hosting by checking who installs Rust, manages RCON, updates plugins and maintains backups. RCON is administrative access: use a strong password and restrict source addresses where possible. Compare Light Hosting resources in the plan table.
Setup checklist
- Allow OS headroom when estimating free RAM.
- Install with SteamCMD and Facepunch’s guide.
- Measure map and plugin load using a real save.
- Back up before wipes and test connections after updates.
When something goes wrong
If a fresh map is fast but an older world slows down, compare entity and plugin load rather than inferring capacity from player count or RAM alone.