Prerequisites

The bar is low, but check these before you start — most failed installs are one of the items on this page.

Your server

Requirement	Detail
Rust dedicated server	Any host — self-hosted, VPS, or a game-server provider
Oxide / uMod	Installed and working. CerebRUST is an Oxide plugin; without Oxide there is nothing to load it
Filesystem access	You must be able to put a file into oxide/plugins/ and edit oxide/config/
Console or RCON access	To run o.reload Cerebrust and read the output
Outbound HTTPS	The server must be able to reach https://api.cerebrust.xyz on port 443

Shared and managed hosts

Most managed Rust hosts (GPORTAL, Nitrado, Pingperfect and similar) give you a file manager and a console, which is all you need. If your host does not let you upload plugins, CerebRUST cannot be installed — that is a limitation of the host, not something to work around.

Outbound network access

The plugin pushes data out over HTTPS. It never listens for inbound connections, so you do not need to open or forward any ports.

If your host runs an outbound firewall, allow HTTPS to api.cerebrust.xyz.

Your CerebRUST account

You will need to sign in to the dashboard with Steam. Use the Steam account you want to own the server in CerebRUST — that account gets the server, and it is the one that grants access to everyone else. Your moderators do not need accounts up front; you add them later from Staff and access.

An ingest token

One per server, and it is what binds the server to your account. See Get an ingest token.

What you do not need

• A build toolchain. Cerebrust.cs is a single source file; Oxide compiles it in place. There is no .dll to build, no Visual Studio, no NuGet.
• A database, or any infrastructure of your own. CerebRUST is hosted.
• Other plugins. CerebRUST has no plugin dependencies.
• RCON exposed to the internet. The plugin does not use RCON; console access is only for you to run the reload command.

Compatibility notes

• CerebRUST calls the standard Oxide hooks and does not replace vanilla behaviour unless you switch on a gameplay feature. Running it alongside other plugins is normal.
• One exception is worth knowing about: the Furnace boost feature replaces Rust’s smelting loop entirely. If you run another smelting plugin, do not enable both.
• After each monthly Rust update, re-check any gameplay features you rely on. See Updating the plugin.