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Nexus Server Clustering - Rust Wiki

Rust Guide • Updated Mar 26, 2026

Clustering Rust Servers with Nexus

The highly ambitious Nexus System officially introduced server-to-server clustering to Rust. This allows server owners to link multiple dedicated servers together in a grid, enabling players to travel between entirely different servers—and different maps—seamlessly via boats or ferries. Here is an overview of how to set up clustering for your Supercraft machines.

What is the Nexus System?

In standard Rust, reaching the edge of the ocean simply results in death by radiation. With the Nexus system enabled, sailing to the edge of the map transfers your player data, inventory, and vehicle directly onto the adjacent server seamlessly. This allows network owners to effectively create massive MMO-like worlds, linking snowy plains servers with barren desert servers!

Setting up the Network

Setting up a Nexus cluster requires you to have full administrative access over two or more Rust servers running on identical build versions. You will need to configure the server.cfg files carefully to ensure they can talk to each other.

  1. On Server A, open your configuration file and assign the server a distinct Nexus endpoint and the shared secret string that will authorize the data transfer: 
    nexus.endpoint "SERVER_A_IP:PORT"
nexus.secret "YourHighlySecureSecretString123"
  2. On Server B, do the exact same thing, utilizing its own IP but the identical secret string: 
    nexus.endpoint "SERVER_B_IP:PORT"
nexus.secret "YourHighlySecureSecretString123"
  3. Finally, you must map the grid. Server A needs to know where Server B exists physically relative to itself. This requires defining the map boundaries in the startup logic using the nexus.models logic (typically configured via JSON or advanced startup parameters according to Facepunch's official Nexus documentation).

Database Requirements

Because players are transferring between distinct servers, you can no longer rely on local SQLite databases for blueprints and clans. To cluster properly with Nexus, you must set up an external MySQL or MariaDB server, and point both Server A and Server B to the same database. This ensures that when a player learns a blueprint on Server A, they still know it when they cross the ocean to Server B.

Because clustering adds significant network overhead, you need hosts with fantastic backbones. Build your massive Rust network today using Supercraft's premier data centers.

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