Using RCON to Remotely Manage Your Server

Overview

Remote Console (RCON) allows server owners to execute console commands securely from outside the server. You can change maps, kick players, reload configurations, and broadcast announcements via external desktop tools without opening the game or accessing the web control panel.

This guide demonstrates how to configure RCON in DustBowl Warden and establish secure remote connections.

Configuring RCON in server.cfg

1. Open your server in DustBowl Warden (https://warden.dustbowl.games).
2. Navigate to File Manager -> garrysmod/cfg/server.cfg.
3. Define a strong, random password and security throttling convars:

// RCON Configuration
rcon_password "SuperSecretAdminPassword123!"

// RCON Brute-Force Protection
sv_rcon_banpenalty 60       // Minutes to ban IPs that fail authentication
sv_rcon_maxfailures 5       // Maximum password attempts before ban
sv_rcon_minfailures 5       // Failures allowed in sample window
sv_rcon_minfailuretime 30   // Sample window in seconds

4. Save the file and restart the server.

Connecting via Desktop RCON Utilities

Popular desktop RCON tools include HLSW, Source RCON (SRCON), and mcrcon:

1. Launch your RCON client application.
2. Enter your server connection details:
   • Host / IP: Your DustBowl Warden public IP
   • Port: 27015 (or your assigned Warden primary port)
   • Password: The rcon_password set in server.cfg
3. Click Connect.
4. Test connectivity by running status in the command window.

Common RCON Commands

• changelevel <map>: Switches the current map immediately.
• ulx kick <player>: Kicks a player via ULX.
• exec server.cfg: Reloads your configuration file.
• say "Server restarting in 5 minutes": Broadcasts a global chat announcement.

Useful Interactive Tools

• Test RCON commands with the RCON Command & Configuration Helper.
• Manage admin permissions with the GMod ULX Admin Command Reference.