How to Connect RCON Bots to Your Game Server

RCON (Remote Console) bots like POTBot, Discord bots, and other management tools need proper RCON configuration to control your server remotely. This guide covers everything you need to connect RCON bots successfully.

What is RCON?

RCON (Remote Console) is a protocol that allows remote administration of game servers. RCON bots use this protocol to:

• Execute server commands remotely
• Monitor server status and player activity
• Send automated messages and announcements
• Manage player kicks, bans, and whitelist
• Restart servers and run maintenance tasks
• Bridge chat between Discord and game servers

Popular RCON Bots

Path of Titans

• POTBot: Official Discord bot for Path of Titans servers
• Features: Chat relay, server stats, player profiles, shop systems

ARK: Survival Evolved/Ascended

• ARK Server Manager: Full server control and monitoring
• Community Discord Bots: Various chat relay and management bots

Rust, Minecraft, and Other Games

• Rustcord: Discord integration for Rust servers
• DiscordSRV: Minecraft Discord bridge
• Generic RCON Tools: Universal RCON clients

Prerequisites

Before connecting an RCON bot, you need:

1. RCON Enabled on Your Server
2. RCON Port Number (default varies by game)
3. RCON Password (set in server configuration)
4. Server IP Address
5. Bot Application (POTBot, Discord bot, etc.)

Step 1: Enable RCON on Your GameServersHub Server

For Path of Titans

1. Log into your GameServersHub panel
2. Go to your Path of Titans server
3. Navigate to Files → Config Files
4. Open Game.ini
5. Add or modify these lines:

[/Script/TheIsle.TIGameSession]
bRconEnabled=true
RconPassword="YourStrongPasswordHere"
RconPort=8888

6. Save the file
7. Restart your server

For ARK: Survival Evolved/Ascended

1. Access your server panel
2. Navigate to Configuration or Game Settings
3. Find the RCON section
4. Enable RCON
5. Set a strong RCON password
6. Note the RCON port (usually 27020 or 32330)
7. Save and restart

For Other Games

Check your game's specific documentation for RCON configuration. Common patterns:

• Look for rcon.password or RconPassword settings
• RCON ports are typically in the 8888-9999 or 27000-28000 range
• Always use a strong, unique password

Step 2: Port Forwarding (Self-Hosted Only)

GameServersHub Users

If you're using GameServersHub hosting, skip this step - ports are automatically configured.

If you're self-hosting, you must forward the RCON port:

1. Log into your router
2. Find Port Forwarding section
3. Create a new rule:
   • Protocol: TCP
   • External Port: Your RCON port (e.g., 8888)
   • Internal Port: Same as external
   • Internal IP: Your server's local IP
4. Save the rule

Step 3: Gather Connection Details

You'll need these details for your bot:

Detail	Example	Where to Find
Server IP	123.45.67.89	GameServersHub panel dashboard
RCON Port	8888	Your Game.ini or server config
RCON Password	MySecurePass123	What you set in config

Security

Never share your RCON password publicly. Treat it like a server password.

Step 4: Configure Your RCON Bot

POTBot (Path of Titans)

1. Invite POTBot to your Discord server (get invite from POTBot website)
2. Use the setup command in Discord:

   /setup

3. Enter your server details when prompted:
   • Server IP: Your GameServersHub IP
   • RCON Port: Your configured port (e.g., 8888)
   • RCON Password: Your password from Game.ini
4. POTBot will test the connection
5. If successful, configure additional features

Generic Discord RCON Bot

Most Discord RCON bots follow this pattern:

/server add
Server Name: My Path of Titans Server
Server IP: 123.45.67.89
RCON Port: 8888
RCON Password: YourPassword

Standalone RCON Clients

For desktop RCON tools like RconGUI, mcrcon, or SourceRCON:

1. Open the RCON client
2. Click Add Server or New Connection
3. Enter connection details:
   • Host: Your server IP
   • Port: Your RCON port
   • Password: Your RCON password
4. Click Connect or Test Connection
5. You should see a success message

Step 5: Test the Connection

Test with Commands

Once connected, try basic commands:

Path of Titans:

announce Welcome to the server!
listplayers
serverstatus

ARK:

broadcast Welcome!
ListPlayers
SaveWorld

General:

help
status
list

If commands work, your RCON bot is properly connected!

Common Issues and Solutions

Connection Refused / Timeout

Causes:

• RCON not enabled in server config
• Wrong IP or port
• Firewall blocking RCON port (self-hosted)
• Server is offline

Solutions:

1. Verify RCON is enabled in your config
2. Double-check IP address and port number
3. Ensure server is running
4. Test from a different network (to rule out local firewall)
5. Contact GameServersHub support if hosted with them

Authentication Failed / Wrong Password

Causes:

• Incorrect RCON password
• Special characters causing issues
• Password not saved properly

Solutions:

1. Verify password in your server config
2. Remove special characters (use only letters and numbers)
3. Update password in both server config and bot
4. Restart server after changing password

Commands Not Working

Causes:

• Connected but using wrong command syntax
• Insufficient permissions (some bots)
• Server doesn't support that command

Solutions:

1. Check game-specific command documentation
2. Verify bot has admin/RCON permissions
3. Try basic commands first (help, status)
4. Check bot logs for error messages

Bot Keeps Disconnecting

Causes:

• Server restarts breaking connection
• Network instability
• RCON timeout settings too aggressive

Solutions:

1. Enable auto-reconnect in bot settings
2. Increase RCON timeout values
3. Check server logs for restart reasons
4. Monitor network stability

Security Best Practices

✅ Use strong RCON passwords (12+ characters, mixed case, numbers, symbols) ✅ Never share RCON credentials publicly ✅ Limit RCON access to trusted bots and admins only ✅ Change RCON password if compromised ✅ Use different passwords for RCON and server join ✅ Monitor RCON logs for unauthorized access attempts ✅ Keep bot software updated to patch security vulnerabilities

Advanced Configuration

Multiple RCON Bots

You can connect multiple RCON bots to one server:

• Each bot uses the same RCON credentials
• Be aware of command conflicts
• Coordinate bot features to avoid duplicates

RCON Rate Limiting

Some servers limit RCON command frequency:

• Space out bot commands (1-2 seconds minimum)
• Avoid spam commands that could trigger rate limits
• Configure bot delays if available

Custom Bot Commands

Many RCON bots support custom commands:

1. Check bot documentation for custom command syntax
2. Create shortcuts for common server tasks
3. Set up automated schedules (restarts, announcements)

Recommended RCON Bots by Game

Game	Bot Name	Key Features
Path of Titans	POTBot	Chat relay, profiles, shop, stats
ARK	ARK Server Manager	Full control, scheduler, backups
Rust	Rustcord	Discord integration, chat bridge
Minecraft	DiscordSRV	Chat sync, player notifications
CS:GO/CS2	SourceMod RCON	Admin tools, player management

Need Help?

If you're having trouble connecting RCON bots:

• GameServersHub Support: Contact Page
• Discord Community: Join GSH Discord
• Bot-Specific Support: Check your bot's documentation or support server
• Forums: GameServersHub Forums

RCON bots greatly enhance server management and community engagement - get them set up today!