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Oxide (uMod) and Carbon are the two modding frameworks for Rust servers. Both run C# plugins: Oxide is the long-standing standard with the uMod plugin library, and Carbon is a newer framework that aims to run Oxide plugins without changes. You can only run one at a time. On FREAKHOSTING you choose with Plugin framework in Server settings and restart.

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What is Oxide?

Oxide is the framework most Rust plugins are written for. The panel’s Find on uMod tab lists about 1,400 Rust plugins from uMod. Facepunch’s Oxide page describes it as the framework server owners use to install and manage plugins.

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What is Carbon?

Carbon is a newer modding framework. Facepunch’s Carbon page and the Carbon documentation say it aims to run existing Oxide plugins without patches, uses Harmony, loads hooks only when a plugin needs them and can hot-reload with carbon.reload. It uses its own commands with the c. prefix, such as c.grant, c.revoke, c.group, c.usergroup, c.load, c.reload and c.unload.

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Which should I choose?

  • Choose Oxide if you want the simplest path on our panel. The Plugins page searches uMod and installs into /oxide/plugins in one click, and most plugin guides are written for Oxide.
  • Choose Carbon if you want Carbon’s features and are happy to manage plugins in carbon/plugins with the File Manager or SFTP.
Check each plugin’s own page for notes about Carbon.

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How to choose a framework on FREAKHOSTING

1

Back up

Create a backup before you change frameworks.
2

Open Server settings

In the Game Panel, click Server settings under RUST and scroll to Security and plugins.
3

Pick the framework

Set Plugin framework to Vanilla (no plugins), Oxide (uMod) or Carbon. This is the Modding Framework Startup variable.
4

Save and restart

Click Review and save, then restart. The framework is installed as the server starts.

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How to move from Oxide to Carbon

The Carbon migration guide says:
  • Carbon and Oxide can’t run together.
  • On its first start, Carbon copies Oxide’s config, data, lang and user and group data into its own folders automatically. The automatic migration only runs the first time Carbon starts.
  • Oxide’s config folder is called configs in Carbon.
  • Oxide extensions (Oxide.Ext.*.dll in RustDedicated_Data/Managed) go into Carbon’s extensions folder.
  • o. commands don’t work in Carbon; use c. commands.
If the switch doesn’t go cleanly, restore your backup or open a ticket.

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Frequently asked questions

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Can I use uMod plugins on Carbon?

Carbon aims to run most Oxide plugins unchanged. Put the .cs file in carbon/plugins. Check the plugin’s page for Carbon notes.

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Does the Plugins page work with Carbon?

The Plugins page manages /oxide/plugins. On Carbon, manage plugin files in carbon/plugins with the File Manager or SFTP.

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Which framework uses less CPU?

Carbon says it is built to lower CPU and memory overhead. Real results depend mostly on which plugins you run and how many players you have.

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How do I check which framework is running?

Type oxide.version in the console for Oxide. The Plugins page also shows the framework set in Startup.

Rust server guide

Every Rust page in one place.

Install Oxide and plugins

One-click plugins from uMod.

Performance and memory

Keep your server smooth.

Server settings explained

Where Plugin framework lives.
Tested by the FREAKHOSTING team on our Game Panel on 31 October 2026 (Rust dedicated server; framework switch tested with Oxide.Rust 2.0.7839). Carbon details checked against the official Carbon documentation on 31 October 2026. Steps may differ slightly if the game changes.

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Need Extra Help?

If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:

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Last Updated: October 2026