How to set up RCON on a WARDOGS dedicated server

What RCON gives you

RCON (remote console) is built into the WARDOGS dedicated server. It lets a tool you trust read the live player list — names, Steam IDs, faction, kills, deaths and ping — and run admin actions: message or kick a player, ban and unban, broadcast to everyone, change the map, end or restart the match.

WARPANEL uses it for the Live view, automatic welcome messages, ping rules, seeding alerts and scheduled broadcasts.

1. Find the RCON settings

RCON settings live in the server's ini under the section below. The default port is 7776.

[/Script/WDRCON.WDRCONSettings]
Port=7776
Password=pick-a-long-unique-password

1. 1Stop the server before editing the ini.
2. 2Set Password= to something long that you don't use anywhere else. If you leave it empty, the server writes a generated one to Saved/RCON/ADMIN-PASSWORD.txt on start.
3. 3Start the server again — settings are read at startup.

2. Open the port

The RCON port must be reachable from the internet. At a game host, look for "additional ports" or "port forwarding" in the panel; on your own machine, allow TCP 7776 in the firewall and forward it on the router.

Your host's panel shows the server's public IP. WARPANEL refuses private and local addresses, so use the public one.

3. Connect WARPANEL

Open WARPANEL → your server → Settings → RCON, enter the public IP, port and password, and press Test & save. WARPANEL checks the connection before storing anything.

1. 1The password is stored encrypted and never shown again — not even to you.
2. 2If the test fails: check the port is open (try it from outside your network), the password has no stray spaces, and the server was restarted after editing the ini.

Security notes

The game's RCON speaks plain HTTP, like the official console, so the password travels unencrypted to your server. Use a unique password and change it if you stop using a tool.

Give your team their own WARPANEL roles (owner, admin, moderator, viewer) instead of sharing the RCON password — every action in WARPANEL is logged with who did it.