Hello! I am trying to start a rust server for me and my friends. I cannot connect to my server that is hosted locally on my network. The server is not being hosted on the client I'm trying to connect on. And I'm using the lan ip to attempt a connection. The port is set to 28015. Yet I still cannot join it when it queries to that port. I attempted an internal connection using my WAN IP, and externally through wan on another network to no avail. This signals to me that the server is not accepting connections period. My server.ip is set to all interfaces, my firewall settings are setup to allow the rust port range. The port range for rust is forwarded, yet rust+ tcp connection errors keep coming up and I can't connect to my server even locally on my network. They're should be no issues, and when I watch tutorials on how to do it and follow them TO A TEE, I still cannot establish a connection to my server. 

server.ip app.listenip and rcon.ip should all be set to 0 0 0 0

First of all make sure the RustDedicated process is actually running - if you're on linux you can do:

ps -ef |grep RustDedicated​

You should see RustDedicated with lots of parameters. Then check your rustserver logs to see if it started properly and there aren't any sudden failures.

If the server looks fine then double-check the LAN IP it's running on - normally 192 168 x x - then if you still can't connect on 192 168 x x:28015 you have some kind of rustserver issue, it's nothing to do with port forwarding or firewall.

the firewall deffo can have something to do with it, completely throwing out the possibility would be counterproductive, the firewall is hosted on the psysical server meaning that it filters requests from LAN too. This is always a possibility and would be my first suggestion to due the often-used default least access principles everyone should go by. the lan ip is static and outside of my networks dhcp scope (which DOESNT affect it) meaning that if I get a response from it when pinging it... that means its the one soul device that can have its ip. Moving on, as seen here the script starts normally with no sudden failures as previously mentioned.

"SteamServer Initialized
Server startup complete
SteamServer Connected
Checking for new Steam Item Definitions..
Rust+ companion server connectivity test failed! Disabling Rust+ features.

Could not establish a TCP connection to x.x.x.x:28083" this is the end of it (the x.x.x.x is in place of my WAN IP). It is also important to note that the firewall allows port 28083, and it is forwarded... 

Furthermore, it is my third install so any installation or setup errors are out of the question. Could you give me any more details about "you have some kind of rustserver issue"

You should not worry about the Rust+ connectivity at this point. It's more important to establish your game connection, you can worry about Rust+ later. Port forwarding is also something for later - at this stage you should be trying to connect on local IP to confirm your rustserver is working properly.

I've never heard of a firewall operating within a LAN but it's easy enough to rule it out as a possible cause - simply switch it off temporarily and see what happens.