How To Make A Great Minecraft Server
You've defeated the Ender Dragon, conquered and built your own pixelated version of King's Landing. Now what? Although Minecraft is a game with endless possibilities, once you've played the base game, you might be asking "How do I recreate that feeling of magic I felt my first time around?" Thanks to the plethora of options available with custom Minecraft servers, building your own Minecraft server could be just the remedy you're looking for.
Maybe you've experimented with mods on your laptop. Perhaps you have tried your hand at one the thousands of online player-run server. You could be a complete Minecraft beginner or a seasoned player. You're probably reading this article because you want to know how to create a Minecraft server. Let's start with the basics.
History of Minecraft
Minecraft was first released in 2011 by Markus Pearson, a Swedish developer. Minecraft is a blocky, visual game that combines blocksy characters with objects. It quickly became a household name thanks to its unique visual style.
Minecraft is unique because it allows players freedom to play the way they want. Minecraft has many gameplay elements that include exploration, combat, resource gathering and environmental destruction. Minecraft has sold more that 176 million copies across all platforms as of May 2019. This impressive statistic makes Minecraft the greatest-selling videogame of all time.
Featuring gameplay elements that mix environmental destruction, architectural construction, exploration, combat, resource gathering, and crafting, Minecraft offers something for everyone.
High levels of customization are a major reason for this success. This is true not only for the single-player game but also for the multiplayer experience. Why isn't it more fun to mingle imaginary diamonds or cut down blocky trees with friends?
Here's where the role of privately-owned Minecraft servers comes into play.
There are many specialized servers that can be used to enhance your Minecraft experience. gslist MinecraftServers.org lists thousands on-demand privately-hosted servers. Alongside each option, it features in-depth information on what makes each server unique. By offering different experiences such as PvP, Roleplaying, Factions, and Challenges, these servers can vary widely from one to another. This allows for almost endless possibilities within the familiar framework of Minecraft.
However, sometimes, playing on a server built to someone else's specifications just isn't enough. We all crave a certain degree of control in our lives. Why should digital life be any different? By hosting your own Minecraft server, you are gaining exactly that: the power to build your world the way you desire and share that world with other players.
Hosting your own server gives access to the ability to change variables in Minecraft. You can change things like the spawn rate of enemies and NPCs or the difficulty level. That's not all though. You can also add server-wide modifications from the extensive list of mods available outside of the game.
Hosting your server allows for you to have control over the game's play and also gives you control over who is playing it. You might be a parent looking to give more control over your child’s online interactions, or a passionate role-player looking for other like-minded gamers. You can create the community you want by setting your own server.
Like most things within Minecraft, there is no limit to what the user can imagine.
Getting Started
Starting out, there are a few things you should know:
First, a Minecraft server doesn't have to be on a top-of-the-line machine. It is recommended to use a desktop computer over a laptop. Usually, a desktop will perform better than a notebook. This is especially true if the user is also playing on the same machine hosting the server. Both tasks require more processing power in order to keep everything running smoothly.
A wired ethernet connection should be preferred to wireless internet. A faster connection will result in better game performance and less lag.
Third, home-hosting, while possible, is not recommended. Home connections tend to be slower and personal computers typically are weaker. Without adequate RAM, the game's quality will be low. Professional hosting services will be more beneficial.
*NOTE: If you're curious about what specs to look for in a Minecraft server, check out Jason's guide on Minecraft Server Buying. Are you still having questions? Our sales team will be happy to help you build a Minecraft server. They will be happy to help you.
Fourth, it is recommended when starting out to use a server hosting service running Debian 9 or Ubuntu 18.04. Both options offer stable and safe environments that are perfect for learning the basics.
Fifth, Minecraft runs using Java. Before setting up your server, you'll want to make sure you have the latest version of Java installed. You can download it from Java’s official website. If you are not sure if you have Java or which version you have, you can check by opening the command window and using the command java -version. If Java is installed, this query will return a version number. You can verify your version by comparing it with the Java site's most recent version.
Keep your server secure right from the beginning. It's easier to prevent access from unauthorized users than it is to remove access once they're already in. You should install updates as soon as they become available. Your system will be more likely to close loopholes before these become exploited. Setting Up Your Minecraft Server
Don't worry, the above image is intentionally misleading. If you aren't building your server from scratch, you won't need any power tools for setting it up.
A Minecraft server doesn't have to be on a top-of-the-line machine.
However, before you can set up your Minecraft server, you will need the following:
Java Minecraft can be purchased via Minecraft's official website.
The latest version Minecraft Multiplayer Server
OpenJDK (an open-source implementation of Java): installation instructions for OpenJDK can be found on their official website Now it's time to setup your server. These steps will get you server up and running.
Enter the command mkdir Minecraft_Server into your terminal. This creates a directory specific to your Minecraft server.
Next, you will need to place the server.jar file that you just downloaded into your newly created directory.
To list all directories, enter the command "ls".
Use cd Minecraft_Server to change your current directory to your server's designated folder.
Use the command java.xms1G.xmx1G.jar to launch the server. Xms and Xmx represent the starting and maximum RAM respectively, and server.jar is the name of your Minecraft server's version number. If you're using Minecraft server.1.15.2.jar (current as of this articles publication), then your command should look something like this:
java -Xms1024M -Xmx1024M -jar minecraft_server.1.15.2.jar
If needed, additional information can be added to the end of this line. Use nogui if you want to start the server without its graphical user interface, or -o true to tell the server to run in online mode, only allowing access by authenticated users.
After entering the command, you should see this output:
[main/ERROR]: Failed to load properties from file: server.properties
[main/WARN] Failed to load the eula.txt
[main/INFO]: To run the server, you must agree to the EULA. For more information, go to eula.txt
If you are a first-time user of the server, a EULA (End User License Agreement), file must be created. Before you can play, you must agree with the EULA. This can be done using your favorite text editor or through your command window using the following command: nano eula.txt.
Once you've opened your text file, change its eula field to true. This signifies that you have read and accepted the license agreement.
You can now save the file and launch your server once again. Your server will continue to shut down after it is started up if you do not change this field in the eula.txt file. Creating a Startup Script
You can also run your server every time you wish using the command line shown above. Alternatively, it's a good idea to create a script that will run the command for you instead.
Create a new document. You can name this document whatever you like, but for the sake of this article, lets name it server.sh.
In the new document, type the following lines.
#!/bin/sh
java -Xms1024M -Xmx1024M -jar minecraft_server.1.14.4.jar
Once you have created your document in the terminal, enter chmod +x server.sh
You can now use the command if you want to start your server.
/server. sh to start it up and stop to stop it.
It is recommended that your server be run from within a GNU Screen session in order to ensure it runs correctly without an SSH Connection. To do this, run your startup script before you use the screen command. Assuming that you have already accepted the EULA, your console should automatically start generating the necessary configuration files. When you're ready to begin playing on your new server, just follow these 4 easy steps:
Start by opening Minecraft client and logging into it.
Select "Multiplayer", from the list on your home screen, and click "Add Server."
Create a name for your server, enter its IP Address into the appropriate form fields and click "Done" when you're finished.
Next, click "Join Server" to play. Your server is now operational. The Minecraft Wiki has all the information you need to help you with any problems, questions, or to change your operating system. It provides a wealth of additional information that may be helpful to your particular needs.
Customizing Your Minecraft Server
The default set of variables is used to create a world when your server.sh script runs for the first time. Let's say, however that you wish to create your custom variables for the server's world. Because customization is what probably got you interested in hosting your server.
How can you do that? Easy.
Start by opening the server.properties. Once you have opened the server.properties file, you will see a long listing of properties that has numbers and true/false statement associated with them. You can change the variables in the list to alter how the world generated by your server.
Scroll down the list until the line spawn_monsters=true appears. Change the true to false. Monsters won’t spawn in the world until this value has been restored to its default setting.
It's cool, right?
Check out this page of Minecraft wiki for a complete list and explanations of all variables. just keep in mind, in order for any changes to take effect, you'll need to restart your server.
But what if these options don't suffice? You may be interested in customizing server settings beyond those that are part of the game. External modifications are required to accomplish this.
There are many websites and videos on the internet that list the best Minecraft mods. There are so many options that you can choose from, it is important to understand how each mod works and any possible conflicts with other mods. You can add mods to your server by doing a quick Google search.
Looking for a good starting place? For an extensive list of downloadable mods you can begin experimenting with, check out MINECRAFTMODS.com.
Next steps
You have now set up your server and modified the default variables. Now what?
Now that you have learned how to create a Minecraft server, it is time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. You will need other players to join your server unless you plan to play in an empty world. These players could be close friends or strangers. You have to offer something unique to get people to play on your server.
Ultimately, what truly separates the best Minecraft servers from the rest is the community that supports them. Establishing guidelines, hiring staff to enforce and police your expectations, and creating interesting events to keep your players engaged. These are the things that will make your server stand out. You can advertise your server online through Youtube and Twitch to encourage new players.
A strong Minecraft server can even be profitable for its owner. You can make your digital world a source to income by selling unique cosmetics items or integrating membership fees. Many players are hosted on some of the most popular servers. They can make six figures per month if they leverage this in the right way.
You may still have some work to do before you reach the top-performing servers. Communities aren't built overnight. Regardless, the fact remains that these Minecraft servers all started the same way. Someone took a chance and decided to host their own server.
Ultimately, what truly separates the best Minecraft servers from the rest is the community that supports them.
Now that your world has started to run, you can choose where and what you do.
Now it's your turn
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Sean Kelly wrote this article
Additional Links
Are you looking for more information about Minecraft? Be sure to check out our comprehensive Minecraft Server Buying Guide.
When you're ready to build your ideal Minecraft server, head over to our complete list of instant deployment and custom built dedicated servers. Need personalized assistance for your server build? Contact our sales team for personalized assistance with your server build!
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