Skip to main content

Minecraft Server Hosting Guide

 If you’ve been gaming online for any time at all, then you’ve probably been drawn into the world of Minecraft. Playing Minecraft is fun, but what about when you want to customize the rules of the game and have your friends join in on the fun? The answer is running your own Minecraft server. Below, we show you how you can create your very own Minecraft server. It is a bit technical in nature, but we have made it simple to understand even if you not a tech-savvy person.

Make sure you have the correct hardware for Minecraft Server

Hardware configuration

The first thing that you need to check is whether you have the correct hardware in order to create your own Minecraft server or not. It cannot function properly on the regular PC because the processor is not very powerful in such devices. As you wish to play with many friends, the multiplayer version of Minecraft requires all of them to connect to a single server which is why it is very important for this server to be strong enough. It is better to avoid setting up the Minecraft server on your PC because it takes up a lot of space and tends to reduce the computer’s capacity to perform other tasks.

If you want the action to be displayed with clarity on your screen and run smoothly without glitches, the computer needs to have a dual-core processor which is over 2.8 GHz. You also need to have Java on your computer. If it is not already installed, you can do so by downloading it online. Automatic backup capabilities are really important so that information does not disappear all of a sudden if the system stops working.

Having more than 6 GB RAM in order to run the server on your computer and play the game with other players is a good option. However, this requirement changes according to the type of server you choose to make. Now let’s move on to some network settings.

Network configuration

There are specific network requirements as well. Continuous high-speed internet connection with a static IP is required which can only be provided by the data center and hosting providers. The game needs to run on a fast server so that it can get uploaded quickly. The general speed of uploading needs to be at least 10MB/s. If you host the Minecraft server on your computer, you need to give out your IP to other players. This can make your network vulnerable to DDoS attacks because anybody can bring down the local area network anytime. So, it is very important to find out whether your network has DDoS protection. If not, then you should get it installed before starting the process of making the server. After these hardware requirements are met, you can move on to selecting the right Minecraft server for your computer.

Types of servers

There are mainly two types of servers that you can create. The first type is the Standard Vanilla server which requires just 1GB space to get initiated. You can choose this server if you want only a few players to be included on the server as this is a private server. But where’s the fun in that? If you choose to share the Minecraft server with a lot of players all over the world, you need to go for Bukkit. This is a public server which requires more than 2GB RAM space because of the mods and plugins as well as the number of players on the server.
What to do after selecting the server type? – Here’s the answer!


Choose the correct OS and additional applications as per requirement

The two most popular web hosting platforms include Windows and Linux. You can choose either of the two according to your requirements. Though both these web hosting platforms perform the same function essentially, there are certain differences in form as well as features.

The first point of difference is that Linux is absolutely free whereas Windows operating system charges a licensing fee. It is fun to have free software for gaming.

Another point is that there is a range of open-source applications available on the web for Linux whereas such apps for Windows OS are very few in number.

Files are case sensitive in case of Linux but not in Windows. Control panels like WHM or cPanel are used by Linux whereas Windows makes use of Plesk.

Enough of differences. Here are some of the features of both these operating systems to help you in making a better choice:

Linux

There are Linux options available for any kind of program. It is a very versatile platform and more popular than Windows because it facilitates a large user base and the running of cloud platforms.

It is considered to be the most secure operating system available because it is regularly audited. Security experts from IBM and Intel add to the layers of security periodically. Data remains protected and security breaches are rare. Isn’t that great?


Linux comes with plenty of applications and tools which you can utilize to suit the changing needs of your server. There is no need for data migrations because Linux users can seamlessly switch from one operating system to another. This is really handy.

Windows

The best part about Windows is that you get access to a whole range of licensed tools for document management in the form of Microsoft Access. Other web development tools like Microsoft FrontPage, Visual Basic, Microsoft SQL and Visual Interdev can also be used if Windows is chosen as the server host. Almost everyone is familiar with the Windows OS which makes it very easy to use.

Ultimately, the choice depends on the type of operating system are you more comfortable in using. Choose the one you are familiar with because both perform similar functions.
Once the choice is made, here’s the process you can follow to install the server and get started with Minecraft.

How to Install and setup a Minecraft Server

The steps for installation for both the Vanilla and Bukkit versions for Windows as well as Linux as given here so that you face no problem in getting Minecraft.

Vanilla server for Windows

  • The first thing you need to do is download the latest Java version and install it.
  • Now create a folder for your Minecraft server.
  • Now go to Minecraft website to download the .jar version on your computer. The multiplayer server option should be selected and the file should be placed in the Minecraft server folder.
  • After the download, you need to run the file using below command in the command line prompt.
  • java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar minecraft_server.1.12.2.jar

    Note: If you receive an error then you just need to open eula.txt file and change eula=true and save the file and run the command again.

  • If you are looking further to customize your server, you can check out The MineCraft Guide and look for topic ‘Configuring from the command line’.
  • You need to open the server properties with the help of Notepad and change certain settings. You can set a level name for your Minecraft world. If the option of spawn-monsters is set as false, you can change it to true so that the zombies, creepers and skeletons can spawn. The same process can be repeated with spawn-animals. To activate the damage option, you need to change the setting of ‘pvp’ to true. There are various other server properties which you can change this way.
  • The next step is to join the server for which you need your public IP address.
    After locating it through the help of an IP finder, you need to forward the port. For this, you need to place your IPv4 address in your Router’s Port configuration area.
  • When it is set, you can give this external IP address to as many friends as you like and invite them to join your server. One important point to remember is to keep the Minecraft server file open while playing both the single and multiplayer versions.
  • Bukkit server for Windows

  • Download the Bukkit server from here.
  • After creating the folder for Minecraft server, you need to go to the website of Bukkit and download the .jar file to get it for your computer.
  • The file needs to be placed in the folder.
  • Then you need to open Notepad and paste the following sequence.
    @ECHO OFF
    SET BINDIR=%~dp0
    CD /D "%BINDIR%"
    java -Xmx1G -Xms1G -jar craftbukkit.jar
    PAUSE
  • You can save the file as ‘startserver.bat’ in the Minecraft folder.
  • When you want to start playing, you just need to click on this file to get the game uploaded on the screen. 

  • Vanilla server for Linux or Mac

  • If you choose Mac OS or Linux, you need to go to the website of Minecraft and download the .jar version under the option of Multiplayer server.
  • Once again the file needs to be placed in a folder dedicated to Minecraft.
  • You need to go to TextEdit and choose the make plain text option from the format menu. On the blank document, you need to paste the following.
  • #!/bin/bash
    cd "$(dirname "$0")"
    exec java -Xmx1G -Xms1G -jar minecraft_server.jar

  • Just save this file as startserver.command and place it in the Minecraft folder on your computer.
  • The next step is to open Terminal. This option can be found in the launchpad or spotlight.
  • You need to paste chmod a+x and then drag the startserver.command to this window. When the file name shows, you need to hit enter.
  • The last task is to open the startserver.command file to load the game.
  • Bukkit server for Linux or Mac

  • To download the Bukkit version, you need to create a Minecraft folder.
  • Then you need to go to the website of Bukkit and download the .jar version and place it in the folder created.
  • Open the TextEdit option choose the plain text option. The command sequence that needs to be pasted there is as below:
    #!/bin/bash
    cd "$( dirname "$0" ) "
    java -Xmx1G -Xms1G -jar craftbukkit.jar
  • This file needs to be saved as startserver.command and put into the folder.
  • The Terminal needs to be opened and chmod a+x pasted along with startserver.command after which you can press enter.
  • The file startserver.command needs to be clicked on in order to load the game.
  • Once the installation is done, you are ready to rock. Just invite your friends and enjoy the game!
  • Invite Friends And Play

    When the server is successfully hosted on the operating system, you can start playing the game with your friends. You can invite a few of your close friends to join the server by giving them the IP address if you opt for the Vanilla server. In case you choose the Bukkit server or any other similar public server, you need to get hold of other players.

    How Can You Do This?

    One way of getting more players is to go to the Minecraft forums to get in touch with various Minecraft players and inviting them to play on your server. It is actually a lot of fun to play with so many participants.

    Minecraft lists are another way to advertise your server. You can visit such lists and add your listing to find new players.

    Social media is a great way to promote your server. You can regularly post information related to Minecraft and place screenshots of your gameplay and interact with other players of Minecraft online.

    Once you have a group of interested Minecraft players for your server, you can start playing the game on the new server. When you open the Minecraft startserver file, you are given the option of choosing the mode of playing. Just click on the multiplayer option in order to connect to a multiplayer server like yours. If the computer that you are playing on is the same one on which you have installed your Minecraft server, then you just need to type ‘localhost’ to get the IP address on the screen. If not, then you can enter the IP address manually and click on connect to join the server.

    Hitting the T button brings up the chat option where you can find all your chats and commands in one place. You can send messages to other players and give more commands. As you are the operator, you can select items for other players as well as for yourself and prohibit or pardon individual players. It’s cool to have such control over the game! The only thing left to do now is to enjoy the game with multiple players and build huge structures, landscapes, and mountains. Get unlimited access to these games through your server and add mods and worlds to make the games more exciting.

    Conclusion

    Follow the steps given above to create your own Minecraft server either on Windows or Linux. Share it with other players to increase the fun and make the game more challenging. As Minecraft is a sandbox online video game, it offers an endless scope of exploring the different versions. Be prepared to be constantly surprised with the variety. Try out the tips given here and launch your own Minecraft server as soon as possible to unleash the excitement.


    Comments

    Popular posts from this blog

    Online Logo Makers & Generators to Design Your Brand

    Are you the company manager or influencer? Do you manage a brand? Then, this post is just for you as it looks at the best online logo makers and generators to design your brand. It is crucial that you use the best service in order to best represent the brand. The brand plays a vital role in making people remember your business and aids in recall. If you are looking for a platform to make a logo for your online business, then, you need to check out Turbologo . It provides you with simple tools which you can use to make a unique logo for your business. You do not have to worry about pre-created pages.   Original Logo When you use Turbologo, you get to take advantage of the platform’s ability to generate an original logo that consists of a combination of fonts, colors, styles, and etc. Creating a unique design for your brand just got a whole lot easier with Turbologo. Since you need to design a logo that has never been used and is unique, you need to use a logo maker platf...

    Tarot for Beginners - How to Read Tarot Cards Guide

    Are you intrigued by the mystical world of tarot? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Our Tarot for Beginners - How to Read Tarot Cards Guide is your golden ticket to this enchanting realm. Let’s dive right in! What are Tarot Cards? Tarot cards are a deck of 78 cards used for divination. They have been used since the 15th century and are rich in symbolism and history. Why Use Tarot Cards? People use tarot cards for various reasons such as guidance, self-reflection, and even as a tool for meditation. It's not just about predicting the future, but understanding oneself and the surrounding energies. Getting Started with Tarot Cards To get started, you’ll need a tarot deck. Choose one that resonates with you. Create a calm space, shuffle the cards while thinking of a question or intention, and draw a card. Understanding Tarot Spreads A tarot spread is the arrangement of cards drawn. The most common is the three-card spread representing past, present, and future. Experiment with diffe...

    Effective Ways to Use Promo Codes to Boost Sales

    Customers are always on the lookout for good deals and promotions. They want to ensure that they save money when shopping. This is why it is crucial for companies to think of creative and profitable ways to convince customers to make a purchase. In recent times, promo codes have become extremely popular. Just about every company offers some type of promo code to its customers. It is an effective technique to push potential customers and convert them into sales. Studies show that customers who receive personalized recommendations, promotions, or coupons are more likely to buy a product or service. Email marketing automation can be leveraged to incentivize customers into making use of their promo codes as all the advanced features and data makes it possible to do so. Promo codes are one of the most effective ways to boost sales. They can be used strategically to boost loyalty and increase revenue. The following ways will help you boost sales by using promo codes. 1. Make Personal...