How To Make A Great Minecraft Server
You've slain the Ender Dragon, conquered the Nether, and built your own pixelated replica of King's Landing. Now what? You may be wondering what to do next. 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.
Perhaps you've tried mods on your computer. Maybe you've tried your hand on one of the thousands available online player-run servers. 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
First released in 2011, Minecraft is a sandbox survival game created by Swedish developer Markus Pearson. Minecraft's unique visual style, consisting entirely of blocksy characters and other objects, quickly made it a household favorite.
Minecraft is unique in that it allows players to choose how they want to play. 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 stat makes Minecraft the best selling video game of all time.
Minecraft offers a variety of gameplay elements that include exploration, combat, resource gathering and environmental destruction.
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. After all, isn't mining imaginary diamonds and chopping down blocky trees more fun with friends?
Here's where the role of privately-owned Minecraft servers comes into play.
If you are looking to spice up your Minecraft experience, but feel hesitant about taking on the extra responsibilities of running your own server yourself, there are many online servers that can help. MinecraftServers.org lists thousands on-demand privately-hosted servers. It features detailed information on each server and each option. These servers can offer different experiences like PvP and Roleplaying, Factions and Challenges. This allows for almost endless possibilities within the familiar framework of Minecraft.
Sometimes, however, playing on a server designed by someone else is just not enough. We all want some 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 the ability to modify Minecraft's internal variables. By tweaking things like spawn rates of enemies and NPCs, overall difficulty, and physical parameters, you can shape the internal parameters of the game. This is not all. You can also add mods to the game server-wide using the many mods that have been created outside of the game.
Hosting your server allows you to control how the game is played and who plays it. Maybe you're a parent desiring greater control over your child's online interactions, or an avid role-player seeking like-minded players. By setting up your own server you can determine the type of community you want to build.
Like most things in Minecraft there is no real limit to your imagination.
Getting Started
Here are some things to know before you start:
First, a Minecraft server doesn't have to be on a top-of-the-line machine. That being said, it is advised to use a desktop over a laptop. Typically the performance and hardware will be better when compared to that of a notebook or equivalent. This is especially true for users who are playing on the same machine that hosts the server. Doing both simultaneously requires much more processing power to keep everything running smoothly.
Second, a wired ethernet connection is recommended over the use of wireless internet. A faster connection will increase game performance and reduce lag.
Third, home-hosting is not recommended, even though it may be possible. Home connections are generally slower and personal computers are usually weaker. The game's quality will suffer if there is not enough RAM. 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. Still have 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 to use a Debian 9 or Ubuntu 1804 server hosting service when you first start out. 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. It can be downloaded from Java's official site. You can verify if Java is installed by opening the command line and typing java –version. If Java is installed, the query will return a version. By comparing this number against the most recent version listed on Java's site, you can ensure that your version is current.
Finally, make sure you secure your server from the beginning. It's much easier to prevent unauthorized users from accessing your server than it is to get rid of access once they have been in. Updates are automatically installed. 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): OpenJDK installation instructions can be found on their website. Now it is time to set up your server. These are the steps to get your server running.
Open your terminal, and enter the command: mkdir Minecraft_Server. 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 your directories, use the command ls
To change your current directory to the designated folder on your server, use cd Minecraft_Server
To launch the server use the command Java -Xms1G or -Xmx1G to run the command server.jar. 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. You can use nogui to start the server without its user interface. Or, you can use the -o true option to tell it to run online, allowing only authenticated users access.
After entering the command above, you should see the following output:
[main/ERROR] Failed to load properties from the file: server.properties
[main/WARN]: Failed to load eula.txt
[main/INFO] You must agree to the EULA to run the server. For more information, visit eula.txt
If this is your first time running the server, an EULA (End User License Agreement) file should be generated. You must agree to the EULA before you can play. You can do this using your favorite text editor, or by using the following command in your command window: nano eula.txt
Once you have opened the text file, change eula from false to true. eula=true This is a sign that you have read the license agreement and agree to it.
Now you can save your file and launch the server 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 run your server from the command line above if you wish. A script can be created to run the command on your behalf.
Create a new document. You can call this document anything you like, but for this article let us name it server.sh.
Within the new document, enter the following lines:
#!/bin/sh
java -Xms1024M -Xmx1024M -jar minecraft_server.1.14.4.jar
Now that you've created your document, in the terminal, type chmod +x server.sh.
Now, you can use this command to start your server.
/server. sh to start it and stop it.
Lastly, to make sure your server runs correctly without an SSH connection, it is advised to run your server from within a GNU Screen session. To do this, run your startup script before you use the screen command. If you have already signed the EULA, the console will automatically generate the 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" in the list at the top of the screen, then click on "Add Server."
Enter a name to your server, then enter the IP Address into appropriate fields. Click "Done" when you are done.
Then, in order to play, just click "Join Server." Your server has now been set up. The Minecraft Wiki can be consulted if you have any questions or encounter any issues. It provides a wealth of additional information that may be helpful to your particular needs.
Customizing Your Minecraft Server
When your server.sh script starts, a default set of variables will be used to generate a new world. Let's say, however that you wish to create your custom variables for the server's world. After all, customization is probably what got you interested in hosting your own server in the first place.
So how do you do that? Easy.
Start by opening the server.properties. Once the file is open, you'll see a long list properties with numbers and true/false assertions. You can adjust the variables in this table to control how your server generates the world.
For example, if you want a world where no monsters spawn, scroll down the list until you see the line spawn-monsters=true. Change the true to fals. Now, until this value is changed back to its default setting, monsters won't spawn in your world.
Pretty cool right?
Check out this page of Minecraft wiki for a complete list and explanations of all variables. Remember that any changes will not take effect unless your server is restarted.
What if these options aren't enough though? Perhaps you are interested in customizing the server beyond what is required by the game. External modifications are required to accomplish this.
There are many websites and videos on the internet that list the best Minecraft mods. With so many options, it's important to understand how each mod functions as well as any potential conflicts it may have with other mods. A quick Google search will get you started if you are interested in adding mods on to your server.
Looking for a good start point? For an extensive list of downloadable mods you can begin experimenting with, check out MINECRAFTMODS.com.
Minecraft servers
Next steps
You have now set up your server and modified the default variables. What now?
Now that you have learned how to create a Minecraft server, it is time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. You'll need other players to join the server, unless you want to play in an unpopulated world. These might be friends or possibly even 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 elements that will make your server unique. 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. Your digital world can be made a source of income by selling unique cosmetic products or joining memberships. 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.
Chances are, you have a lot to learn before you reach these top-performing servers. After all, 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 is up and running too, where you go and what you do is entirely up to you.
Now it is your turn!
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Written by Sean Kelly
Additional Links
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