Host Minecraft Server on AWS

Welcome Dev, are you looking to host your own Minecraft server on AWS? Look no further, as this guide will walk you through the steps necessary to set up your own server, optimize it for performance, and answer any questions you may have along the way.

Step 1: Creating an EC2 Instance

The first step in hosting a Minecraft server on AWS is creating an EC2 instance. An EC2 instance is a virtual machine that runs on AWS infrastructure. Follow these steps to create an EC2 instance:

1. Log in to the AWS Management Console
2. Navigate to the EC2 dashboard
3. Click the “Launch Instance” button
4. Select the “Amazon Linux 2 AMI” as your operating system
5. Select an instance type – we recommend using a t2.micro instance for small servers
6. Configure instance details, such as network settings and storage
7. Review and launch your instance

Step 1.1: Connecting to Your EC2 Instance

Once your EC2 instance is up and running, you will need to connect to it to begin configuring your Minecraft server. Follow these steps to connect to your EC2 instance:

1. Download your private key file from the EC2 dashboard
2. Open a terminal or command prompt
3. Set permissions on your key file by running: chmod 400 /path/to/key.pem
4. Connect to your instance by running: ssh -i /path/to/key.pem ec2-user@instance_public_ip
5. You are now connected to your EC2 instance!

Step 2: Installing Dependencies

Before you can install and run your Minecraft server, you will need to install a few dependencies. Follow these steps to install the necessary packages:

1. Update your instance by running: sudo yum update -y
2. Install Java by running: sudo yum install java-1.8.0-openjdk -y
3. Install Screen by running: sudo yum install screen -y
4. You now have all the necessary dependencies to run Minecraft!

Step 3: Downloading and Running Minecraft

Now that your dependencies are installed, you can download and run the Minecraft server. Follow these steps to download and run Minecraft:

1. Download the server software by running: wget https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/<insert latest version number>/server.jar
2. Start a screen session by running: screen -S minecraft
3. Start the Minecraft server by running: java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar server.jar nogui
4. Exit the screen session by pressing CTRL+A, then d

Step 4: Configuring Your Minecraft Server

Your Minecraft server is up and running! However, there are a few additional settings you may want to configure for optimal performance. Follow these steps to configure your Minecraft server:

1. Open the server.properties file by running: nano server.properties
2. Modify settings such as server name, difficulty level, and maximum players
3. Save your changes and exit nano by pressing CTRL+X, then Y, then ENTER
4. Restart your Minecraft server by running: sudo systemctl restart minecraft.service

Step 5: Setting Up a Domain Name

By default, your Minecraft server will be accessible via its public IP address. However, you may want to set up a custom domain name for your server. Follow these steps to set up a domain name:

1. Register a domain name with a registrar such as Namecheap or GoDaddy
2. Create an “A” record in your domain’s DNS settings pointing to your instance’s public IP address
3. Update your Minecraft server’s server.properties file to use your custom domain name
4. You can now access your Minecraft server using your custom domain name!

FAQ

Congratulations, Dev! You now have your own Minecraft server running on AWS. Enjoy playing with your friends on your very own server, and feel free to refer back to this guide if you have any questions or issues along the way.