How to Host a Minecraft Server on Ubuntu – A Comprehensive Guide for Devs

Greetings, Devs! If you’re a Minecraft enthusiast and want to host your own server, you’ve come to the right place! Setting up a Minecraft server on Ubuntu may seem daunting, but with this step-by-step guide, you’ll be up and running in no time. Let’s dive in!

Requirements

Before we get started, let’s talk about the hardware and software requirements you’ll need:

Hardware	Software
At least 2 CPU cores	Ubuntu 18.04 or later
4 GB of RAM	Java runtime environment
10 GB of free storage	Minecraft server software

Hardware Requirements

Your server’s hardware needs to be powerful enough to handle multiple players and game worlds. Fail to meet these standards, and your server could lag or crash. Here are some recommended specifications:

CPU: At least two CPU cores, clocked at a minimum of 2 GHz.

RAM: At least 4 GB is required to run the server, although it’s recommended you aim for 8 GB or more if you expect the server to handle a lot of traffic.

Storage: You’ll need around 10 GB of storage space for your server files, although you can easily expand this as necessary.

Software Requirements

In addition to the hardware requirements for your server, you’ll also need a few key pieces of software to get things up and running. Here’s what you’ll need:

Ubuntu: The server operating system of choice. You’ll want to install Ubuntu 18.04 or later to use this guide.

Java runtime environment: Minecraft is written in Java, so you’ll need to install a Java runtime environment to run the server software.

Minecraft server software: Lastly, you’ll need the Minecraft server software itself. We’ll cover how to obtain and install this software later on in the guide.

Setting Up the Server

Now that you have all the necessary hardware and software, it’s time to move on to the actual setup process. Follow these instructions to get your server up and running:

Step 1: Install Ubuntu

If you don’t already have Ubuntu installed on your server, start by installing it. You can download the latest version of Ubuntu from the official website.

Note: If you’re using a cloud hosting provider, you may be able to skip this step since Ubuntu is often pre-installed on cloud servers. Check with your provider to confirm.

Step 2: Install Java

The next step is to install the Java runtime environment. Open up a terminal window and enter the following command:

sudo apt-get install openjdk-8-jre-headless -y

This will install the latest version of Java on your server.

Step 3: Download and Install Minecraft Server Software

Now that you have Java installed, it’s time to download and install the Minecraft server software. Here’s how:

1. Visit the official Minecraft website and download the server software.
2. Copy the downloaded file to your server using a tool like SCP or SFTP.
3. Open up a terminal window and navigate to the directory where you copied the server file.
4. Run the following command to start the server:

java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar minecraft_server.jar nogui

The above command sets the initial and maximum memory allocation for the server to 1 GB. You can adjust the values if your server needs more memory. The “-nogui” option tells the server to run without a graphical user interface.

Step 4: Configure Your Server Settings

Once you’ve started the server, you’ll want to configure a few settings to get it up and running the way you want it. Here’s how:

1. Open up the server.properties file using a text editor.
2. Make any desired changes, such as setting the game mode, server name, and difficulty level.
3. Save the file and restart the server for the changes to take effect.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Connect to My Minecraft Server?

To connect to your server, you’ll first need to know the server’s IP address. Once you have that, you can join the server by entering the IP address into Minecraft’s multiplayer menu.

How Do I Add Plugins or Mods to My Server?

You can add plugins or mods to your server simply by copying them to the “plugins” or “mods” directory in your server files. Once you restart the server, the new plugins or mods will be available.

How Do I Set Up Backups for My Server?

To set up automatic backups for your server, you can use a tool like Cron to schedule regular backups of your server files to an external location.

What Can I Do If My Server is Lagging or Crashing?

If your server is experiencing lag or crashing, there are a few things you can do to try and improve its performance:

• Lower the view distance in the server settings.
• Reduce the number of active players on the server.
• Optimize your server settings for better performance.

Where Can I Find More Information About Minecraft Servers?

If you need more information about Minecraft servers or want to connect with other Minecraft enthusiasts, check out the official Minecraft community forums or visit sites like Reddit or Minecraft.net.

Conclusion

And that’s it! With this guide, you should now be able to set up your own Minecraft server on Ubuntu and start playing with friends or other Minecraft enthusiasts. Remember to keep your server updated and secure, and happy gaming!