How to Host a Minecraft Server on AWS

Hey Dev, are you looking for a reliable and cost-effective way to host your own Minecraft server? Look no further than Amazon Web Services (AWS). In this article, we will guide you through the steps to set up and host your own Minecraft server on AWS. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Create an AWS Account

The first step is to sign up for an AWS account. If you already have an account, you can skip to the next step. To create an AWS account, visit the AWS website and click on the “Create a Free Account” button. Follow the instructions to set up your account.

Once you have an account, log in to the AWS Management Console.

Step 1.1: Configure Security Settings

Before you can start using your AWS account, you need to configure some security settings. Click on the “Security Credentials” link in the top-right corner of the console, and then click on “Access Keys (Access Key ID and Secret Access Key)”.

Click on the “Create New Access Key” button, and then download your access key and secret access key. Keep these credentials safe, as they will be used to access and manage your AWS resources.

Step 1.2: Create a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC)

Next, you need to create a VPC to provide a secure and isolated network environment for your Minecraft server. Click on the “VPC” link in the console, and then click on “Launch VPC Wizard”. Follow the wizard to create a new VPC.

Make sure to choose the appropriate IP address range for your VPC, and create a public subnet for your Minecraft server.

Step 2: Launch an EC2 Instance

Now that you have set up your AWS account and VPC, it’s time to launch an EC2 instance to host your Minecraft server. Follow these steps:

Step 2.1: Choose an AMI

Open the EC2 console and click on “Launch Instance”. Choose an Amazon Machine Image (AMI) that meets your needs. For Minecraft, we recommend using a Linux-based AMI with Java installed.

Step 2.2: Choose an Instance Type

Select an instance type that fits your needs. We recommend using an instance with at least 4GB of RAM and a reasonable amount of CPU power.

Step 2.3: Configure Instance Details

Make sure to select the VPC and subnet you created in Step 1.2. Configure any additional instance details as needed.

Step 2.4: Add Storage

Choose the size and type of storage you need for your EC2 instance. For Minecraft, we recommend using at least 20GB of SSD or EBS storage.

Step 2.5: Configure Security Group

Security groups act as virtual firewalls for your EC2 instance. Create a new security group that allows inbound traffic on port 25565, which is the default port for Minecraft.

Step 2.6: Review and Launch

Review your instance configuration, and launch your instance. Make sure to download the private key file, as you will need it to connect to your instance.

Step 3: Connect to Your Minecraft Server

Now that you have launched your EC2 instance, it’s time to connect to your Minecraft server. Follow these steps:

Step 3.1: Connect to Your Instance

Use the private key file you downloaded in Step 2.6 to connect to your EC2 instance using SSH. The user name will depend on the AMI you chose. For example, for an Ubuntu-based AMI, the user name is “ubuntu”.

Step 3.2: Install Java

Once you are connected to your instance, install Java if it is not already installed. Use the following command:

sudo apt-get updatesudo apt-get install default-jre

Step 3.3: Download and Run the Minecraft Server

Download the Minecraft server .jar file from the official Minecraft website. Use the following command:

wget https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/3dc3d84a581f14691199cf6831b71ed1296a9fdf/server.jar

Start the Minecraft server using the following command:

java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar server.jar nogui

Replace “1024M” with the amount of memory you want to allocate to the server, in megabytes.

Step 4: Configure Your Minecraft Server

Now that your Minecraft server is up and running, it’s time to configure it to your liking. Follow these steps:

Step 4.1: Accept the EULA

Before you can start your Minecraft server, you need to accept the End User License Agreement (EULA). Open the “eula.txt” file in your Minecraft server directory, and change “eula=false” to “eula=true”.

Step 4.2: Configure Server Settings

Open the “server.properties” file in your Minecraft server directory to configure your server settings. You can change the server name, difficulty, game mode, and more.

Step 4.3: Add Plugins and Mods

You can customize your Minecraft server even further by adding plugins and mods. There are many resources available online to help you find and install plugins and mods, such as CurseForge.

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