How to Host a Minecraft Server on AWS

Hello Dev, are you interested in hosting your own Minecraft server but don’t want to worry about the hardware and maintenance? Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the perfect solution. In this article, we will guide you through the process of setting up a Minecraft server on AWS. Let’s dive in!

What is AWS?

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a cloud computing platform offered by Amazon, providing a wide range of services, including server hosting, storage, and database management. With AWS, you can quickly and easily set up virtual servers, known as Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) instances, without having to purchase and maintain your own hardware. AWS provides a reliable, scalable, and cost-effective solution for hosting your Minecraft server.

Benefits of Hosting a Minecraft Server on AWS

Hosting your Minecraft server on AWS has several advantages:

Setting Up an Amazon EC2 Instance

The first step in hosting your Minecraft server on AWS is to create an Amazon EC2 instance. This will provide you with a virtual server that you can use to install and run your Minecraft server software.

Step 1: Create an AWS Account

If you don’t already have an AWS account, you will need to create one. Go to the AWS website and follow the prompts to set up an account. You will need to provide some personal information and a valid credit card for billing purposes.

Step 2: Launch an EC2 Instance

Once you have an AWS account, you can launch an EC2 instance by following these steps:

1. Log in to the AWS Management Console.
2. Navigate to the EC2 dashboard.
3. Click on the “Launch Instance” button.
4. Select an Amazon Machine Image (AMI) for your server. We recommend using an Ubuntu Server AMI.
5. Choose an instance type based on your needs. We recommend using a t2.micro instance for small servers.
6. Configure your instance details, including the number of instances, network settings, and storage options.
7. Add any additional storage volumes or tags as needed.
8. Select or create a security group to specify which ports should be open for incoming traffic.
9. Review and launch your instance.

Step 3: Connect to Your EC2 Instance

Once your EC2 instance is launched, you will need to connect to it using an SSH client. You can use the default SSH client on your computer or a third-party client such as PuTTY.

To connect to your instance, you will need to:

1. Obtain the public IP address or DNS hostname of your instance.
2. Open your SSH client and connect to the instance using the IP address or hostname and the default user name (ubuntu for Ubuntu AMIs).
3. Enter your PEM key or password when prompted.

Installing and Configuring Minecraft Server Software

Now that you have your Amazon EC2 instance up and running, it’s time to install and configure the Minecraft server software.

Step 1: Install Java

Minecraft server software requires Java to run. You can install Java by running the following command on your EC2 instance:

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

Step 2: Download Minecraft Server Software

You can download the Minecraft server software from the official Minecraft website. Once you have downloaded the software, you will need to transfer the files to your EC2 instance using an FTP client or the scp command.

Step 3: Configure Server Properties

You will need to configure several server properties before you can start your Minecraft server, including:

• Server IP address
• Server port
• World name
• Game mode and difficulty level
• Maximum number of players

You can edit these properties in the server.properties file, which should be located in the same directory as your Minecraft server software.

Step 4: Start the Minecraft Server

To start your Minecraft server, navigate to the directory containing the Minecraft server software and run the following command:

java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar minecraft_server.jar nogui

This will start the server in command line mode. If you want to run the server with a graphical interface, you can use a third-party tool such as McMyAdmin.

FAQ

Q: How much does it cost to host a Minecraft server on AWS?

A: The cost of hosting a Minecraft server on AWS varies depending on the size of your server and the amount of traffic it receives. AWS offers a pay-as-you-go model, so you only pay for what you use. A t2.micro instance, which is suitable for small servers, costs around $0.0116 per hour.

Q: Can I host a modded Minecraft server on AWS?

A: Yes, you can host a modded Minecraft server on AWS. You will need to install the necessary mods on your server, which may require additional configuration.

Q: How many players can a Minecraft server on AWS support?

A: The number of players that a Minecraft server on AWS can support depends on the size of your server and the amount of traffic it receives. A t2.micro instance, which is suitable for small servers, can support up to 10 players.

Q: How do I manage user permissions on my Minecraft server?

A: You can manage user permissions on your Minecraft server using a plugin such as PermissionsEx or GroupManager.

Q: Can I create multiple Minecraft servers on the same Amazon EC2 instance?

A: Yes, you can create multiple Minecraft servers on the same Amazon EC2 instance by running multiple instances of the Minecraft server software and configuring them to use different ports.

That’s it, Dev! We hope that this article has provided you with all the information you need to host your own Minecraft server on AWS. Happy gaming!