How to Host a Minecraft Server on Raspberry Pi 4

Hello, Dev! Are you looking to host your own Minecraft server? Do you have a Raspberry Pi 4 lying around? Look no further, because in this article, we will guide you step-by-step on how to set up your own Minecraft server on a Raspberry Pi 4.

What You Will Need

Before we begin, let’s make sure you have all the necessary components to host a Minecraft server on a Raspberry Pi 4:

Component	Minimum Requirements
Raspberry Pi 4	4GB RAM recommended
MicroSD card	16GB or more recommended
Power supply	5V/3A USB-C power supply recommended
Keyboard and mouse	USB or Bluetooth compatible
Display	HDMI compatible
Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi dongle	For network connectivity

Make sure to have all these components ready before proceeding to the next steps.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Download and Install Raspbian OS

The first step is to install Raspbian OS on your Raspberry Pi 4. You can download Raspbian from the official Raspberry Pi website. Once downloaded, use a software like Etcher to flash the Raspbian image to your microSD card.

After flashing the image, insert the microSD card into your Raspberry Pi 4 and power it on. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up Raspbian OS. Make sure to connect your Raspberry Pi 4 to a network using Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi dongle.

Step 2: Set Up Port Forwarding

Before setting up the Minecraft server, you need to set up port forwarding on your router. This will allow external access to your Minecraft server.

To set up port forwarding, you need to log in to your router’s admin panel. The IP address of your router can usually be found on the back of the router or in its manual. Once logged in, look for the port forwarding section and forward port 25565 to the internal IP address of your Raspberry Pi 4.

Step 3: Install Java

Minecraft server requires Java to run. To install Java on your Raspberry Pi 4, open the terminal and type:

sudo apt-get updatesudo apt-get install default-jdk

This will install Java on your Raspberry Pi 4.

Step 4: Download and Install Minecraft Server Software

Now it’s time to download and install the Minecraft server software. You can download the server software from the official Minecraft website.

After downloading, create a new folder on your Raspberry Pi 4 using the terminal:

mkdir minecraft_servercd minecraft_server

Move the downloaded server software to this new folder.

Next, execute this command to start the Minecraft server:

java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar minecraft_server.jar nogui

This will start the Minecraft server. You can stop the server by typing “stop” in the terminal.

Step 5: Configure Minecraft Server

Now it’s time to configure your Minecraft server. Open the server.properties file using a text editor:

nano server.properties

Here are some important configurations:

• server-ip: Set this to the IP address of your Raspberry Pi 4.
• server-port: Set this to 25565.
• max-players: Set this to the maximum number of players allowed on your server.
• motd: Set this to the message of the day for your server.

Once you’ve configured your server.properties file, save and exit.

Step 6: Connect to Your Minecraft Server

You’re ready to play! Open Minecraft and click on “Multiplayer”. Click “Add Server” and enter the name of your server, the IP address of your Raspberry Pi 4, and 25565 for the port number. Click “Done” and select your server from the list.

Congratulations, you now have your own Minecraft server!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Raspberry Pi 4?

A Raspberry Pi 4 is a small single-board computer that can be used for various projects, including hosting a Minecraft server.

Do I need a dedicated IP address to host a Minecraft server?

No, you don’t need a dedicated IP address. You can use a dynamic DNS service to map your IP address to a hostname.

Can I run multiple Minecraft servers on a single Raspberry Pi 4?

Yes, you can run multiple Minecraft servers on a single Raspberry Pi 4. Just make sure to configure each server with a unique port number.

Can I run a Minecraft server on a Raspberry Pi 3?

Yes, you can run a Minecraft server on a Raspberry Pi 3, but it may not perform as well as a Raspberry Pi 4 due to its lower specifications.

How much RAM do I need to run a Minecraft server?

The amount of RAM you need depends on the number of players and plugins you plan to use. We recommend at least 4GB RAM for a small server with up to 10 players.

Conclusion

Congratulations, Dev! You have successfully set up your own Minecraft server on a Raspberry Pi 4. We hope this guide was helpful and you enjoy playing on your own server. Happy gaming!