Welcome, Dev, to this comprehensive guide on how to set up a Minecraft server on Linux. Minecraft is one of the most popular multiplayer games, and setting up your own server can be a great way to customize your gaming experience. This guide will walk you through the steps required to set up a Minecraft server on Linux, including installation, configuration, and troubleshooting. Let’s get started!
Step 1: Installing Java
The first step in setting up a Minecraft server on Linux is to ensure that Java is installed. Java is required to run the Minecraft server software. You can check if Java is installed on your system by running the following command in the terminal:
java -versionIf Java is not installed, you can install it by running the following command:
sudo apt-get install default-jreThis will install the latest version of Java available in the Ubuntu repositories. Once Java is installed, you can move on to the next step.
Step 1.1: Installing OpenJDK
Alternatively, you can install OpenJDK instead of default-jre. OpenJDK is an open-source implementation of the Java platform, and it is also available in the Ubuntu repositories. To install OpenJDK, run the following command:
sudo apt-get install openjdk-8-jre-headlessThis will install OpenJDK 8, which is the recommended version for running Minecraft servers. Once OpenJDK is installed, you can move on to the next step.
Step 2: Downloading the Minecraft Server Software
The next step is to download the Minecraft server software. You can download the server software from the official Minecraft website. The server software is available in two versions: the vanilla server and the Bukkit server. The vanilla server is the standard Minecraft server, while the Bukkit server is a modified server that allows for plugins and customizations. In this guide, we will be using the vanilla server.
Step 2.1: Downloading the Minecraft Server JAR File
To download the Minecraft server software, go to the official Minecraft website and click on the “Download” link at the top of the page. Scroll down to the “Multiplayer Server” section and click on the “Download minecraft_server.jar” link. This will download the Minecraft server JAR file to your computer.
Step 2.2: Creating a Folder for the Minecraft Server
The next step is to create a folder for the Minecraft server. This folder will contain all of the server files, including the server JAR file and the server configuration files. To create a folder for the Minecraft server, open the terminal and navigate to the location where you want to create the folder. Once you are in the correct location, run the following command:
mkdir minecraft-serverThis will create a new folder called “minecraft-server” in the current directory.
Step 2.3: Moving the Minecraft Server JAR File to the Server Folder
The next step is to move the Minecraft server JAR file to the server folder. To do this, navigate to the location where the Minecraft server JAR file is downloaded (usually the Downloads folder) and run the following command:
mv minecraft_server.jar /path/to/minecraft-serverReplace “/path/to/minecraft-server” with the path to the Minecraft server folder that you created in Step 2.2.
Step 3: Configuring the Minecraft Server
Now that the server software is downloaded and in the correct location, it’s time to configure the Minecraft server. This includes setting the server properties, creating a whitelist, and setting up port forwarding.
Step 3.1: Setting the Server Properties
The server properties file is where you can customize the settings for your Minecraft server. To edit the server properties file, navigate to the Minecraft server folder and open the “server.properties” file in a text editor. You can customize settings such as the server port, game mode, difficulty, and more. Once you have made your changes, save the file and exit the text editor.
Step 3.1.1: Important Server Properties to Configure
Here are some important server properties that you should configure:
Property Name |
Description |
|---|---|
server-port |
The port that the server will listen on. Make sure it is not blocked by your firewall. |
max-players |
The maximum number of players that can connect to the server at once. |
motd |
The message that players will see when they connect to the server. |
type |
The type of server: “vanilla” for a standard Minecraft server, or “bukkit” for a server with plugins. |
Step 3.2: Creating a Whitelist
A whitelist is a list of players who are allowed to connect to your Minecraft server. To create a whitelist, navigate to the Minecraft server folder and open the “whitelist.json” file in a text editor. Add the Minecraft usernames of the players you want to allow, one per line. Save the file and exit the text editor.
Step 3.3: Port Forwarding
In order for players to connect to your Minecraft server, you will need to configure port forwarding on your router. Port forwarding allows traffic from the internet to reach your Minecraft server. The exact steps for port forwarding will vary depending on your router, but here are the general steps:
- Open your router’s administration page in a web browser.
- Navigate to the port forwarding section.
- Create a new port forwarding rule for port 25565 (the default Minecraft server port).
- Set the internal IP address to the IP address of the computer running the Minecraft server.
- Save the port forwarding rule.
Once port forwarding is set up, players should be able to connect to your Minecraft server using your public IP address.
Step 4: Starting the Minecraft Server
Now that the server is configured, it’s time to start it up. To start the Minecraft server, navigate to the Minecraft server folder and run the following command:
java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar minecraft_server.jar noguiThis will start the Minecraft server in the console mode. The server will create some files and directories and then display a “Done” message. You can now connect to your Minecraft server using your Minecraft client.
FAQ
Q: How much RAM do I need to run a Minecraft server?
A: The amount of RAM required to run a Minecraft server depends on the number of players and the complexity of the server. As a general rule, you should allocate at least 1GB of RAM per 10 players. For example, if you have 20 players on your server, you should allocate at least 2GB of RAM.
Q: Can I run a Minecraft server on a Raspberry Pi?
A: Yes, you can run a Minecraft server on a Raspberry Pi. However, the performance may be limited depending on the model of the Raspberry Pi and the number of players on the server.
Q: Can I run a Minecraft server on a virtual machine?
A: Yes, you can run a Minecraft server on a virtual machine. However, the performance may be limited depending on the resources allocated to the virtual machine.
Q: Can I run a Minecraft server on the same computer that I am playing Minecraft on?
A: Yes, you can run a Minecraft server on the same computer that you are playing Minecraft on. However, the performance may be limited depending on the resources of your computer.
Q: How do I update the Minecraft server software?
A: To update the Minecraft server software, simply download the latest version from the official Minecraft website and replace the old server JAR file in your Minecraft server folder with the new one.
Q: How do I change the server difficulty?
A: To change the server difficulty, open the “server.properties” file in a text editor and change the value of the “difficulty” property to one of the following:
- 0 for peaceful mode
- 1 for easy mode
- 2 for normal mode
- 3 for hard mode
Save the file and restart the server for the changes to take effect.