How-To Geek
How To Start Your Own Minecraft Server for Multiplayer Gaming
If you’ve played Minecraft, then it’s easy to see how much fun it can be. Running your own server lets you bring all of your friends into the same game, and you can play with rules you get to make or break. It’s the ultimate in an already addictive game!
We’ve already shown you How To Get Started with Minecraft, a Game Geeks Love. What’s better than single player? Multiplayer, of course! You can join one of hundreds of servers at minecraftservers.net to get started, or search around for more exclusive ones, but ultimately you’re bound by their rules and discretion. Running your own server lets you and your friends can play together with your own set of rules, and it’s really easy to do.
Download and First Run
Head on over to the Minecraft Download page and go down to the “Multiplater beta server software” section. Windows users can Just download the .exe file and run it. OS X and Linux users should download the .jar file, then run the server using the following command in Terminal:
java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar minecraft_server.jar nogui
If you want to devote more (or less) RAM to your server, change the 1024M to something else, like 2048M. The first number is the maximum amount it can use, and the second number is the minimum. Since everything is in Java, you should have at least a spare gig of RAM to devote to Minecraft. Things can get unruly with a decent amount of people playing, especially when you start to do crazy stuff like blowing up huge caverns with massive amounts of TNT.
In the server window, you’ll see the memory and processor thread use on the left, the list of connected players in the lower left, and the log and chat window on the right side. The first time you run the server, you’ll get some errors at first. That’s normal, so don’t panic!
The server didn’t find the configuration files it needs, so it’ll make them. You’ll see some new files come up in the same folder as your server.
There’s the “world” folder, which contains your generated map area, an ops list, and a server.properties file, among other things.
Once the world is finished generating, you’ll get a little notice about the help file. Close the server, or if you’re running it in Terminal, just type “stop” (without the quotes). We’re going to tweak and we can’t do that while the server’s running.
Tweaking the Server’s Properties
Open up the server.properties file in notepad. You’ll see something like this:
You’ll see some important options.
- level-name: This is the name of your Minecraft world. If you change this name, the server will look for a folder with a matching name, and if none is found, it will generate a new level with this name.
- spawn-monsters: If set to false, monsters such as zombies, skeletons, and creepers will not spawn. Often turned off for “op” or “creative” servers, where everyone builds and survival is not the focus of gameplay.
- spawn-animals: If set to false, animals such as wolves, cows, sheep, and chickens will not spawn.
- pvp: If set to false, players will not be able to harm one another, although you can still inflict damage by pushing other players off of ledges.
- white-list: If set to true, the server will only allows the usernames in the “white-list.txt” file to successfully connect and play.
For a complete description of all of the options, check out the Minecraft Wiki’s page on server.properties. Once you’re done changing things to what you want, save the file.
Since it’s your server, be sure to add your Minecraft username in the “ops.txt” file. That way, you’ll be an “operator” with full admin rights. You can generate any item you want, ban players, make other players ops, and change the in-game time.
In order for your friends to connect to your server you’ll have to configure port forwarding on your router. The default port is 25565, but this can be changed in the server.properties file. Your friends will need your IP address (or DNS alias/redirect) and this port number so that they can connect.
When you’re ready, start up the server again.
Playing On a Server
When you start Minecraft, you’re given the option of connecting to a multiplayer server. Clicking on it will allow you to enter its address information.
If you’re playing on the same computer as your server, you can just type “localhost” (without the quotes). Otherwise, plug in your server’s IP address or domain name. Click connect, and you’ll join the server.
Hit T to bring up the chat console.
You’ll see all of the public messages by users, system messages, and commands that you’ve executed. Notice the little prompt (>) in the lower left corner. Typing something and hitting Enter will send a message to all other players in a group chat. You can execute commands here, too, and they always start with a forward slash (/).
As an op, you should be able to type “/list” and hit Enter to list all of the connected players. You can also give items to any player (including yourself), ban and pardon specific users, and change the system time. If you’re unsure of a specific command’s requirement, you can type “/help” to get more info. For the full list of server commands, check out the Minecraft Wiki’s Server Commands page.
Now go and tell all of your friends to join! There’s nothing that beats building massive structures, exploring the vast landscape, and mining into moutains, except doing it with 8 of your best friends.
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Comments (95)
Yatri Trivedi is a monk-like geek. When he's not overdosing on meditation and geek news of all kinds, he's hacking and tweaking something, often while mumbling in 4 or 5 other languages.
- Published 04/14/11
make a video please! :)
You can get rid of the “nogui” part on the Java commandline version if you’re on OSX or running X. It’ll give you the same GUI as the Windows version.
Also, I don’t think you should increase Xms, only Xmx value.
Finally: http://canihostaminecraftserver.com/
Nice tutorial, really easy to understand. Could you please make a tutorial on how to start a bukkit server (some default configuration* + plugins? )
* It’s (as far as I know) the same as the vanilla server
How about port forwarding on a Netgear I could never figure that out it drives me MAD!!!
What i always needed! Thanks
Th in game screenshot connected to a player server does not seem to be the official minecraft server based on the welcome message alone… what server is that?
What is this?!?!?!?!? No mac? :P
He’s probably running bukkit. I have a dedicated server running that mod atm. It’s really handy and you can do just about anything with it and all the plugins there are for bukkit. http://bukkit.org/
??
Pardon my humble opinion, but I think the server window will not appear when “nogui” is put in the command line. If you would like the server window to appear, DO NOT put “nogui” in the command line.
as i am not an expert by anymeans, this coment is ment for the persn named ‘doctor’ on this thread. i have a netgeaar router aswell, i am thinking they use a kind of software that dosent display its ip the normal way, i never fiigured the issue out, however, i did get my server up by simply runing the .exe file from the minecraft site, it set everything up, and i have several friends playing on it atm. i dont know it it did the port forwarding ffor me, but its running the proper port and i didnt have to change my router or any files…
How would one set up a separate server on the same computer as another server? I’ve got one that me and a few friends just build and screw around on, but I’d like to have one where me and some other friends can actually try and play on (ie, no server commands). Can anyone tell me how to do this or point me in the direction of some information on how it’s done?
Yes please! I would also like a tutorial on Minecraft + Bukkit and what plugins you use. The Bukkit plugin webpage has no rating system on what is good and bad.
I have a sever thanks and it is 211.30.221.131 thanks soooo much
i downloaded the Minecraft_Server.exe, and I got that one thing, and not the other files, like the server properties and stuff…
how do you ‘configure port forwarding on your router’???
it did Not Work!
this doesnt work for me i made it and i got into it once and it was fine and now i cant get into it again
it says connection refused
I am a n00b and I can’t get my chat window to pop up. If it helps, I’m running Windows 7 with my Minecraft running on Firefox. I am running Minecraft and Server 1.6.6. Please help!
Thanks,
Techkid6
how do I let my friends join.
because they keep getting error messages
I’ve done the preparing the spawn points part, “stopped” it and changed the server properties, but now I cant work out how to run/start the server again so I get a “Connection: Refused” message when I enter the IP of the server into multiplayer, please tell me how to run the server again
just come here
survival.muttsworldmine.com
problem solved
hey i finished all this correctly the connecting way you putted up isnt working how can i connect to my server from the browser?
i cant run the exe file i cn only open
got it
When i try to connect to my pvp server all that comes up is:
java.net.SocketExecption: Network is unreachable: connect
I looked it up several times and all that came up was to delete your bin file, so i did and when i re-opened Minecraft the came came up and when i checked my roaming file the bin was there again.
I think that Minecraft put the bin file back and i havetried several times to delete and re-open Minecraft but i need help.
PLEASE HELP ME!!!!- TheFairyQueen
i can’t seem to use the terminal command (i have a mac) it says command not found
how do i know whats my server ip?
i need help it did not work i tryed it
thank you so much that was incredibly helpful
i did evrything that is there and whan i tipe in localhost it gives me error message “user not premium”
that is same when i want to conect to other player servers
There is no server.properties file in my world file
i have the same problem ass ‘help me please’ there is always ‘user not premium’
How do I know my server address?
I have done all this but to avoid port forwarding it is easyer to download logmein hamachi and use it
how do i get my server IP without haveing to go on server properties because i dont have that
why dose terminal say “access denied”? pleas help!!
New Folders are not coming up.
I did all of this, I found my IP adress and added it to the server.properties… When I try to log in it says ‘End Of Stream’
its saying conection failed and aparently you need to go through a complex port setup
dude it says, [WARNING] Can’t keep up! Did the systems time change, or is the server overloaded?
WTF
I use dot block for my vps for minecraft, it runs amazing and its only $1 for a 30 day trial! Its amazing and i highly recommend it. Just use the link below to go to their website: goo.gl/14NLK trust me its worth the 1 dollar! Enjoy
I have no premium account how do i use commands in singleplayer?
I have a server. Join
192.168.0.13:25565
It didn’t work! I downloaded the server file, and it did not load anything such as a spawn point. All it is saying to me is ky.a and ky.b. Please help!
Just created a successfull online world but the only problem is tht it doesnt have any commands in-game like for instance /warpspawn it just says the player tried this but the command doesnt exist can u tell me wats going on ????
Help! I get to the window to where u see ur memory use and stuff but idk what to do now. Help!!!!
um i dont have the server properties for some reason and i cant get it back please help
Help!!! I was trying to connect to my sever, but it says fail to connect timed out. What is going on?
Whenever I try to run the jar file (I have linux) it keeps saying unable to access minecraft_server.jar :( what am I doing wrong… yes I have it downloaded.
this was the most eays tutorial ever people its easy when you made the game go to mine craft then multieplayer then type in localhost no space.
HELP ME!! i was on my server and i shut down terminal i dont no how to get my stuff bak coz it wont let me bak on and i made reely awesome things to plz help im begging u guys to help
When i try to re-open the server it says something about start up failed mabye their is already a server open on this port? help?
@ivan lapis
thats a craftbukkit server (not bukkit, there is a difference.) using essentials and the standard motd (i believe).
@minecraftlover
you have to change your directory using the cd command first
@IDK
give your server more ram
@cam
that requires you to setup a craftbukkit server with a warping plugin (such as xwarp or my warp) . that command is not supported in the offical minecraft server software (like i said, you need a craftbukkit server and a warping plugin).
@confused
you need a mod called single player commands, aka spc.
this is dumb and makes NO sense
Hi
my son wants to do this – is this safe and secure? how do you find your IP address on Apple mac – I know how on a PC
(for anyone wondering why there is no server properties file ect)
put the server.exe in an empty folder (call it server or something) and then run it. you will see in the box with all the commands, it will say 10%….20%…. when it gets to 100 you can close the program. then in the folder you made, there will be server.properties, and ‘world’
hope that helped.
oh and anyone wondering about port forwarding, just use portforward.com its so easy. if that doesnt have your router on it, just type in your external ip address and try and figure it out yourself :)
you have to edit the server.properties file to allow more than 1 person btw ~
->
i dint get a word of this
I still getting this error
failed to connect to the server
connection refused: connect
On the last part, to change the port number, I don’t get how to find your router port number? Please help!
i have the ops file so do i put my mc username then just save it as a text file? thanks
HELP! I did what you said but i don’t know how to find the ip address! Please help!
I keep getting outdated server warnings need help
This is AMAZING help, been trying for hours and it worked. Thanks sooo much! <3 xx
If u shut down terminal or the minecraft.jar thing…dont you have to keep it up and running or it wont work
just leave them openn all the time :)
ok if it cant access the minecraft.jar thing MAKE SURE IT IS NOT IN A FOLDER. PUT THE .JAR THING ON YOUR DESKTOP SO IT CAN ACCESS IT
Thanks!!!
The computer that I made the server on is working, but when i try to connect on another computer it won’t let me! Help plz!
how do i install plugins
DUNNO HOW TO PORT FORWARD! im not a nerd about the connection and port forwarding WHAT THE F IS PORT FORWARDING ANYWAY!
@jen
what version of osx do you have?
@asscakes
Basically, port forwarding is opening ports so programs and processes can send and receive data on those ports.
heres a link that explains it more
link is portforward.com
I did everything you said but when I tried to conect to the server it’s said conection lost faild login: bad login what do i do now?
and Idid restart de game and de server many times
you need to double-click the jar which gives u all the files
It just says user not preimum when i own the server and im a N00B
hey guys plz go to my server but not tomorrow only for today if you go on tomorrow i’ll ban you 20 people can be on this server the server is minecraft.kf7eup.com but be on only for toady
wait actually dont
i’ll ban you if you show up
can i do this on a laptop?
OMGOMG NYANYANNYANYANYANYAN!
Uh, the notepad thing isn’t working so I cant change anything. HELP!
I had done the stuff but i cant get into my server! It says time refused: connect. HELP
Doesn’t work
i’ve done every thing you said but it tell me in the serve lost conniction when i try to get in the server
( i play in 1.9 3 release )
how do you find your Ip
this dosnot work at my comp!!!!
i do not understand what to enter when u open up minecraft and go to the multiplayer screen where it says to enter the IP of a server
what happens if it says failed to conect