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Minecraft: Java Edition — Complete Dedicated Server Guide

Startup Parameters

Default command line

./minecraft-java-edition_server -port 27015 -maxplayers 16 -config server.cfg

Parameters (common server flags)

• -port <port> — Server port (default varies by game)
• -maxplayers <num> — Maximum player count
• -config <file> — Configuration file to load
• -log — Enable logging
• -console — Enable console output
• -dedicated — Run as dedicated server
• -name "<name>" — Server name
• -password "<pass>" — Server password

Ports

• Game: UDP 27015 (typical default)
• Query: UDP 27016 (game port + 1)
• Admin/RCON: TCP varies by game

Config Files & Locations

Windows:

• minecraft-java-edition_server.cfg — Main server configuration
• config/ — Configuration directory
• logs/ — Log files directory
• data/ — Server data and saves

Linux:

• ~/minecraft-java-edition/server.cfg — Main server configuration
• ~/minecraft-java-edition/config/ — Configuration directory
• ~/minecraft-java-edition/logs/ — Log files directory
• ~/minecraft-java-edition/data/ — Server data and saves

Key Files:

• server.cfg: Core server settings and game rules
• admins.cfg: Administrator configuration (if applicable)
• banned.cfg: Banned players list (if applicable)

Steam Workshop

Not supported by this game.

Common Mods (curated)

• EssentialsX

  • Purpose: Core commands, economy, permissions for Bukkit/Spigot/Paper servers.
  • Install: Download from GitHub releases, place JAR in plugins/ directory.
  • Configure: Edit plugins/Essentials/config.yml for basic settings, userdata/ for player data.

• WorldEdit

  • Purpose: In-game world editing and building tools.
  • Install: Place WorldEdit JAR in plugins/ directory.
  • Configure: Permissions in plugins/WorldEdit/config.yml, user permissions via permission plugin.

• Vault

  • Purpose: Economy and permissions API for other plugins.
  • Install: Download Vault JAR to plugins/ directory.
  • Configure: No direct configuration - provides API for other plugins.

• LuckPerms

  • Purpose: Advanced permissions management system.
  • Install: Download from GitHub, place in plugins/ directory.
  • Configure: Database connection in plugins/LuckPerms/config.yml, manage permissions via commands or web editor.

• Dynmap

  • Purpose: Real-time web-based map of server world.
  • Install: Download Dynmap JAR to plugins/ directory.
  • Configure: Web server settings in plugins/dynmap/configuration.txt, map rendering options.

• ProtocolLib

  • Purpose: Packet manipulation library for advanced plugins.
  • Install: Required dependency for many plugins, place JAR in plugins/.
  • Configure: No direct configuration - provides API for packet handling.

Database

Engine: SQLite (default) or MySQL (for large servers)

SQLite Configuration (No setup required):

• Database files stored in world directory
• Player data in playerdata/ folder
• Plugin data varies by plugin (typically in plugins/PluginName/)

MySQL Configuration (Advanced):

• Configure in bukkit.yml or plugin-specific configs
• Example connection string: jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306/minecraft
• Required for multi-server networks and large-scale deployments

Backup Strategy:

• Regular world folder backups (includes SQLite databases)
• MySQL: Use mysqldump for database backups
• Plugin data backup varies by plugin requirements

Administration & Scripting

Remote Administration:

• RCON (Remote Console) access for server management
• Web-based admin panels (game-specific or third-party)
• In-game admin commands and permissions

Backup Strategy:

• Automated daily backups of save files and configuration
• Rotate backups (keep 7 daily, 4 weekly, 12 monthly)
• Test backup restoration procedures regularly
• Store backups in separate location/drive

Auto-Update:

• Use SteamCMD for automatic server updates (Steam games)
• Schedule updates during low-traffic periods
• Backup before applying updates
• Monitor for update announcements and patch notes

Monitoring:

• Server performance monitoring (CPU, memory, network)
• Player connection logs and statistics
• Error log monitoring and alerting
• Uptime tracking and availability reporting

Troubleshooting (game-specific)

"java.lang.OutOfMemoryError"

• Cause: Insufficient heap memory allocation
• Fix: Increase -Xmx parameter (e.g., -Xmx8G for 8GB), monitor memory usage

"Can't keep up! Skipping ticks"

• Cause: Server overload, too many entities, or inefficient plugins
• Fix: Reduce entity limits, optimize plugins, increase server resources, use profiling tools

"Connection timed out"

• Cause: Firewall blocking port 25565 or server not responding
• Fix: Open TCP port 25565, verify server is running, check network connectivity

"Plugin errors on startup"

• Cause: Incompatible plugin versions or missing dependencies
• Fix: Update plugins to match server version, install required dependencies, check plugin logs

"World corruption/rollback"

• Cause: Improper server shutdown or storage issues
• Fix: Use proper shutdown commands, implement regular backups, check disk health

"Low TPS (Ticks Per Second)"

• Cause: Server lag from heavy operations or overloaded chunks
• Fix: Use performance monitoring plugins, limit chunk loading, optimize redstone contraptions