Host Minecraft Server on Raspberry Pi: A Guide for Devs

Are you a Dev looking for a low-cost and energy-efficient way to host your Minecraft server? Look no further than your Raspberry Pi! In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to get your Minecraft server up and running on your Raspberry Pi.

What You’ll Need

Before we dive into the setup process, let’s make sure you have everything you’ll need:

Item	Recommended Specification
Raspberry Pi	Raspberry Pi 4 Model B (4GB RAM)
MicroSD Card	64GB or larger
Power Supply	5V, 3A or higher
Ethernet Cable	Cat6 or higher
Keyboard and Mouse	USB or Bluetooth compatible
Monitor	HDMI compatible

Once you have all of the necessary items, let’s move on to the setup process.

Setting Up Your Raspberry Pi

First, you’ll need to download and install the Raspberry Pi OS to your microSD card. Follow these steps:

1. Download the Raspberry Pi Imager from the official website.
2. Insert your microSD card into your computer.
3. Open Raspberry Pi Imager and select the Raspberry Pi OS from the list of available operating systems.
4. Select your microSD card from the list of available storage devices.
5. Click “Write” to start the installation process.

Once the Raspberry Pi OS is installed on your microSD card, insert it into your Raspberry Pi and power it on.

Installing Java SE Runtime Environment

In order to run your Minecraft server, you’ll need to install the Java SE Runtime Environment. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Terminal application on your Raspberry Pi.
2. Type in the following command and press enter:
   sudo apt-get install default-jre
3. Wait for the installation to complete.

Port Forwarding

In order for other players to connect to your Minecraft server, you’ll need to set up port forwarding on your router. Here’s how:

1. Log in to your router’s admin panel.
2. Find the “Port Forwarding” or “Virtual Server” section and create a new port forwarding rule.
3. Set the source port as “25565” (the default Minecraft port).
4. Set the destination port as “25565”.
5. Assign the Raspberry Pi’s IP address as the destination.

Installing Minecraft Server

Now it’s time to install the Minecraft server software. Follow these steps:

1. Download the Minecraft server software from the official website.
2. Open the Terminal application on your Raspberry Pi.
3. Type in the following command and press enter:
   mkdir minecraft-server
4. Type in the following command and press enter:
   cd minecraft-server
5. Move the downloaded Minecraft server software to the minecraft-server directory.
6. Type in the following command and press enter:
   java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar minecraft_server.jar nogui
7. Wait for the Minecraft server to start up.

FAQ

How many players can my Raspberry Pi Minecraft server support?

The number of players your Raspberry Pi Minecraft server can support depends on the model of your Raspberry Pi and the number of plug-ins you have installed. In general, a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B with 4GB of RAM should be able to support up to 10 players.

Can I run my Minecraft server on Wi-Fi?

We recommend using an ethernet cable to connect your Raspberry Pi to your router for a more stable connection. However, it is possible to run your Minecraft server over Wi-Fi if you have a strong and stable Wi-Fi connection.

How do I update my Minecraft server software?

To update your Minecraft server software, follow these steps:

1. Download the latest Minecraft server software from the official website.
2. Open the Terminal application on your Raspberry Pi.
3. Type in the following command and press enter:
   cd minecraft-server
4. Replace the minecraft_server.jar file with the new file you downloaded.
5. Type in the following command and press enter:
   java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar minecraft_server.jar nogui
6. Wait for the Minecraft server to start up.

Can I use mods on my Raspberry Pi Minecraft server?

Yes, you can use mods on your Raspberry Pi Minecraft server. However, keep in mind that certain mods may not be compatible with the Raspberry Pi’s hardware limitations and may cause performance issues.

How do I connect to my Raspberry Pi Minecraft server?

To connect to your Raspberry Pi Minecraft server, open Minecraft and select “Multiplayer” from the main menu. Click “Add Server” and enter the server’s IP address (which can be found by typing “hostname –all-ip-addresses” in the Terminal) and the port number (default is 25565). Click “Done” and then “Join Server” to connect to your server.

Congratulations, Dev! You now have your very own Minecraft server running on your Raspberry Pi. Happy mining!