Host Minecraft Server on VPS

Welcome Dev to your ultimate guide on how to host your very own Minecraft server on a Virtual Private Server (VPS). Many avid Minecraft players like yourself, have come to the realization that hosting a server from home isn’t always the best solution. Technical limitations such as internet speeds and hardware constraints can all hinder the performance of your server. Thankfully, a VPS can offer a superior solution for hosting a Minecraft server.

What is a VPS?

A Virtual Private Server (VPS) is a virtual machine that runs its own copy of an operating system. They are usually hosted by internet hosting services and can offer a much more powerful solution for running a Minecraft server. Essentially, you have access to all the resources of an entire server, without the need for all the hardware.

One of the biggest benefits of using a VPS is that you have complete control over your virtual environment. This means that you can install any applications and software that you need, including Minecraft server software.

Now, let’s dive into the steps on how to host your own Minecraft server on a VPS.

How to Host Minecraft Server on VPS

Step 1: Choose Your VPS Provider

The first step in hosting a Minecraft server on a VPS is to choose your host. There are many VPS providers available, each with their own set of features and pricing. Some popular VPS providers that we recommend are:

VPS Provider	Features	Pricing
DigitalOcean	SSD Storage, multiple locations, hourly billing	Starting at $5/month
Vultr	Quick deployment, hourly billing, multiple locations	Starting at $2.50/month
Linode	SSD Storage, multiple locations, hourly billing	Starting at $5/month

Once you have selected your VPS provider, you will need to create an account and set up your VPS. Most providers have step-by-step guides on how to get started with your VPS, so be sure to follow their instructions closely.

Step 2: Install Java

The next step is to install Java on your VPS. Minecraft requires Java to run, so this step is crucial. The version of Java that you will need to install depends on the version of Minecraft that you are running.

To install Java, simply log in to your VPS and run the following command:

sudo apt-get install default-jre

If you are running Minecraft version 1.16 or later, you will need to install Java version 16. To do this, run the following command:

sudo apt-get install openjdk-16-jre-headless

Step 3: Download Minecraft Server Software

Now that you have installed Java, the next step is to download the Minecraft server software. You can download the latest version of Minecraft server software from the official Minecraft website. Once you have downloaded the server software, you will need to upload it to your VPS.

To upload your server software, you can use an FTP client such as FileZilla. Simply connect to your VPS using FileZilla and drag and drop the server software files into the appropriate directory on your VPS.

Step 4: Configure Server Settings

Once you have uploaded the Minecraft server software, you will need to configure your server settings. This includes things such as the server name, game mode, and maximum players allowed.

To configure your server settings, you will need to edit the server.properties file. This file is located in the same directory as the server software that you uploaded earlier. You can edit this file using a text editor such as Nano or Vim.

Here are some of the settings that you can configure in the server.properties file:

• motd – sets the message of the day that players see when they join the server
• gamemode – sets the default game mode for the server
• max-players – sets the maximum number of players that can join the server
• difficulty – sets the difficulty level of the game

Step 5: Start Your Minecraft Server

Once you have configured your server settings, you are ready to start your Minecraft server. To start your server, simply run the following command:

java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar minecraft_server.jar nogui

This command will start the Minecraft server with 1 GB of RAM allocated to it. The -nogui parameter will start the server without a graphical user interface, which is recommended for VPS hosting.

Once your server is running, you can connect to it using your Minecraft client. Simply enter the IP address of your VPS in the server field, and you should be able to join your server.

FAQ

Q: How much RAM do I need for my Minecraft server?

A: It depends on the number of players that you want to host on your server. Generally, you will need at least 1 GB of RAM for every 10-20 players. For a small server with 5-10 players, 1 GB should be sufficient. For larger servers with 50 or more players, you may need to allocate 4-8 GB of RAM.

Q: How do I connect to my Minecraft server hosted on a VPS?

A: To connect to your Minecraft server, simply enter the IP address of your VPS in the server field of your Minecraft client. If your VPS provider has assigned you a port number, you will also need to add :port to the end of your IP address (e.g. 123.123.123.123:25565).

Q: Can I install plugins on my Minecraft server hosted on a VPS?

A: Yes, you can install plugins on your Minecraft server hosted on a VPS. Simply download the plugin that you want to install and upload it to the plugins directory of your server. You can then enable the plugin by editing the server.properties file.

Q: How do I update my Minecraft server hosted on a VPS?

A: To update your Minecraft server, simply download the new server software from the official Minecraft website and upload it to your VPS. You will then need to shut down your old server and start the new one using the same command that you used to start the old server.

Q: Can I host multiple Minecraft servers on my VPS?

A: Yes, you can host multiple Minecraft servers on your VPS. Simply repeat the steps above for each server that you want to host. Be sure to allocate enough resources for each server to ensure optimal performance.

Q: What happens if my VPS goes down?

A: If your VPS goes down, your Minecraft server will also go down. To prevent downtime, be sure to choose a reliable VPS provider and set up monitoring software to alert you if your server goes down.