How to Host a Minecraft Server on Mac – A Guide for Devs

Welcome Devs, as a fellow Minecraft enthusiast, you know how important it is to have a dedicated server for your gaming community. Hosting your own Minecraft server on a Mac can seem like a daunting task, but with the right tools and guidance, it can be a smooth and rewarding experience. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of setting up and hosting your own Minecraft server on a Mac. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Checking Your Mac Compatibility

The first thing you need to do is to check your Mac’s compatibility to host a Minecraft server. Here are the minimum requirements:

Minimum Requirements	Your Mac
Operating System	macOS 10.12 (Sierra) or later
RAM	At least 2GB
Processor	At least Intel Core i3-3210 or equivalent
Storage	At least 2GB of available storage

If your Mac meets these requirements, you’re good to go. If not, you may run into performance issues or the server may not run at all.

Step 2: Installing Java

Minecraft server is written in Java, so you need to install the latest version of Java on your Mac. Here’s how:

Step 2.1: Checking for Existing Java Version on Mac

Before installing the new version of Java, it’s important to check if you already have a version installed on your Mac. Here’s how:

1. Open the Terminal app using Spotlight Search or from the Applications > Utilities folder.
2. Type the following command and press Enter:
   java -version
3. If you have Java installed, the Terminal will show the version number. If you don’t have Java installed, it will prompt you to download and install it.

Step 2.2: Installing the Latest Version of Java

If you don’t have Java installed or have an older version installed, follow these steps:

1. Open your web browser and go to the official Java website at https://java.com/en/download/.
2. Click on the “Free Java Download” button.
3. Follow the instructions to download and install the latest version of Java on your Mac.

Step 3: Downloading and Installing Minecraft Server Software

Now that you have Java installed on your Mac, you can download and install the Minecraft server software.

Step 3.1: Downloading the Minecraft Server Software

Follow these steps to download the Minecraft server software:

1. Go to the official Minecraft website at https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/download/server/.
2. Select the Minecraft version you want to use for your server.
3. Download the server software for your chosen version.

Step 3.2: Creating a New Folder for the Server

Before installing the server software, create a new folder on your Desktop or in a desired location where you want the server files to be stored. Name the folder whatever you like.

Step 3.3: Installing the Minecraft Server Software

Follow these steps to install the Minecraft server software:

1. Open the terminal app on your Mac.
2. Navigate to the folder where you downloaded the server software using the following command:
   cd ~/Desktop/[folder-name]
3. Replace [folder-name] with the name of the folder you created for the server.
4. Unzip the server software using the following command:
   unzip [server-software.zip]
5. Replace [server-software.zip] with the name of the server software file you downloaded.
6. Once unzipped, you can start the server by running the following command:
   java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar [server-file-name.jar] nogui
7. Replace [server-file-name.jar] with the name of the server file you unzipped.

Step 4: Configuring Your Minecraft Server

Your Minecraft server is now up and running, but there are a few settings you need to configure before you can start playing.

Step 4.1: Configuring Server Settings

You can configure your server settings by modifying the server.properties file. Follow these steps:

1. Open the server.properties file using a text editor of your choice.
2. Modify the settings as per your requirements. Some of the important settings include server name, difficulty level, game mode, and maximum players.
3. Save the file and restart the server for the changes to take effect.

Step 4.2: Whitelisting Players

If you want to limit access to your server, you can create a whitelist of players who are allowed to join. Follow these steps:

1. Open the server.properties file using a text editor.
2. Find the line that says “white-list=false” and change it to “white-list=true”.
3. Create a new file in the server folder called whitelist.txt.
4. Add the usernames of the players you want to whitelist in the whitelist.txt file, each on a new line.
5. Save the file and restart the server for the changes to take effect.

Step 5: Joining Your Own Minecraft Server

Once you’ve got your server up and running, you can join it using your Minecraft game client. Here’s how:

Step 5.1: Getting Your Server IP Address

You need to find the IP address of your server to join it. Here’s how:

1. Open the Terminal app on your Mac.
2. Type the following command and press Enter:
   ifconfig
3. Look for the line that says “inet” followed by a series of numbers separated by dots. The numbers after “inet” represent your IP address.

Step 5.2: Joining Your Minecraft Server

Follow these steps to join your own Minecraft server:

1. Open your Minecraft game client and click on the “Multiplayer” button.
2. Click on the “Add Server” button and enter a name for your server.
3. Enter your server’s IP address in the “Server Address” field.
4. Click “Done” and then “Join Server” to connect to your Minecraft server.

FAQ

1. How many players can connect to my Minecraft server?

The number of players who can connect to your server depends on the server’s hardware and internet connection. Typically, a server with 2GB of RAM can support up to 20 players.

2. How do I make my Minecraft server public?

You need to forward the server port in your router’s settings to make your server public. The default port for Minecraft server is 25565. Refer to your router’s user manual for instructions on how to do this.

3. Can I install mods on my Minecraft server?

Yes, you can install mods on your Minecraft server. However, it’s important to ensure that the mods are compatible with the version of Minecraft you’re using.

4. Can I run a Minecraft server on a laptop?

Yes, you can run a Minecraft server on a laptop. However, laptops may not have enough resources to support a large number of players or heavy mods.

5. How do I backup my Minecraft server?

You can backup your Minecraft server by copying the server folder to an external hard drive or cloud storage. Alternatively, you can use a backup plugin like Vault or Backup plugin.