How to Host Minecraft Server on Raspberry Pi

Hey Dev, are you looking for a way to host your own Minecraft server on a Raspberry Pi? Well, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll guide you through the entire process of setting up a Minecraft server on a Raspberry Pi.

What is a Raspberry Pi?

In case you are not familiar with Raspberry Pi, it is a small single-board computer that can run various operating systems like Linux, Windows, etc. It is popularly used for DIY projects like media centers, gaming consoles, and servers.

What Do You Need to Set Up a Minecraft Server on Raspberry Pi?

Before we proceed, let’s take a look at the minimum requirements to set up a Minecraft server on Raspberry Pi.

Items	Minimum Requirements
Raspberry Pi Board	Raspberry Pi 3 or later
MicroSD Card	16 GB or more
Power Supply	5V, 2.5A
Ethernet Cable	For a wired connection
Wi-Fi Dongle	For a wireless connection
Keyboard and Mouse	Optional, depending on your preference
Monitor	Optional, depending on your preference

Step-by-Step Guide to Host a Minecraft Server on Raspberry Pi

Step 1: Set Up Raspberry Pi

The first step is to set up your Raspberry Pi. Here are the steps:

1. Download the Raspberry Pi Imager from the official website and install it on your computer.
2. Insert the MicroSD card into your computer and launch the Raspberry Pi Imager.
3. Select the operating system you want to install, Raspberry Pi OS (formerly Raspbian) is the recommended operating system for beginners.
4. Select the MicroSD card and click on “Write” to write the OS image to the card.
5. Eject the MicroSD card and insert it into your Raspberry Pi.
6. Connect your Raspberry Pi to a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and power supply.
7. Boot up Raspberry Pi and follow the on-screen instructions to set up the operating system.

Step 2: Install Java

Minecraft server requires Java to run, so you need to install it on your Raspberry Pi. Here are the steps:

1. Open the Terminal on your Raspberry Pi.
2. Run the following command to update the package list:

sudo apt-get update

3. Run the following command to install Java:

sudo apt-get install default-jdk

4. Verify that Java is installed correctly by running the following command:

java -version

5. If Java is installed correctly, you should see the version number.

Step 3: Download Minecraft Server

Next, you need to download the Minecraft server software. Here are the steps:

1. Visit the official Minecraft website to download the server software.
2. Copy the download link of the latest version of the server software.
3. Open the Terminal on your Raspberry Pi.
4. Run the following command to download the server software:

wget [download link]

5. Replace [download link] with the actual download link you copied.
6. Once the download is complete, extract the contents of the downloaded file by running the following command:

tar -zxvf [file name]

7. Replace [file name] with the actual name of the downloaded file.
8. Move the extracted folder to your preferred location by running the following command:

sudo mv [extracted folder name] /opt/minecraft

9. Replace [extracted folder name] with the actual name of the extracted folder.

Step 4: Configure Minecraft Server

Now it’s time to configure the Minecraft server. Here are the steps:

1. Open the Terminal on your Raspberry Pi.
2. Navigate to the Minecraft server directory by running the following command:

cd /opt/minecraft

3. Run the following command to start the Minecraft server and generate the configuration files:

sudo java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar [server file name].jar nogui

4. Replace [server file name] with the actual name of the Minecraft server file.
5. Once the server is started, you’ll see some warning messages. Don’t worry about them. Stop the server by typing “stop” in the console.
6. Open the server.properties file by running the following command:

sudo nano server.properties

7. Make the necessary changes to the server properties like server name, game mode, difficulty level, etc.
8. Save and close the file by pressing “CTRL+X”, “Y”, and then “ENTER”.

Step 5: Start the Minecraft Server

Finally, start the Minecraft server on Raspberry Pi. Here are the steps:

1. Open the Terminal on your Raspberry Pi.
2. Navigate to the Minecraft server directory by running the following command:

cd /opt/minecraft

3. Run the following command to start the Minecraft server:

sudo java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar [server file name].jar nogui

4. Replace [server file name] with the actual name of the Minecraft server file.
5. The Minecraft server will start and you’ll see the console screen.
6. Open Minecraft on your computer and click on “Multiplayer”.
7. Click on “Add Server” and enter the IP address of your Raspberry Pi.
8. Connect to the Minecraft server and start playing!

FAQs

1. How much RAM is required to host a Minecraft server on Raspberry Pi?

You need at least 1 GB of RAM to host a Minecraft server on Raspberry Pi. However, more RAM is always better for a smoother experience.

2. How many players can join a Minecraft server on Raspberry Pi?

The number of players that can join a Minecraft server on Raspberry Pi depends on various factors like server specifications, internet speed, etc. However, in general, you can expect around 5-10 players for a smooth experience.

3. How to access the Minecraft server console on Raspberry Pi?

You can access the Minecraft server console on Raspberry Pi by opening the Terminal and navigating to the Minecraft server directory. Then, run the following command:

sudo screen -r minecraft

You’ll see the console screen.

4. How to stop the Minecraft server on Raspberry Pi?

You can stop the Minecraft server on Raspberry Pi by typing “stop” in the console and pressing “ENTER”.

5. Can I run other applications on Raspberry Pi while hosting a Minecraft server?

Yes, you can run other applications on Raspberry Pi while hosting a Minecraft server. However, make sure that the Minecraft server is allocated enough resources to run smoothly.

Conclusion

Congratulations, Dev! You have successfully learned how to host a Minecraft server on Raspberry Pi. Now, you can enjoy playing Minecraft with your friends on your own server. Remember to optimize your server settings for the best performance and experience.