Understanding Server Versions

Choosing the right server version is crucial for compatibility and performance. Here's what you need to know about different Minecraft server versions.

Version Types

Minecraft servers come in several flavors, each with different purposes:

  • Vanilla: Official Minecraft server software from Mojang. No modifications, pure Minecraft experience.
  • Paper/Spigot: Optimized servers with plugin support. Best for most community servers.
  • Fabric/Forge: Mod loaders that allow server-side and client-side modifications.
  • Purpur/Pufferfish: Enhanced forks of Paper with additional optimizations and features.

Choosing Your Version

Consider these factors when selecting a server version:

  • Player Base: What Minecraft version do your players use?
  • Plugins vs Mods: Do you want plugins (Paper) or mods (Fabric/Forge)?
  • Performance: Paper offers the best performance for vanilla-style gameplay.
  • Compatibility: Some plugins only work on specific versions.

💡 Recommendation: For most servers, Paper is the best choice. It's optimized, supports thousands of plugins, and is actively maintained. Only choose Fabric/Forge if you specifically need mods.

Updating Your Server

When updating to a new Minecraft version:

  1. Always backup your world and plugins first
  2. Check if your essential plugins are compatible with the new version
  3. Test on a separate server instance if possible
  4. Update plugins before updating the server core
  5. Monitor console logs for errors after updating

⚠️ Warning: Never update a production server without backing up first. Some updates can corrupt worlds or break plugins if not done carefully.

Installing Plugins

Plugins extend your server's functionality without requiring client-side modifications. Here's how to install and manage them.

Where to Find Plugins

  • SpigotMC: spigotmc.org/resources - Large collection of free and premium plugins
  • Bukkit: dev.bukkit.org - Original plugin repository
  • Hangar: hangar.papermc.io - Modern plugin repository for Paper servers
  • GitHub: Many developers host open-source plugins on GitHub

Installation Steps

  1. Download the plugin JAR file from a trusted source
  2. Stop your server (use /stop command)
  3. Upload the JAR file to your server's plugins/ folder
  4. Start your server
  5. Check console logs to confirm the plugin loaded successfully
server/
├── plugins/
│ ├── EssentialsX.jar
│ ├── Vault.jar
│ └── LuckPerms.jar
├── world/
└── server.jar

Common Plugin Issues

  • Plugin not loading: Check if it's compatible with your server version
  • Dependency errors: Some plugins require other plugins (like Vault) to work
  • Conflicts: Two plugins trying to do the same thing can cause issues
  • Outdated plugins: Old plugins may not work on newer server versions

💡 Essential Plugins: LuckPerms (permissions), EssentialsX (commands), Vault (economy API), CoreProtect (logging), and WorldEdit (building) form the foundation of most servers.

Setting Up Permissions

Permissions control what players can and cannot do on your server. LuckPerms is the most popular and powerful permissions plugin.

Installing LuckPerms

  1. Download LuckPerms from luckperms.net
  2. Place the JAR in your plugins folder
  3. Restart your server
  4. Use /lp editor to open the web editor

Basic Permission Commands

/lp creategroup moderator # Create a group
/lp group moderator permission set essentials.kick # Give a permission to a group
/lp user PlayerName parent add moderator # Add a player to a group
/lp group moderator permission unset essentials.ban # Remove a permission
/lp user PlayerName info # View a user's permissions

Common Permission Nodes

  • essentials.gamemode - Change game mode
  • essentials.fly - Allow flight
  • essentials.kick - Kick players
  • essentials.ban - Ban players
  • worldedit.region.* - All WorldEdit region commands
  • * - All permissions (admin only!)

Group Hierarchy

Set up a typical server hierarchy:

  1. Default: Basic permissions for all players
  2. VIP: Extra perks like colored chat, /fly in creative
  3. Moderator: Kick, mute, basic moderation tools
  4. Admin: Most permissions except dangerous ones
  5. Owner: Full permissions (*)

⚠️ Security Tip: Never give the * permission to anyone you don't completely trust. It grants full server access including the ability to execute console commands.

Configuring Plugins

Most plugins create configuration files in the plugins folder. These YAML files let you customize plugin behavior.

Understanding YAML Format

YAML is the format used for most plugin configs. Key points:

  • Indentation matters - use spaces, not tabs
  • Use colons to separate keys and values
  • Comments start with #
  • Lists use dashes
# Example config.yml
enabled: true
max-players: 20
worlds:
- world
- world_nether
- world_the_end
settings:
pvp-enabled: false
difficulty: normal

Common Configuration Tasks

Editing Config Files:

  1. Stop your server
  2. Navigate to plugins/PluginName/
  3. Edit the config.yml file
  4. Save the file
  5. Start your server or use /plugin reload PluginName

⚠️ Important: Always stop your server before editing configs, or changes may be overwritten. Some plugins don't support hot-reloading and require a full restart.

Common Config Locations

plugins/
├── EssentialsX/
│ ├── config.yml
│ ├── kits.yml
│ └── worth.yml
├── LuckPerms/
│ ├── config.yml
│ └── storage/
└── CoreProtect/
└── config.yml

Using CoreProtect

CoreProtect is an essential logging plugin that tracks all block changes, allowing you to rollback griefing and investigate player actions.

Why CoreProtect is Essential

  • Logs every block place and break
  • Tracks chest interactions and item transactions
  • Records player deaths and kills
  • Allows rollbacks and restores of any changes
  • Minimal performance impact

Basic CoreProtect Commands

/co lookup u:PlayerName t:7d r:5 # Shows what PlayerName did in the last 7 days within 5 blocks
/co lookup b:diamond_ore t:1h # Lookup all diamond ore breaks in the last hour
/co inspect # Inspection tool - click blocks to see history
/co rollback u:Griefer t:24h r:100 # Rollback griefing
/co restore u:Griefer t:24h r:100 # Restore accidental rollbacks
/co purge t:30d # Purge old data (reduce database size)

Time Parameters

  • t:5s - 5 seconds
  • t:10m - 10 minutes
  • t:3h - 3 hours
  • t:7d - 7 days
  • t:2w - 2 weeks

Best Practices

  • Always use inspect mode before doing rollbacks
  • Start with smaller radius and time ranges
  • Test rollbacks on a backup first if unsure
  • Regularly purge old data to keep database size manageable
  • Give moderators access to lookup and inspect, but limit rollback permissions

💡 Pro Tip: Use /co lookup u:#explosion to find creeper damage, or u:#fire for fire damage. This helps identify natural disasters vs player griefing.

Server Management Tools

Beyond basic plugins, these tools help you manage and monitor your server effectively.

Essential Management Plugins

EssentialsX:

  • Provides essential commands like /home, /warp, /tpa
  • Kits system for starter items
  • Economy integration
  • Player nicknames and chat formatting

WorldEdit/WorldGuard:

  • WorldEdit: Powerful building tools for terraforming
  • WorldGuard: Region protection and flags
  • Protect spawn, shops, and important areas
  • Control PvP, mob spawning, and other mechanics per-region

Vault:

  • API plugin that connects permissions, economy, and chat plugins
  • Required by many other plugins as a dependency
  • Allows plugins to work together seamlessly

Performance Monitoring

Spark Profiler:

/spark profiler start # Install Spark and use these commands
# Let it run for 30-60 seconds
/spark profiler stop # Get a link to view detailed performance data

Backup Solutions

  • Manual Backups: Stop server, copy world folders
  • Automated Backups: Use plugins like BackupManager or server-level scripts
  • Backup Schedule: Daily backups, keep 7 days of history minimum
  • Test Restores: Regularly verify backups can be restored

⚠️ Critical: Always have automated backups. A server without backups will eventually lose important data. Test your restore process before you need it. Mid's Niteworks runs automated backups free of charge.

Useful Commands Reference

# Server Management
stop - Safely shut down the server
reload confirm - Reload server (use sparingly)
plugins - List all installed plugins
version PluginName - Check plugin version
# Player Management
whitelist add/remove PlayerName
ban/unban PlayerName
kick PlayerName [reason]
op/deop PlayerName - Give/remove operator status

# Performance
tps - Check server ticks per second
timings - Generate performance report (Paper)

CMI - Complete Management Interface

CMI is the ultimate all-in-one server management plugin. It combines the functionality of dozens of plugins into one powerful, highly configurable package.

Why Choose CMI?

CMI replaces multiple plugins while offering superior features and performance:

  • Replaces EssentialsX, Vault, and many other common plugins
  • Over 300 commands and 500+ features in a single plugin
  • Extensive customization options for every feature
  • Active development with frequent updates
  • Excellent performance despite the massive feature set
  • Professional support from the developer

💡 Special Offer: CMI is a premium plugin with a one-time purchase fee. However, because I wholeheartedly recommend it as the best management solution available, I can provide the plugin free of charge for your server.

Core Features

Player Management:

  • Homes, warps, and teleportation system with cooldowns
  • Full nickname system with color codes and formatting
  • Advanced AFK detection and auto-kick
  • Player warnings, kicks, bans, and mutes
  • Jail system with multiple jail locations
  • Inventory management and backpack system
  • Player time and weather control

Economy System:

  • Built-in economy with currency customization
  • Bank accounts with interest rates
  • Player-to-player payments and transactions
  • Worth system for items (buy/sell prices)
  • Baltop leaderboards
  • Tax system for command usage

Portal System:

  • Create custom portals anywhere
  • Portal-to-portal connections
  • Portal-to-command execution
  • Particle effects and customizable visuals
  • Permission-based portal access
  • Seamless teleportation without loading screens

Essential CMI Commands

# Basic Commands
/cmi - Main CMI command interface
/cmi help - Command help
/cmi version - Check CMI version

# Teleportation
/cmi tp [player] - Teleport to player
/cmi tphere [player] - Teleport player to you
/cmi tppos [x] [y] [z] - Teleport to coordinates
/cmi tpall - Teleport all players to you

# World Management
/cmi fly [player] - Toggle flight
/cmi god [player] - Toggle god mode
/cmi speed [1-10] - Change walk/fly speed
/cmi heal [player] - Heal a player
/cmi feed [player] - Feed a player

# Utility
/cmi workbench - Open crafting table
/cmi anvil - Open anvil
/cmi trash - Open trash GUI
/cmi enderchest [player] - Open ender chest

CMI vs EssentialsX

Feature CMI EssentialsX
Commands 300+ 100+
Portals ✓ Advanced ✗ None
Holograms ✓ Built-in ✗ Needs plugin
Tab List ✓ Full custom ✗ Needs plugin
Rank System ✓ Native ✗ None
Cost Paid (free via me) Free

💡 Bottom Line: CMI is the professional choice. It consolidates multiple plugins into one, reduces plugin conflicts, and offers features impossible with free alternatives. If you're serious about your server, CMI is worth it - and I provide it free of charge.

Server Maps - BlueMap & Dynmap

Server map plugins create live, interactive web-based maps of your Minecraft world. Players can explore your world from their browser, see real-time player locations, and navigate to interesting builds.

Why Use Server Maps?

  • Showcase your world and builds to players 24/7
  • Help players find locations and navigate the world
  • See who's online and where they are in real-time
  • Promote your server with shareable map links
  • Create a sense of community by displaying the whole world
  • Perfect for marking shops, warps, and points of interest

BlueMap vs Dynmap

BlueMap - Modern and Beautiful:

  • Stunning 3D rendering with realistic lighting
  • Smooth, modern interface
  • Better performance on large maps
  • Lower server resource usage
  • Open source and actively developed
  • Supports Fabric, Forge, and Paper
  • Free and no licensing restrictions

Dynmap - Feature-Rich Classic:

  • More mature with extensive features
  • Better add-on ecosystem
  • More rendering options (flat, isometric, cave maps)
  • Detailed player information and statistics
  • Chat integration (see and send chat from web)
  • Been around longer, well-tested

Installing BlueMap

  1. Download BlueMap from modrinth.com or spigotmc.org
  2. Place the JAR in your plugins folder
  3. Restart your server
  4. Accept the download agreement: /bluemap and follow prompts
  5. Configure settings in plugins/BlueMap/
  6. Start rendering: /bluemap render [world]
  7. Access your map at http://your-server-ip:8100

BlueMap Commands

/bluemap - Main command and help
/bluemap reload - Reload configuration
/bluemap render [world] - Start rendering a world
/bluemap pause - Pause rendering
/bluemap resume - Resume rendering
/bluemap purge [world] - Delete map data for world
/bluemap marker create [id] [name] - Create a marker

💡 Recommendation: For new servers, I recommend BlueMap. It looks more modern, performs better, and has no licensing concerns. However, if you need specific features like chat integration or multiple view modes, Dynmap is still excellent.

mcMMO - RPG Skills System

mcMMO is a popular RPG plugin that adds skill leveling and abilities to Minecraft. Players gain experience in various skills through gameplay, unlocking special abilities and bonuses as they level up.

What is mcMMO?

mcMMO transforms vanilla Minecraft into an RPG experience by adding:

  • 15+ skills that level up through normal gameplay
  • Special abilities that activate automatically or manually
  • Stat bonuses that improve as you level
  • Party system for cooperative play
  • Leaderboards and competition
  • Encourages long-term player engagement

Core Skills

Combat Skills:

  • Swords: Bleed damage, counter-attack, serrated strikes ability
  • Axes: Bonus damage to armor, critical strikes, skull splitter ability
  • Archery: Arrow retrieval, skill shots, daze enemies
  • Taming: Stronger wolves, beast lore, summon pets to your side
  • Unarmed: Disarm opponents, deflect arrows, berserk ability

Gathering Skills:

  • Mining: Double drops, super breaker ability, blast mining with TNT
  • Woodcutting: Double drops, tree feller ability (chop entire tree)
  • Excavation: Treasure hunting, giga drill breaker ability
  • Herbalism: Double crop drops, green terra ability, auto-replant
  • Fishing: Treasure fishing, increased catch rate, shake items from mobs

Basic Commands

/mcstats - View all your skill levels
/[skillname] - View specific skill info (e.g., /mining, /swords)

# Check rankings
/mctop - View top players overall
/mctop [skillname] - View top players in a skill
/mcrank - View your ranking

# Party system
/party create [name] [password] - Create a party
/party join [player] [password] - Join a party
/party quit - Leave your party
/party chat - Toggle party chat
/ptp [player] - Teleport to party member

💡 Bottom Line: mcMMO adds meaningful progression to Minecraft without requiring mods. It encourages players to specialize and cooperate, significantly increasing player retention and engagement on your server.

Bedrock Crossplay - Geyser & Floodgate

Allow Bedrock Edition players (Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, Mobile, Windows 10) to join your Java Edition server using Geyser and Floodgate.

What is Geyser?

Geyser is a proxy that translates between Java and Bedrock Edition protocols, enabling crossplay:

  • Bedrock players can join Java servers
  • Real-time protocol translation
  • Works as a plugin or standalone proxy
  • Free and open source
  • Supports most gameplay features
  • Active development and community

What is Floodgate?

Floodgate allows Bedrock players to join without a Java Edition account:

  • Bedrock players don't need to buy Java Edition
  • Authenticates Bedrock players via Xbox Live
  • Adds prefix to Bedrock usernames (default: ".")
  • Required for full Geyser functionality
  • Works alongside Geyser

💡 Why Use Crossplay? Significantly increases your potential player base. Many players only have Bedrock Edition on console or mobile. Crossplay lets friends play together regardless of platform.

Installation (Plugin Mode)

  1. Download Geyser-Spigot from geysermc.org
  2. Download Floodgate-Spigot from geysermc.org
  3. Place both JARs in your plugins folder
  4. Restart your server
  5. Configure port in plugins/Geyser-Spigot/config.yml
  6. Open the Bedrock port (default: 19132 UDP) in your firewall

Configuration

# plugins/Geyser-Spigot/config.yml (key settings)
bedrock:
address: 0.0.0.0
port: 19132 # Bedrock default port

remote:
address: 127.0.0.1
port: 25565 # Your Java server port

auth-type: floodgate # Use Floodgate authentication

# Performance settings
max-players: 100
chunk-caching: true

Connecting as a Bedrock Player

  1. Open Minecraft Bedrock Edition
  2. Go to "Play" → "Servers" → "Add Server"
  3. Enter server name
  4. Enter server IP (without port or use 19132)
  5. Save and join

💡 Pro Tip: Advertise your server on both Java and Bedrock server lists. Make it clear that crossplay is supported. Many Bedrock players are looking for quality Java servers they can join!

Modded Minecraft - Forge & Fabric

Create enhanced Minecraft experiences with mods using Forge, Fabric, or NeoForge. Modded servers allow gameplay modifications that go far beyond what plugins can achieve.

Mods vs Plugins

Understanding the key differences:

  • Mods: Modify the game itself - new blocks, items, mobs, mechanics, dimensions
  • Plugins: Add server-side features - commands, protection, economy, management
  • Client Requirement: Players must install mods; plugins work without client changes
  • Capabilities: Mods can do virtually anything; plugins are limited to server behavior
  • Compatibility: Mods require matching loader; plugins work on any Bukkit/Spigot/Paper server

💡 Key Point: Modded servers require all players to have the exact same mods installed. This is both powerful and limiting - you can create entirely new gameplay experiences, but players need to download a modpack first.

Choosing a Mod Loader

Forge:

  • Most established and widely used
  • Largest mod ecosystem (thousands of mods)
  • Best for heavy modpacks and tech mods
  • More resource-intensive
  • Popular mods: Create, Mekanism, Thermal, Industrial Foregoing

Fabric:

  • Lightweight and fast
  • Quick updates to new Minecraft versions
  • Better performance than Forge
  • Growing mod ecosystem
  • Popular mods: Sodium, Lithium, Create Fabric, Tech Reborn

Server Requirements

Modded servers need significantly more resources than vanilla:

# Light Modpack (10-30 mods)
RAM: 4-6GB
CPU: 2+ cores, 3GHz+
Players: 5-10

# Medium Modpack (30-80 mods)
RAM: 6-10GB
CPU: 4+ cores, 3.5GHz+
Players: 10-20

# Heavy Modpack (80-200+ mods)
RAM: 10-16GB
CPU: 6+ cores, 4GHz+
Players: 5-15 (fewer due to complexity)

⚠️ Mod Compatibility: Not all mods work together. Check mod pages for known conflicts. Test your modpack thoroughly before giving it to players. One incompatible mod can crash the entire server.

Player Guide: Essential Commands

New to the server? This guide covers the basic commands and features every player should know.

Getting Started

When you first join the server, here are some essential commands to get you oriented:

/spawn - Return to the server spawn point
/help - View available commands
/rules - Read the server rules (if configured)
/list - See who's online
/msg [player] [message] - Send a private message

Home and Teleportation

Set personal homes and teleport around the server:

/sethome [name] - Set a home at your current location
/home [name] - Teleport to your home
/home - Teleport to your default home
/delhome [name] - Delete a home
/homes - List all your homes
/tpa [player] - Request to teleport to another player
/tpahere [player] - Request a player teleport to you
/tpaccept - Accept a teleport request
/tpdeny - Deny a teleport request

💡 Tip: Most servers limit the number of homes you can set. Use descriptive names like "base", "farm", or "shop" to organize your homes.

Claiming Land

Protect your builds from griefing using the land claiming system:

# Get a golden shovel (claim tool)
/kit claim
# Or craft one if kits aren't available

# Create a claim
1. Right-click one corner with the golden shovel
2. Right-click the opposite corner
3. Your claim is now protected!

# Trust players in your claim
/trust [player] - Full build permissions
/containertrust [player] - Can use chests/doors
/accesstrust [player] - Can use buttons/levers only

# Manage claims
/claiminfo - Shows info about the claim you're standing in
/claimlist - List all your claims
/abandonclaim - Delete the claim you're standing in

Economy and Trading

Most servers have an economy system. Here are common commands:

/balance - Check your money (also /bal)
/baltop - See the richest players
/pay [player] [amount] - Send money to another player

# If shops are enabled
/shop - Open the server shop
/sell hand - Sell the item you're holding
/sell all - Sell all sellable items in your inventory

Getting Help

If you're stuck or have questions:

  • Use /help [command] for command-specific help
  • Ask in chat - most communities are helpful!
  • Check /rules to understand server guidelines
  • Contact staff if you need assistance or found a bug
  • Read signs at spawn - they often contain important info

💡 New Player Tips:
• Claim your land early to prevent griefing
• Set a home at your base so you can always return
• Read the server rules before building or interacting
• Ask for help - experienced players are usually happy to assist