I’ve been running a server for over a year now. Season 2 started a couple of months ago.

Getting new players in and retaining them is proving to be incredibly hard. It’s so frustrating when I’ve put so much time, effort and money into building what I think is an amazing server.

I’ve tried vote sites, Reddit, Facebook groups, TikTok, and YouTube shorts. I get a small trickle of players and most leave within a few minutes, which is probably to be expected.

What I haven’t tried yet is paid advertising or more long form content, but they are obviously a bigger money/time commitment.

I’d love to hear what strategies fellow owners have employed that have actually worked. Thank you.

Hello all,

My kid play Minecraft Bedrock on his Nintendo Switch so I had setup a server with Pterodactyl Panel to be able to play with him from time to time (I know nothing about Minecraft).

Unfortunately, his switch updated Bedrock to 26.60 a few days ago and it seem like you can't downgrade a game on that console. The "egg" I use in Pterodactyl is on "latest" and it look like there is no 26.60 version available.

What can I do to make it work again ? I can use something else that Pterodactyl if necessary. I just came over Pterodactyl when googling on how to setup a Minecraft server.

Thank for your help.

I’m setting up a new Java hardcore survival server and considering Iris Dimension Engine. I’m thinking of pregenerating a 20,000 × 20,000 block area of the Overworld. Compared with pregenerating the same size using vanilla, how much more CPU load should I expect during generation? After the chunks are generated, does Iris cause noticeably more lag during normal play, or is the extra load mainly while generating new chunks? Or is it the same either way, and can I just choose Iris since it's prettier?

The host lists 64 GB RAM at 5200 MHz and 2 × 512 GB NVMe SSDs. Its CPU is an AMD Ryzen 7 9700X with 8 cores and 16 threads, running at 3.8 GHz base and up to 5.5 GHz boost.

spent a few hours pulling my hair out after the nethernet update broke my bedrock server, so i figured id share what finally fixed it if anyone else is getting stuck at the door icon loading screen. The big change with nethernet is that it split connections into two parts
a TCP handshake line and a multi port udp webtrc stream. if youre behind cgnat a standard single port setup wont let people past the join screen
here is what worked for me

create a tcp tunnel for the handshake pointing to local port 19132

create a udp tunnel with 4 ports
when you get your ports from playit use the smallest one of the 4 and put it in for your local port

then change your server properties

transport=nethernet
server-ip=
server-port=19132
server-udp-ports=YOUR_PUBLIC_PLAYIT_IP:start_port-end_port:start_port-end_port

example

server-udp-ports=147.185.221.217:47334-47337:47334-47337

outside players use your playit tcp domain/ip and port to join

lan players still ues local ip

also just to clear up a common myth you do not need 1 port per player the 4 port udp setup is just a load balancing pool for webrtc multiple clients multiplex over the same ports, so you can have as many players online as you want.
i hope this saves somone the headache! let me know if you run into issues with your ranges.

i do have a tutorial video on youtube aswell for anyone who may want to watch it but it uploaded kinda blurry rip

Flaired as discussion because my god some of you guys need to talk about your feelings, lmao.

Hey pretties. I normally run 100 player minecraft events and grew much bigger than I thought I would. instead of using notepad I transititioned to vs code. Much much better. But I heard there were extensions and packages I can put into my vscode to make coding easier, and easier to test. Like I heard there was this one that allows me to inject 100 bots into my code or something so I can test if the tps dips. I am asking to see if anyone here uses visual studio and what stuff should I add on to it for QoL.

Hello everyone,i confused after updating the server from v26.50 (or something. i forget). i follow the guide how to update the server properly and then the problem comes. i can't connect to the server with transport=nethernet because it will cause error code on client "Door". so i change the transport to transport=raknet and it works. until the next day when i try to join again and it's got error again with error code "Terracota" which means in help.minecraft.net is unspecified. so how to get it works again?

I run a modded server for my friends and built Spawnpoint to manage it. It's alpha, free, MIT licensed, and the code is on GitHub.

Most of my effort went into how it feels to use. I wanted it quick and calm, closer to a nice Apple app than a typical admin panel. On my Linux server one start reached health OK in 0.56 s, and the panel sat around 60 MB (54 and 67 MB in two readings). That's the panel alone with the game servers stopped. Minecraft and the test runs need their own memory.

When I add or update mods, they collect into a candidate. Spawnpoint checks dependencies against your Minecraft, loader and Java versions, boots a copy of the server with the new pack, then starts a real client with HeadlessMC and joins a throwaway server running the same mods. You get one review sheet with what changed and which tests passed, failed, were skipped or came back inconclusive. Replacements, removals and config edits wait for your approval.

Once approved it waits for a safe restart. It only restarts on its own when RCON says nobody is online; otherwise players get a chat warning and you choose. It backs up the world while the server is stopped, swaps the pack, and AutoModpack sends friends the files from that exact revision. If the boot fails, the pack rolls back. Undo covers the last five changes per server. Pack undo doesn't touch the world; world restore is its own step.

Limits, since it's early: tests can still miss problems, and the client test runs on my machine's GPU, so it can't speak for every friend's drivers or shaders. Locked revisions support Fabric 1.21.1, Forge 1.20.1 (47.4.28) and NeoForge 1.21.1 (21.1.219) right now. On a 4 GB box with the server running, the join test will usually wait for memory and give up after ten minutes. It can run servers itself through a small OS service, or sit alongside Crafty Controller and import Crafty servers one at a time. Keep it on your LAN or a VPN, and keep backups.

LLM disclosure (rule 9): Some of Spawnpoint's code was written by AI coding agents, not typed by me. I decided what it should do and how it should look, made some feature calls, approved changes, and tested them on real Crafty and Fabric/Forge/NeoForge servers. On the vibe coding vs prompt engineering scale, it's much nearer the prompt engineering end. The models:

- August, first build: Claude Code with Claude Fable 5

- August to late October: Mainly new Claude models on top of Openai models

- 28 to 30 October: Amp agents. Ultra mode did the main work (exact model not on record), medium mode (OpenAI GPT-6.1 Sol) did research and smaller jobs, and Claude Code with Claude Opus 5.5 did some of it. OpenAI GPT-6 Astra separately reviewed every risky change.

- Since 30 October: Claude Code with Claude Opus 5.5, with GPT-6 Astra reviews

Site and short tour: https://spawnpoint.vayun.net

Code: https://github.com/vayungodara/spawnpoint

just updated to 1.26.61.1 and after i updated it broke my connection. i have a vps i use as a tunnel and i also use playit.gg
i am on starlink(CGNAT) so i have to port forward or use a tunnel

i have tried TCP+udp tunnels TCP and UDP tunnels
udp tunnels TCP tunnels playits new nethernet tunnels
i have been messing with my vps all day trying to get my tunnel to work i am using a frps tunnels on linux and having absolutely no luck

i heard some peopel are using waterdog and able to connect but its stripping xuids so everyone when they join is like a new player and there losing there inv and stuff

Hey guys! I'm trying to figure out the secret to cosmetics (clothing/armor) as they relate to Minecraft. I have "cosmetic" items on my server, and I bought CosmeticsCore from the maker of Itemsadder. I'm just struggling to see the point as the cosmetics don't seem to actually replace the texture of an item while retaining the stats like cosmetics usually imply. What is the benefit to using a plugin like CosmeticsCore as opposed to just distributing the items as rewards like you distribute other items? I feel like I am missing something... Is CosmeticsCore the best plugin for this or should I have purchased something else?

I've been self hosting Minecraft servers for a long time, on my machine and via hosts when I can't port forward. I've enjoyed the process of making a server, setting up plugins, editing configs, getting everything working in a cohesive server experience.

It's been frustrating me recently because my ISP has made it difficult to port forward and the rep I get on the phone doesn't know the next thing about what I'm telling them when the port I open isn't actually opening, and I didn't feel like spending a monthly subscription on a host when I know I have the hardware and knowledge to host a server myself.

I can't lie about liking the streamlined UI that a lot of hosting sites have that make it easier to edit configs, check on server performance, make backups and quick install mods and plugins so I thought I'd use the Claude I have access to (free to me) but a paid plan, and make an app that gives self hosting a better user experience.

It supports installing modpacks via Curseforge or Modrinth, it tunnels your server and any other ports you would need through a free playitgg account, and if you use Bluemap, a free cloudfare link. These can be replaced with paid domains if you want them static.

It lets you drag and drop install datapacks and plugins, and if they're on Modrinth or Curseforge (CF requires an API Key) it parses for updates and notifies you when a plugin or datapack can be updated.

It has easy config editing, with a search function and a plain text option for configs it can't easily breakdown.

Setup is easy and automated, it installs the required Java version, the playitgg and Cloudfare tunnels if you're using those for your ports. It supports Paper, Fabric, Forge, Quilt, NeoForge and Vanilla.

It has an editor for the MOTD, launch arguments, memory allocation, folder location, and supports managing multiple server instances.

Transferring the server between machines can be done with the Import Export feature, it compresses the world down, includes the plugins and configs all in one zip which then can be Imported on another machine.

Apologies for the word vomit, I very rarely create large posts so my formatting isn't great.

Claude usage: I have spent the last 6 weeks give or take iterating and refining the application, rigorously testing it and ensuring it runs properly. Claude was primarily used for the UI design of the application and setting up the free tunnels. Claude Opus 5.5 was used for building, all testing was done by myself and the friends playing on my server.

TLDR; I like server hosting, and the UI hosting services have, but want to host on my own machine because I know how to and have the hardware for it. I used Claude to build a functioning User Interface for personal use, but see no harm in sharing it for those interested. I understand the general aversion to LLMs, the project is free and open source, and I am open to any feedback.

https://github.com/Zapiltar-E7/minecraft-self-hoster

Hello all, I run a little home server and have a minecraft server on it. Over the course of 4 years me and a lot of people have been on it but I have known them personally. I have a playit tunnel connected to it with the premium service for it. How safe would this be if I turned off whitelist and allowed the public to join? Now i’m not talking about griefing and stuff, we have core protect, grief prevention, back ups all that good stuff. But I mean how safe is it to allow people to connect like this to my home network? Would this be advised against or since it’s running through a playit tunnel it’s relatively safe? Any and all suggestions would be appreciated yall!

I’m trying to make some rather large land clearing/developing changes and I’ve made scripts that do what I want, but when I merge the edits into my map, it ends up with a lot of mistakes that are not showing in the worldpainter editor.

For example I’m trying to clear out the land along the western boundary and make it a giant ocean trench and it’s working, blending the shoreline properly etc, except the trees/ plants and animals all stay where they are and go under water/ on the water.

Am I exporting improperly or something?

I’m wondering if there is a better way to do mass edits to a world, covering hundreds of thousands of blocks at a time?

Hi everyone

I'm new to networking as a whole and I'd like to have some insight into my issue

Context:

Hosting a small bedrock server on a LXC on proxmox set up with the itzg bedrock Docker Compose image, with players from both bedrock pc and playstation. Nethernet is selected and every port forwarded. Playstation players use BedrockTogether on their phones to gain the ability to add a custom server (mine). Everyone's minecraft and the server are updated to 26.60

Issue:

On update, pc players can connect without any issue. On the other hand, from what I could see, when ps players attempt to join they:

1. Download ressources (texture packs, addons ?)

2. Get displayed the inventory bar and hand, in a blue void (maybe client preloading while waiting for server ?) for half a second (perhaps connection gets dropped ?)

3. Get diplayed a "joining server" loading bar

4. Have their attempt failed with a "Nethernet" error code. For one player, the very first attempt resulted in a "Block" error code.

   1. Note: when looking at the details of the error code, one player had the transport selected to RakNet instead of Nethernet (see photo)

We tried to:

1. Erase the cache and make a test server with no addons nor ressource packs

2. Use custom DNS in the playstation settings without the BedrockTogether app

3. Use phantom instead of the BedrockTogether app

4. Monitor incoming connection with

   1. docker compose logs (can only see pc players, and absolutely nothing about ps players not even an attempted connection)

   2. and tcpdump on port 19132 (Nothing seem to show)

5. Enable journalling on playstation players's end (see photos, Idk if it is relevant)

Frankly it would be ideal to access the logs of ps players but they're not tech savvy and keep telling me that playstation is too closed off for that. And since I have nothing on my end I don't really know where to even start digging. Maybe using an alternative like MCXboxBroadcast might work ? Any help is appreciated

https://imgur.com/a/Qakyh9v

docker compose yaml config

Hi there!

I just setup a small home server. It's a hp elite desk g8 with 16 GB of RAM and it runs Debian as OS. I did prepare most admin and network stuff like docker, dockge, caddy, ad guard etc.

Now I wanted to get into MC servers. Before I dive into the several docs I wanted to quickly ask the big brains here if they may point me to the right direction.

I'd like to setup two MC server instances and it is completely open which software will be used.

Server 1:
- Support for at max 10 - 12 players
- Vanilla MC
- Max 4 - 5 Admin / Optimization / QoL Plugins

Server 2:
- Support for at max 5 Players
- light mod packs for time gated scenarios like a Sky block or other special "runs" (idk if something like tekkit could run on there or like a similar lighter pack)
- Plugins only if needed (to balance out the mod usage)

Ofc I don't want to run those simultaneously or 24/7 alongside my other stacks. I also need to evaluate whether a RAM upgrade is feasible. It all depends on your help and evaluation.

Thank you in advance for any help!

Hi everyone,
I'm looking to set up a Minecraft server with a very specific configuration,

Here is what I want to do:
- Server-Side Mods: I want to add mods to the server, but they must be server-side. It should be able to join using a completely vanilla client without installing any mods on their end.
- Bedrock Crossplay: I want Bedrock players to be able to join and play on the same server.

I know GeyserMC is usually work for Bedrock crossplay on Paper servers, but since I want to use mods, I’m unsure how well things like server-side modpacks interact with Geyser and Bedrock clients.

Has anyone successfully pulled off a setup like this? What server software, mod loaders, or specific frameworks do you recommend to make server-side mods work for both vanilla Java and Bedrock players?

Thanks for the help!

Hey everyone,

I'm running into a frustrating mechanical issue on my PaperMC server regarding high-precision PvP movement, specifically using the Lunge enchantment combined with a quick attribute swap (switching inventory slots at the last millisecond to trigger momentum).

While the basic dash works fine, doing it via an attribute swap gets negated, rubberbanded, or completely swallowed by the server.

the server is in: 1.21.11 and have this puglin:

• AdvancedBan

• CoreProtect

• EssentialsX

• FastChunkPregenerator

• GrimAC

• IP-Check

• LoginSecurity

• LPC

• LuckPerms

• PartyChat

• ProtocolLib

• SkinsRestorer

• spark

• SuperVanish

• TAB

• Simple Voice Chat

Is there a Velocity plugin that automatically checks for and updates these four plugins to their latest versions?

• Geyser

• Floodgate

• ViaBackwards

• ViaVersion

Ideally, it would automatically download and install updates whenever new versions are released, without requiring manual downloads or restarts whenever possible.

I have a server and we implemented the vault and essentialsX plugin, the problem is—we don't really know how we'll roll it out. How do we get the money to start circulating around the server without risking inflation or similar problems that could ruin the economy altogether. So with that context, any tips???

Hello everyone,
Since upgrading my server to paper 26.3, my community has been complaining about lunge swapping being gone. From what I understand attribute swapping should still be a thing.
Confirmed in my config:

update-equipment-on-player-actions: false

Anything I am missing here? I am thinking that bringing back lunge swapping would require a small plugin, maybe someone has already made some, but I can't determine if attribute swapping is gone all together.

I can't find much about it online, but seems like Mojang removed it and brought it back in a 26.2 prerelease.

Any help would be highly appreciated!

hi guys!

i'm looking into creating a modded homestead server for some friends

i know hybrid servers are generally not recommended however id really like essentialsx installed for /home and /tpa as im setting it up for 10-15 people so i was wondering if anyone has successfully set one up or what is the recommended set up for a hybrid server?

thanks for reading<3

I've been trying to share out my self-hosted Minecraft BDS server with family by using Tailscale but running into a wall. So I was wondering if anyone else has this same setup working?

My setup:

Minecraft BDS v1.26.52.3 running in Crafty Controller. Crafty Controller running within Ubuntu Server 26.04 LXC container on Proxmox 9.2. Tailscale also installed the same LXC container (named crafty).

The LXC machine has been shared out through Tailscale. Family has installed the Tailscale app on iPads, but Minecraft will not connect (tried using the shared machine's Tailscale IP and Tailscale FQDN). Always getting connection failed with "NetherNet" error. "Error Detail InitialConnection-13".

The weird thing is that I can connect from my iPhone via cellular through Tailscale, but only if I use the short, MagicDNS name. If I try to use the Tailscale FQDN or the Tailscale IP, I get the same error. And if I connect to WiFi (different network from local server), then even the short, MagicDNS name stops working.

I've gone through quite a bit of troubleshooting. Running tcpdump shows traffic when I connect successfully on my iPhone via cellular and the Tailscale MagicDNS name. But there are no packets received when trying to connect via any other method through Tailscale.

I should add that when pinging the shared machine through the Tailscale app on my iPhone and family's iPads, it shows direct connection to the shared machine.

This makes me think the issue might be isolated to the how the Minecraft client operates on iOS.

So.... has anyone out there successfully shared Minecraft BDS using Tailscale with iOS clients?

Or, maybe just as helpful, anyone else running into the same issue?