How To Set Up A Minecraft Server Using A VPS In 8 Steps

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Minecraft is one the most-played video games ever with over 140,000,000 players around the globe. Minecraft's success is due to its popularity with friends.



Hosting providers have the potential to make multiplayer mode a profitable business. By setting up your own Minecraft server, you can create a more engaging, varied, and unique block-based world - and then monetize your creation.



This post will show you how to make a living from Minecraft by using a Virtual Private Server. Then, we'll share a step by step guide to installing, configuring and launching your gaming server. Let's get started!



An Introduction to Minecraft



Minecraft is widely regarded as one the most successful video games, having sold millions worldwide. Mojang, a Stockholm-based software developer, originally created the game. In 2014, Microsoft purchased both the Minecraft intellectual property and Mojang for $2.5 billion:



This sandbox-based video game has a simple idea. Minecraft allows players to explore a 3D space, create tools, and construct structures.



There are many modes available, including a creative mode that grants unlimited resources to gamers. Players can also modify the gameplay mechanisms, items, and assets.



Minecraft has won many awards, including the Best Debut Game award, Best Downloadable game, and the Innovation title at the Game Developers Choice Awards. It is also a member of the World Video Game Hall of Fame.



However, this cultural phenomenon isn't just popular among gamers. Minecraft is used frequently in educational settings, which is unusual for a mainstream videogame. For example, one teacher recreated various historical landmarks for their students to explore.



Minecraft has even taught younger players how to code, and how to build virtual and hardware devices. Minecraft: Education Edition has been created to help educators. This edition is dedicated to promoting the use of Minecraft within schools, and has some extra features that can help teachers monitor their students' progress within the game.



Why Create Your Own Minecraft Server



Minecraft's block-based world can be explored solo, but the multiplayer mode is extremely popular. You can create bigger and more amazing things by logging in to a shared Minecraft server.



However, public servers are open to harassment and bullying. This is particularly concerning due to Minecraft's young fan base.



Fortunately, it's possible to create your own Minecraft server. This allows you to have complete control over your Minecraft server, including setting your own rules as well as deciding who can access it.



There's also the opportunity to monetize your Minecraft server by charging for access. To start, you might create a server that caters to the needs of a particular community. For example, by strictly moderating your server, you can appeal to parents who are concerned about their children enjoying their favorite game in a secure environment.



Alternativly, you might be more focused on creating a unique Minecraft experience. You could also create a large, unique gaming environment with beautiful structures and mini-games. This might make it more attractive for players to pay a premium to enjoy the world you've made.



You might even permit people to join your server for free, while generating revenue through other means. Minecraft's Commercial Usage Guidelines prohibit the sale of in-game benefits. There are many add-ons available that don't impact the gameplay. This includes cosmetics such as a new color for the player's names or a visual effect that appears around a player's character.



As your server grows in popularity, there might also be some scope to secure sponsorships or display online advertisements. Affiliate links could also be a possibility. All of this can turn your Minecraft server into a lucrative revenue stream.



Virtual Private Servers (VPS), Reasons You May Want to Use



When it comes to creating a Minecraft server, you'll need enough firepower to ensure smooth and responsive gameplay. It's hard to beat a dedicated server in terms of power. However, those are some of the most costly hosting plans.



That's where a Virtual Private Server (VPS) comes in. A VPS allows your provider to host multiple customers on the same server. This reduces their running costs and allows them to offer VPS hosting for a more affordable price.



Similar to a baremet server, a VPS gives you access to a portion of the server’s physical resources and functionality. This puts you in a strong position to provide fast rendering and a lag-free gaming experience. A VPS is a great way to wow your community and not break the bank.



When creating a gameplay server, there's also a good chance that your requirements may change over time. You might attract new players, add more mod packs, and continue to expand your block-based world.



It becomes more important to have access to the server's resources as your game demands increase. However, you risk having to share resources with neighbors who are not as resource-efficient.



You may see an increase in traffic from your neighbors. This is great for them but it can also mean less resources for you. A shared server and growing demands can spell disaster. If the gameplay becomes unsatisfying, players might leave.



VPS hosting allows you to be completely isolated from other users. This allows you to have more control over how your server is configured. Optimizing your VPS for Minecraft will allow you to provide a fast and responsive gaming experience, as well as growing your community.



How to Set Up a Minecraft Server Using a VPS (In 8 Steps)



While Minecraft launched in 2011, this game is still very popular. It earned over $142million in 2020 alone.



Let's learn how to make the most popular videogame ever into your next business venture. Here's how to set up your own Minecraft server, in eight easy steps. Is It Tho



1. Choose a VPS package



We recommend that Minecraft servers have 1.5GB RAM and at least 15GB hard drive storage. At A2 Hosting, all of our managed VPS plans provide more than enough firepower to run a successful Minecraft VPS. Runway 2 and higher are available if you prefer an unmanaged VPS plan.



It's also important to think about how your needs might change over time. You can increase your requirements by installing plugins, addons, or texture packs. You may need to upgrade your plan as your game attracts more players. Otherwise, you risk compromising the player experience and making them suffer lagging gameplay.



A2 Hosting offers free migration in almost all cases for customers who wish to upgrade their accounts to higher levels. This allows you to be confident that your Minecraft world will perform well and will not crash.



Root access is required to install Minecraft and any associated software. All managed and unmanaged VPS plans include optional root access. This gives you the freedom to choose the plan that offers you the best value for money, and provides your Minecraft community with the best user experience.



2. Secure Shell Protocol (SSH), Connect Over Secure Shell Protocol



Next, connect to your VPS through Secure Shell Protocol. This protocol allows you to communicate with your server via an unsecured network. Once you've made this link, you can configure your server to run Minecraft.



You will need your IP Address, SSH Port and root password to get started. A2 Hosting customers can find all of this information by logging into the client area. Select Services > My services from the toolbar



Click on the Manage button next to the account you wish to connect. Select the Additional Info tab on the next screen.



This screen shows you all the information needed to connect over SSH. To input these information, open a terminal window on your local machine. You can then type the following command, being sure to replace port-number and ip-address with your own information:



The port number will be listed under FTP/SFTP Port in your A2 Hosting dashboard. Here you will also find the IP Address. This is the terminal command that you should complete.



To run this command, press the Enter key on your keyboard. After you have entered correct port number and IP address the terminal will ask to for your password.



This information can be found in the A2 Hosting client section, listed as Root password (SSH/WHM). After entering your password, hit the Enter key again. Now, connect to your VPS as "[email protected]/root"$



3. Install the Open Java Development Kit



Since Minecraft runs on Java, you'll need to install the Open Java Development Kit (OpenJDK) on your VPS. This is a free and open-source implementation the Java Platform Standard Edition, (Java SE).



We're going to install OpenDK using the YUM package management tool. This popular tool solves dependencies when installing, updating, or deleting software programs.



To install OpenJDK enter the following command in your terminal



Hit the Enter key. YUM will now check for the required software package and any dependencies in order to run OpenJDK.



After a few moments, the terminal should display some information about the download, including its estimated size:



If you're happy to proceed, then press the Y key. SSH will now download and install the OpenJDK on your VPS.



4. Install Minecraft



It is a smart idea to create a directory for all Minecraft content to help keep your server arranged. The following command will do the trick:



You can navigate to this folder using the change directory (cd) command:



Now that we are inside the Minecraft directory it is time for us to install the Minecraft software. At the time of writing, the latest version of Minecraft Server was 1.17.1. For the most current update, you can always go to Minecraft's official website. On that page, find the download Minecraft server link:



Control-click on this link. Next, click Copy Link Address from context menu.



To download Minecraft Server jars, we'll use the command wget. The final command should look something like the following:



After a few seconds, you should see the'server.jar. saved message. Congratulations! You have just installed Minecraft on your VPS.



5. Accept the End User License Agreement.



The next step is configuring the Minecraft jar file. To help you keep track, you may want to rename this file. You might rename server.jar, for example, to reflect the Minecraft version you have just downloaded.



In the following example, we're renaming server.jar to minecraft_server.1.17.1.jar:



Before starting your Minecraft server, you'll need to agree to the End-User License Agreement (EULA). This is a legal contract between you, Mojang, that provides guidelines for how to use the Minecraft software.



In your terminal, type the following command



You may need to change the above command to reflect your renamed jar file.



At this point, the terminal will ask for your consent to the Minecraft EULA. To confirm that your download contains the EULA files, run the following command.



The terminal will now list your /minecraft directory contents, which should include an EULA file. You can edit this file using the Nano editor if you have it.



Now, read through the EULA. If you accept the terms and condition, change eula=false or eula=true



The EULA file can be saved. Now that you've agreed to Minecraft's terms, you're ready to configure your server.



6. Configure Your Server



The server.properties file contains all gaming settings and variables. By editing this file you can customize the Minecraft experience.



This includes cosmetic changes, such as providing a unique welcome message, but also fundamental changes to the gameplay mechanics. You can also change the size of your world and the number players allowed.



To start configuring your Minecraft server, type the following:



Then hit Enter. The terminal will now display the current configuration for your Minecraft server:



If you want to edit any of these settings, enter Insert mode by pressing the I key. To move between the settings, you can use your arrow keys.



Let's take a look at a simple example. The default difficulty level is Easy. This means that enemies spawn, but inflict less harm than those in Hard or Normal modes. It's also impossible for enemies not to poison players or for zombies not to knock down doors.



If you want to really challenge your players, you could use the arrow keys to navigate to the difficulty=easy line. These settings can be edited.



For example, you could change it to difficulty=normal oder difficulty=hard.



Once you are happy with your changes you can exit Insert mode by pressing the Escape key. Next, type the following:



Hit Enter and you'll be returned to your main terminal window.



7. Install Screen



You're almost ready to launch your Minecraft server. However, if you disconnect from the session it will also stop playing. This can cause discord among your players so you will need to address the issue before you go live with your server.



To ensure that your session persists, we recommend installing Screen. Screen is a popular utility that allows you to keep your session running even if the window isn't displayed or if you are disconnected.



Screen allows you also to connect from a different location and initiate a command. These commands can be used to install Screen:



Now, you can start the Minecraft server by executing your jar file. Enter the following in the terminal:



The system will now execute your Minecraft jar file. After a few moments you should see a message verifying that this process has been completed. Your Minecraft server is now up and running.



8. Configure Your Firewall



At this point, you can detach from the Minecraft screen by pressing Ctrl + A + D. To reattach to the session, press Ctrl + R.



If you're going to monetize your VPS, you'll need to allow incoming connections by editing your firewall configuration. Minecraft uses port 2565 by default. You will need to configure port forwarding for port 25655.



The Minecraft launch screen will now allow people to connect to your server. They will need to choose Multiplayer from this screen.



Then they can select Add Server and enter your server's IP or web address. Finally, they'll just need to choose Join Server, and they should successfully connect to your Minecraft VPS!



Multiplayer mode is hugely popular in Minecraft. However, it's expensive to maintain a successful gaming server. A Virtual Private Server (VPS) can help you minimize your running expenses and maximize your profits. SOUNDZPROMISING



It's essential to offer a smooth, lag free gaming experience in order to impress your customers. VPSes can be your secret weapon. A VPS is similar to a dedicated server. You are allocated a portion the server's physical resources. But you don't necessarily have to spend a lot of money on a high-end plan.



At A2 Hosting, we've carefully designed our VPS plans to provide the cost-savings of shared hosting with the performance of a dedicated server. Choose one of our VPS plans to make your Minecraft venture a success. It will also appeal to the massive (and growing!) gaming community.