Getting started with your Minecraft server

Accept the EULA, connect via your panel port, customize server.properties, allocate memory, and grant yourself operator privileges.

Updated August 07, 2026

Minecraft

Minecraft is the best-selling game of all time, and its server community is the largest in gaming. This guide covers spinning up Java Edition on your hosted Minecraft server: choosing a server type, first boot, the EULA, connecting, core settings, memory allocation, and making yourself an operator.

For Bedrock Edition (Windows 10/11, console, mobile), see Bedrock. To let Bedrock players join a Java server, see Geyser Cross-Play.

Java vs Bedrock at a Glance

Edition	Plugin / Mod Support	Cross-Play
Java	Massive (Spigot, Paper, Fabric, Forge)	No (except via Geyser proxy)
Bedrock	Limited (addons)	Yes (Win10, Xbox, PS, mobile, Switch)
Geyser proxy	Java server + Bedrock clients	Yes

Most communities run Java servers because the modding ecosystem is incomparably larger. Add Geyser to let Bedrock players join your Java server.

First Boot

Open your Minecraft Java server in the panel.
In the Startup tab, choose your jar type. Common options:
- vanilla: Pure Minecraft, no plugins or mods
- paper: PaperMC, the most popular plugin server (faster than Spigot)
- purpur: Purpur, a Paper fork with more config options
- forge: For Forge mods
- fabric: For Fabric mods
- neoforge: NeoForge for newer Forge-style mods
Set the Minecraft version (1.20.4, 1.21, etc.).
Click Start.

First boot downloads the chosen jar, generates the world, and prompts for EULA acceptance. The console will show:

You need to agree to the EULA in order to run the server. Go to eula.txt for more info.

Console output

Edit eula.txt in the File Manager, change eula=false to eula=true, and restart.

Which server type you pick determines your next step: Plugins for Paper/Spigot/Purpur, or How to install mods for Minecraft Java Edition for Forge/Fabric/NeoForge.

How to Connect

In Minecraft, go to Multiplayer > Add Server.
For the server address, enter the IP and port from the Address at the top left of your panel, for example 203.0.113.10:25566.
Join.

Include the port from your panel page

One thing to know: on our plans the assigned port is often not the Java default of 25565, so always include the port from your panel page in the address. An address without a port only works when the server happens to be on 25565.

server.properties

The main config file. Highlights:

server-port=25565
max-players=20
gamemode=survival
difficulty=normal
hardcore=false
pvp=true
spawn-protection=16
white-list=false
enforce-whitelist=false
op-permission-level=4
allow-flight=false
view-distance=10
simulation-distance=10
spawn-monsters=true
spawn-animals=true
allow-nether=true
generate-structures=true
level-name=world
level-seed=
level-type=minecraft\:normal
motd=A Minecraft Server
online-mode=true
max-world-size=29999984
network-compression-threshold=256
enable-rcon=false
rcon.port=25575
rcon.password=
enable-query=false
query.port=25565

server.properties

Do not change server-port by hand

One caution before the table: server-port is managed by the panel. Your server is bound to the port allocated in the Network tab, and the panel keeps this value in sync on boot. Do not change it by hand; if you need a different or additional port, that happens through the panel allocation, not this file.

Setting	Notes
server-port	Managed by the panel allocation. Use the port shown on your panel page; often not 25565
max-players	Slot cap (subject to your slot purchase)
gamemode	survival, creative, adventure, spectator
difficulty	peaceful, easy, normal, hard
online-mode	true = require legitimate Minecraft accounts (recommended). false = allow cracked clients
view-distance	Chunks rendered per player (8 to 12 is sane; 16 is high)
level-seed	Empty = random; set for a specific world generation
motd	Server list message

After editing, restart.

Memory Allocation

Minecraft Java is heavily heap-size dependent. The Startup tab has a MEMORY or Xmx field that controls the JVM heap. As a rule of thumb, allocate roughly 75% of your plan's RAM to the heap and leave the rest for the OS and overhead. Modded packs and large plugin servers need substantially more heap than plain vanilla, so lean higher there. If the server crashes with an out-of-memory error, raise the Xmx value.

Becoming an Op (Admin)

From the panel's Console:

> op YourMinecraftUsername

text

You will get:

[Server thread/INFO]: Made YourMinecraftUsername a server operator

Console output

Op level 4 (the default) gives full admin access in-game. Commands you can now use:

/gamemode creative
/tp <player>
/give <player> <item> <count>
/kick <player>
/ban <player>
/whitelist add <player>
/stop                  Shutdown the server
/save-all              Force save
/weather clear
/time set day

text

server.properties Worth Knowing

Beyond the port, these are the lines owners tune most:

Property	Default	Notes
simulation-distance	10	Chunks where entities and crops actually tick. Lower this before view-distance when TPS drops
pvp	true	Player versus player damage
spawn-protection	16	Radius around spawn only ops can edit. 0 disables
white-list	true or false	Pair with the whitelist add command in console
enforce-whitelist	false	true kicks non-whitelisted players on reload
enable-command-block	false	Needed for redstone command contraptions