Operating and maintaining a Minecraft server is not a trivial task.
Different servers have different needs and requirements, so planning is important. Is the server running 30 mods? 300 mods? Should there be space for just you and a few friends? Or is the server for 100 people?
When it comes to hosting a server, you have a few options. I'll try to make some pros and cons about the most common options from my experiences.
Locally hosted
Cheapest alternative if you have the bandwidth for it. You have full control over all hardware and software. Requires intermediate knowledge in Java and optimally Linux (Running on a Windows machine is not optimal). More prone to faults like periodically loss of internet, loss of data and power shortages. Unless you have an extra computer it will consume your computers resources, No external support. Most expensive to upgrade, full flexibility.
Rough estimate of monthly running costs: ~5$ - 10$
Overall: Not recommended for servers that is meant to run 24/7
Minecraft hosting service
Low cost. Very limited hardware capability due to shared resources, no control over hardware and limited control over software and access. Requires the least knowledge in Java and Linux to get started. Somewhat prone to faults like loss of internet due to being more desirable for DDoS attacks. Should be resistant to loss of data and power failures, depending on the seriousness of the providing company. Limited support. Less expensive to upgrade, but with very low flexibility.
Rough estimate of monthly running costs: ~15$ - 25$
Overall: Not recommended for servers meant for more than 8-20 people or servers running heavy mod packs.
VPS
Fairly low cost. Limited hardware capability due to shared resources. Limited control over hardware, usually full access to software and file system. Requires basic knowledge in Java and Linux. Not likely to be prone to faults like DDoS attacks, power loss and hardware failure. Fairly good coverage from support. Fairly cheap to upgrade, but with low flexibility.
Rough estimate of monthly running costs: ~20$ - 40$
Overall: Not recommended for servers meant for more than 20-30 people or servers running very heavy mod packs.
Dedicated Machine
High cost. Full hardware capability, no shared resources. Full access to software and file system. Requires intermediate knowledge in Java and Linux. Least likely to be prone to DDoS attacks, power loss and hardware failure. Full support. Slightly expensive to upgrade, high flexibility.
Rough estimate of monthly running costs: ~50$ - 150$
Overall: Recommended for servers meant for more than 30 people and servers running very heavy mod packs.
There are also a lot of things to consider when it comes to managing a server, I'll try to make a list over some things that you should consider doing and not doing.
Do
That's my tips and advice. Good luck running your own Minecraft community!
Different servers have different needs and requirements, so planning is important. Is the server running 30 mods? 300 mods? Should there be space for just you and a few friends? Or is the server for 100 people?
When it comes to hosting a server, you have a few options. I'll try to make some pros and cons about the most common options from my experiences.
Locally hosted
Cheapest alternative if you have the bandwidth for it. You have full control over all hardware and software. Requires intermediate knowledge in Java and optimally Linux (Running on a Windows machine is not optimal). More prone to faults like periodically loss of internet, loss of data and power shortages. Unless you have an extra computer it will consume your computers resources, No external support. Most expensive to upgrade, full flexibility.
Rough estimate of monthly running costs: ~5$ - 10$
Overall: Not recommended for servers that is meant to run 24/7
Minecraft hosting service
Low cost. Very limited hardware capability due to shared resources, no control over hardware and limited control over software and access. Requires the least knowledge in Java and Linux to get started. Somewhat prone to faults like loss of internet due to being more desirable for DDoS attacks. Should be resistant to loss of data and power failures, depending on the seriousness of the providing company. Limited support. Less expensive to upgrade, but with very low flexibility.
Rough estimate of monthly running costs: ~15$ - 25$
Overall: Not recommended for servers meant for more than 8-20 people or servers running heavy mod packs.
VPS
Fairly low cost. Limited hardware capability due to shared resources. Limited control over hardware, usually full access to software and file system. Requires basic knowledge in Java and Linux. Not likely to be prone to faults like DDoS attacks, power loss and hardware failure. Fairly good coverage from support. Fairly cheap to upgrade, but with low flexibility.
Rough estimate of monthly running costs: ~20$ - 40$
Overall: Not recommended for servers meant for more than 20-30 people or servers running very heavy mod packs.
Dedicated Machine
High cost. Full hardware capability, no shared resources. Full access to software and file system. Requires intermediate knowledge in Java and Linux. Least likely to be prone to DDoS attacks, power loss and hardware failure. Full support. Slightly expensive to upgrade, high flexibility.
Rough estimate of monthly running costs: ~50$ - 150$
Overall: Recommended for servers meant for more than 30 people and servers running very heavy mod packs.
There are also a lot of things to consider when it comes to managing a server, I'll try to make a list over some things that you should consider doing and not doing.
Do
- Listen to your players so they stay on your server.
- Define reasonable rules for your server.
- Make backups. If something goes wrong, you have a way to restore data.
- Learn how to use MCEdit and NBTExplorer. They can be used in most cases to repair worlds and fix corrupted player.dat files.
- Have a plan for your server in regards to future expansion, etc.
- Understand that you can't start on the top, work your way up.
- Make a budget. Running a server will impact your expenses.
- Use common sense when advertising your server, be professional.
- Research hosting company reviews, expensive doesn't always mean better.
- Be overwhelmed by the powers of being the server administrator, you're still not God.
- Rush decisions, discuss with your community first before doing drastic changes.
- Harass your players, they will leave and may discourage other people to join by posting bad reviews.
- Give up if things look bad, managing a server takes patience and practice.
- Advertise for staff positions, you should pick staff based on your preferences and only choose people you've gotten to know and trust.
- Block access to mods by making it a payable option, it's against the Minecraft EULA and most likely the mods license itself. Masking it as a donator only option still doesn't make it comply with the Minecraft EULA.
- "...Modifications to the Game ("Mods") (including pre-run Mods and in-memory Mods) and plugins for the Game also belong to you and you can do whatever you want with them, as long as you don‘t sell them for money / try to make money from them..."
- You decide to make an option for players to donate to the servers running cost, this is not against the Minecraft EULA cause it involves the costs for the rented hardware and bandwidth, not the game itself. However most if not all countries have laws that constitute whats legal and not when it comes to using the money obtained from donations. As a rule of thumb, donations that are obtained should not be used for anything else than the server itself. You should also use caution when it comes to higher amounts of money, as you may be obligated to paying taxes from them.
- You are running an open server, e.g without a whitelist. This makes your server much more vulnerable to griefing and damage. Make sure you have some way of logging actions within the game so you can find out who the culprit is and deal with it accordingly if this becomes an issue.
- You open up the server for querying. This makes it possible for various sites and services to get information about the server, such as connected players and number of player slots. This also potentially makes your server more receptacle for attacks.
That's my tips and advice. Good luck running your own Minecraft community!
