Minecraft: Management and setting up of the server - Multiplayer guide, tips Minecraft guide, tips

Last update: 12 July 2020

On this page of our Minecraft guide, you will find detailed information on how to operate and configure servers.

• First configuration
• Administrator's (operator's) commands and functions
• Player commands and features

First configuration

The basic thing for the proper functioning of the server is not only to turn it on, but also to configure it properly and manage during its operation. In the server folder, by default, there are five files:

1. Folder logs - contains all of the information (logs) concerning the course of the server's operation, i.e. first of all error messages, or e.g. information on the dates of backup performance, times at which the individual players joined in.
2. Folder world - this folder may have a different name, depending on what name it has been given during the setup process (more about that below). it includes all of the information concerning the game world. It is a good idea to make backup copies of this file frequently (you can do that with appropriate software, or even manually). If there are many players playing on your server, this file may be quite sizeable, depending on how big the generated world is (you can restrict the size in options).
3. Banned-ips.txt - allows you to ban any user from the server. using a word processor, you need to enter the following data:
4. The player's Nick/ip | banned on | the nickname of the administrator who banned the player | ban's expiry date| ban reason
5. Banned players.txt - displays the list of the banned players.
6. Ops.txt - the list of all users, with authorization given by the administrator (who have maximum priority, may use the command console, etc.). To add a player to the list, you need to use the server's command console: op player's_nickname or in the game: /op player's_nickname
7. White-list.txt - it is a list of the players who have access to the server (setting for privately-held servers without access to Local Area Networks (LAN). To add a user to the list, use the server's console: whitelist add username or in the game: /whitelist add username
8. Server.properties - the main configuration file. Enables setting up and management of the server. All functions explained below:

generator-settings= name, allows to set up the parameters of the generated world in the Superflaf mode (empty by default)

op-permission-level= 1-4, gives the administrator rights (ops), 1 - ops may avoid spawn protection (build in areas blocked for spawning), 2 - ops may use the console functions: /clear, /difficulty, /effect, /gamemode, /gamerule, /give, and /tp, and edit command blocks, 3 - ops may use /ban, /deop, /kick and /op, 4 - ops may use /stop (4 by default)

allow-nether= true/false, determines the availability of teleportation to the Nether (true by default)

level-name= own name, it is the name of a game world introduced by you, and also the name of a folder on the server, which stores this world. (world by default)

enable-query= true/false, used to obtain information about the server (false by default)

allow-flight= true/false, prevents from cheating, by flying, on servers configured for the Survival mode - if the player is flying longer than 5 seconds, (falls do not count) he will be automatically kicked out of the server (false by default)

announce-player-achievements= true/false, permission to notify the players of gained achievements (true by default)

server-port= 1-65534, determines which gameport the connection is realized (25565 by default)

level-type= name, determines the kind of the generated map: DEFAULT - default, FLAT - flat map, LARGEBIOMES - large biomes, AMPLIFIED - like the default one, increased diversification of terrain (DEFAULT by default)

enable-rcon= true/false, enables remote access to the console (false by default)

force-gamemode= true/false, makes the player join the default game mode (false by default)

level-seed= seed_number, allows for generating the world from seed (empty by default)

server-ip= numerical_value, if you want the IP address of your server to be different than the default one, you enter it here (if you do not know what your IP is, you may leave this field blank and the default IP will be allotted) (empty by default)

max-build-height= numerical_value, determines how high you can build before you reach the boundary (256 by default)

spawn-npcs= true/false, determines if the NPCs, the villagers in randomly generated villages, are to be spawned (true by default)

white-list= true/false, determines if the white-list (the list of the players that are permitted to join in) is to be active or not (false by default)

spawn-animals= true/false, determines if the animals are to be spawned (true by default )

snooper-enabled= true/false, you determine here if you want certain data, of the gameplay, is to be send to the server of the Minecraft developers, in order to improve on the future versions of the game (true by default )

hardcore= true/false, allows the activation of the Hardcore mode. The rule which works for servers is that if a player dies, he/she is banned (false by default )

online-mode= true/false, safety mode, safety mode, disallows the joining of the client's illegal versions (true by default )

resource-pack= name, forces a client to download a "resource pack" (a mod pack) , in the form of a .zip archive, located on the server (empty by default)

pvp= true/false, determines the availability of fights among players (it is inactive, a player can still be killed with traps, using the e.g. lava or TNT) (true by default )

difficulty= 0-3, determines the difficulty level on the server (0 - peaceful, 1 - easy, 2 - normal, 3 - hard) (1 by default)

enable-command-block= true/false, activates/deactivates the command block function (false by default )

player-idle-timeout= numerical_value, if user have been inactive for a certain number of minutes, they are kicked out of the server (0 by default)

gamemode= 0-2, determines game mode (0 - survival, 1 - creative, 2 - adventure)

max-players= 0-2147483647, determines the number of players that can be simultaneously logged onto the server (20 by default)

spawn-monsters= true/false, determines the spawning of monsters (mobs) (true by default )

view-distance= 3-15, determines the visibility of the world for each of the players (the greater the numerical value the greater the network load for the server) (10 by default)

generate-structures= true/false, allows you to enable/disable generating of default structures, such as NPC villages or Dungeons (true by default )

spawn-protection= numerical_value, determines the size of the field around the spawning (a square) is to be banned from building, for regular players (16 by default)

motd= own_name (up to 59 characters), the server's name visible for users (A Minecraft Server by default)

The true/false values are to be interpreted as yes/no.

Administrator's (operator's) commands and functions

Just like in the case of most multiplayer games, you manage the game be means of the console and commands that you enter into that console. Below, you can find the command list (additional plug-ins and mods may add own commands).

1. Help or ? - displays commands available for use in the console
2. Whitelist on/off - switches on and off the white-list (the availability to add only specific players to the server)
3. Whitelist add player-name - adds the player of the specified nickname to the whitelist
4. Whitelist list - displays players on the whitelist
5. Whitelist reload - refreshes the whitelist
6. Kick player_name_reason- a single instance of kicking a player out of the server
7. Ban player_name_reason - bans permanently a given player
8. Pardon player_name - lifts ban from a player
9. Ban-ip player_ip- bans a player through their IP address
10. Banlist - displays the list of banned players
11. Op player_name - provides the administrative (operator's) rights to a player
12. Deop player_name - lifts administrative rights
13. Tp player_name1 player_name2 - transfers the first entered player to the second one
14. Give player_name item_id_number- gives an item to the player (determined by the ID, not the name) in the specified numbers
15. Tell player_name message_text- sends a private message to a player
16. Stop - stops the server
17. Save-all - forces saving of the world
18. Save-on/off - activates/deactivates autosave
19. Say message_text - sends a message to all players
20. Time add/set _number - on a scale of 0-2400 adds or sets the determined in-game time
21. Gamemode player_name_number - endows the selected player with a given game mode
22. Xp player_name_amount - adds, or removes (if it is a negative number) the specified number of experience points
23. Toggledownfall - switches between rainfall and snowfall
24. List - displays the list of players currently on the server

Player commands and features

Also a player, with his/her rights restricted, may use several commands:

1. /kill - takes 1000 health points from the player. Used especially when the player stuck or, e.g. fell into The Void
2. /me _action- sends message to all
3. /tell player_name message_text- sends a private message to the specified player