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Next Steps

Congratulations! You have successfully installed and started your first Minecraft server using mcup. Now that your server is running, here are some recommended steps to manage and customize it.

Set up Firewall & Port Forwarding

By default, Minecraft servers listen on port 25565. For players outside your local network to connect, you need to allow traffic through this port.

Allow Access in Firewall

Ensure your computer's firewall is not blocking incoming connections on the server port.

  • Linux (UFW): sudo ufw allow 25565/tcp 25565/udp
  • Windows: Allow the Java binary through Windows Defender Firewall.
  • macOS: Configure the built-in application firewall in System Settings.

Port Forwarding

If you are hosting the server at home behind a router, you will need to "port forward" port 25565 or other you chose from your router to your computer's local IP address. The steps for this vary depending on your router model; consult your router's manual or look up a guide for your specific model.

Install Plugins

If you created a server type that supports plugins (like Paper or Spigot for example), you can extend the functionality of your server.

  1. Stop the server if it is running.
  2. Navigate to the plugins folder inside your server directory.
  3. Download .jar plugin files from reputable sources (e.g., SpigotMC, Hangar, Modrinth).
  4. Place the .jar files into the plugins folder.
  5. Start the server to load the plugins.

Install Mods

If you created a modded server (like Fabric or NeoForge), you can install mods to change the game experience.

  1. Stop the server if it is running.
  2. Navigate to the mods folder inside your server directory (create it if it doesn't exist).
  3. Download .jar mod files from sources like Modrinth.
  4. Ensure the mods are compatible with your server version.
  5. Place the .jar files into the mods folder.
  6. Start the server to load the mods.

Administration & Security

Enabling Whitelist

If you want to create a private server for friends, it is highly recommended to enable the whitelist.

  1. In your server console, run: whitelist on.
  2. Add players to the whitelist: whitelist add <username>.
  3. Only listed players will be able to join.

Automated Backups

Your server world is precious. Regular backups are essential to prevent data loss from griefing or corruption.

  • Manual: Regularly copy the world folder (and world_nether, world_the_end) to a safe location.
  • Automated: Install a backup plugin or mod (e.g., DriveBackupV2, FTB Backups) to handle this automatically on a schedule.