Creating a server

Create server

Administrators and owners choose Create server on the Servers page. It takes five steps; you can go back to earlier ones at any time.

1. Type. Vanilla, Paper, Fabric, Forge, NeoForge, or Modpack (from Modrinth or CurseForge). More: Purpur, Quilt shows two more. Paper is picked to begin with. Saved templates are listed under Or start from a template.

2. Version. The Minecraft version (the newest to begin with; tick Show snapshots and pre-releases for those) and, except for Vanilla, the loader’s build. The recommended build is pinned to begin with, so the server stays on it until you change it; Newest updates it whenever the server restarts.

   For a modpack, search Modrinth or CurseForge and pick the pack’s version (the newest release to begin with). The pack sets the Minecraft version and loader. Searching CurseForge needs its API key in Settings; without one, paste the pack’s page address and choose its Minecraft version, and it still installs.

3. Resources. How much memory Minecraft gets (its Java heap): 2 GB is suggested for Vanilla, 4 GB for Paper, Purpur, Fabric and Quilt, and 6 GB for Forge, NeoForge and modpacks (big packs want 8 GB or more). The container may use a little more than that: a quarter more, at least 1 GB, or for modded servers 40% more, at least 2 GB. With more than one machine, choose which one runs it (More machines).

4. Network. How players reach it, always through the proxy:

   • A name on your domain, such as smp.example.com. Left blank, it’s the server’s slug. You can add a domain here if you haven’t yet.
   • A different hostname, such as play.example.org. NetherNode looks it up as you type and says where it points.
   • Its own port, from 1024 to 65535, for players without a domain. NetherNode adds a listener on that port with a * route to the server (both or neither), and removes the listener again when the server is deleted, unless you’ve routed other servers through it.
   • No address yet, to add one later on Proxy & routes.

   DNS and ports covers the records and port forwards each needs.

5. Review. Name the server (up to 40 characters), and choose:

   • Sleep when empty (on): stop after 10 minutes without players, and start again when someone joins.
   • Start when ready (on): start it once it’s installed.
   • I accept the Minecraft EULA: required by Mojang.

Create server opens the new server’s page while it installs: Docker downloads the Minecraft server image if it hasn’t yet, then the first start downloads the server’s own files and loader, which takes a minute or two. If its address can’t be set up (for example, a route for that name already exists), the server is still created, a message says why, and you can give it an address on Proxy & routes.

The server’s slug comes from its name: lowercase letters, numbers and dashes, such as nether-smp. It names the server’s folder (<data>/servers/<slug>), its container (nethernode-<slug>) and its address on your domain, and it stays the same if you rename the server.

Configuration

Everyone can see a server’s Configuration tab; administrators and owners can change it.

Server configuration

• Server name, Message of the day (shown under the name in the server list), Memory allocation and Maximum players.
• Sleep when empty, after a number of minutes without players (10 to begin with). See sleeping servers.
• Start with NetherNode: start the server whenever NetherNode starts. Off to begin with.
• Restart after a crash: on to begin with. NetherNode waits a few seconds and starts it again, up to 3 times in 10 minutes; after that it leaves it stopped and says so. A crash from running out of memory says so too.

Under Advanced: software, Java, and image:

• Server software, Minecraft version and Loader or build version (empty for the recommended or newest build). A modpack sets these itself; use modpack updates instead.
• Java version: Automatic picks the one the Minecraft version needs.
• Custom image, instead of itzg/minecraft-server.
• Aikar’s JVM flags: garbage-collection tuning that reduces lag spikes. On to begin with.

Caution

Changing the software or version doesn’t make a backup, and nothing stops you going to an older version, which can break a world. Back up first.

Most changes apply the next time the server starts; if it’s running, saving says to restart it. The name, sleeping, Start with NetherNode and Restart after a crash apply straight away.

Game settings

Minecraft’s own server.properties, as a Form or the Raw file. Minecraft makes the file the first time the server starts, so this section is empty until then. The server reads it when it starts, so changes apply after a restart (Restart now appears when the server is running).

Some keys are Managed by NetherNode and set on every start, so it can reach the server and send it commands: the port and address, RCON, and the management protocol. The message of the day and player limit are set under Server configuration above. These can’t be changed here.

If the server rewrote the file since you opened it, NetherNode says so rather than overwriting it; reload and make the change again.

Machine, copies and templates

With more than one machine, Machine › Move… moves a server that isn’t running (moving a server). Make a copy and Save as template are covered under Running servers.

Deleting a server

Danger zone › Delete this server stops the server at once, disconnects its players, and removes it with its routes, schedules and history. Type the server’s name to confirm.

• Its files stay in the data folder unless you tick Also delete the world and files, which can’t be undone.
• Its backups are kept; download or delete them yourself.