Bedrock Dedicated Server

Bedrock Dedicated Servers allow Minecraft players on Windows and Ubuntu computers to set up their own server at home, or host their server using a cloud-based service.

Configuration
BDS is a server hosting tool similar to the Java Edition server. Like Java Edition, there is a server.properties and whitelist.json file. Instead of ops.json, permissions are stored in the permissions.json file. Resource and behavior packs are in the resource_packs and behavior_packs directories. JSON files in the world directory set packs to be used, Minecraft clients generate them and can be uploaded to the server. Worlds are in a new worlds directory. BDS is the same server software used for Realms.

Connection
BDS allows users to connect except from the Nintendo Switch. Xbox One users can only connect through a LAN connection. BDS uses UDP unlike Java Edition which uses TCP. The default port for IPv4 is 19132, the default port for IPv6 is 19133; These can be changed in server.properties.

Whitelist
To use the whitelist, it needs to be enabled in server.properties. When enabled, the server will only allow selected users to connect, and you will need to know the Xbox Live gamertag of all players who want to join the server; players without an Xbox Live gamertag will not be able to connect. If your server is public and you do not enable the whitelist, you will not be able to ban players from the server.

To learn more about whitelisting, check out the guide that comes with the download. If you are having trouble with player behavior on a server that you own, whitelisting may be a good way to solve the issue.

Startup and maintenance scripts

 * MCscripts systemd units and bash scripts for backups, automatic updates, and shutdown warnings

Issues
Since this server software is still in Alpha phase, it still lacks many things from Java Edition.


 * Server ignores default player permission level in server.properties
 * /reload for reloading to prevent crashes, similar to the one in Java Edition
 * A command to transfer between different worlds, similar to Lifeboat's world transfer system
 * A server invite system that allows Xbox One and Nintendo Switch users to connect, similar to Realms
 * Running the server on other platforms, similar to Lifeboat's Steadfast 2 server software on MacOS
 * Support for websocket server, similar to /wsserver
 * Experimental gameplay is not supported

History
The server follows the client's release cycle.