Server.properties



server.properties is the file which stores all the settings for the Minecraft server

Important
If you are going to edit server.properties it is important that you use the same structure as the original uses. The text before the equal sign is the key, which you shouldn't change. The text after the equal sign is the key's value, which you can edit. Lines that begin with  are comments.

You need to restart your server if you change the settings file for the new changes to take effect.

Keys
A list of the different keysm what they do and how to edit them

verify-names
If enabled the server will make sure that the client is logged in with the same ip on minecraft.net. This has caused problems for people trying to play on the same computer they are hosting the server on as the server will see the local IP 127.0.0.1) while minecraft.net will see the external IP. It is recomended that this is enabled unless you want to play n your server from the same computer you are hosting it on

Valid values:
 * true - Enabled. The server will check all names with minecraft.net
 * false - Disabled. The server will make sure the IP matches

port
Changes the port the server is hosting on. This port must be forwarded if the server is going through a router. This forum post explains very good how to forward a port easily

Valid values:
 * A number between 1 and 65535, though it should be greater than 256 as lower values are reserved for well-known services.

maxplayers
The max numbers of players that can play on the server at the same time. Note that if more players are on the server it will use more resources.

Valid values:
 * A number between 0 and 256.

server-name
The name of the server. This is displayed in the server list and when someone is joining the server

Valid values:
 * A text. You can't have a new line in the name.

public
Whenever or not the server should be displayed in the server list.
 * true - The server will be displayed in the server list - anyone can see it.
 * false - Only people with the URL which can be found in externalurl.txt and people who know the IP and port can join the server

motd
Motd is shourt for Message of the day, though you do not need to change it every day. The motd is displayed when people join the server.

Valid values:
 * A text

max-connections
The max number of connections the server will accept from the same IP.

Valid values:
 * A number between 1 and 3. If you try to set it higher than 3 it will be changed back to 3.