Server

Minecraft servers allow players to play online with other people. They may either be run on a hosted Minecraft server service, a dedicated server, a VPS or a home machine. This is not a list of servers.

General recommendations

 * Setting up a server takes some time, and some technical know-how. Don't try to set up a server unless you have some basic computer and networking knowledge.
 * Hosting and playing on the same machine is not generally recommended, unless you have a fairly powerful computer.
 * Netbooks and Notebooks don't usually make for good server machines. They typically have lower end hardware in comparison to desktops and dedicated server machines.
 * Hosting a server with many players in a wireless network (WLAN and especially WWAN) is not recommended. Use wired network instead.
 * If you decide you don't want to host, but still want to play online, check out the public server options in the Minecraft servers area of the Minecraft forum.
 * If you still want to manage a server, but not from home, check out the Minecraft server hosting area of the Minecraft forum. Expect to pay monthly for this type of server.

Server requirements

 * Refer to Can I Host a Minecraft Server to see whether you should host a server, based on your internet bandwidth.
 * The more memory your computer has, the better. It's recommended to have more than 2 GB, that way plenty of ram is left over for the operating system, and you have the possibility of allocating more to the Minecraft server.
 * Minecraft servers, as of 1.0.0, can use multiple cores, so now they won't sit idle.

Server commands and known issues
The server commands page has a list of useful commands.

See the known bugs page for known single/multiplayer issues.

Special note: Atheros and Realtek network adapters are known to not work well with Minecraft in general. If you experience a total loss of internet (requiring a reboot), or constant disconnects, check and see if you have either brand of network adapter installed. If you do, you can try updating the driver for the device directly from the manufacturer. If a driver update does not fix the issue, the general solution is to buy a new adapter (anything from Intel is recommended as a replacement).

Server installation and configuration
Ready to set up a server? View the installation and configuration guide:

Setting up a server

Types of Servers
There are numerous kinds of Minecraft servers, usually distinguished by the level used in them or how players in them are supposed to behave. Many special types of servers rely on the use of map editors.

Survival
Standard servers usually have relatively regular maps, allowing players to build or destroy whatever they want (though griefing is often against servers' rules).

Creative
Usually a server that allows players to make what ever they want, more focused on building and griefing is not allowed.

Roleplay
A server, usually with a normal map, where players are encouraged to take on roles like Mayor, Blacksmith, Cook, and act as them in the game. These servers often attempt to simulate settlement in some foreign land or similar, and require the gathering of resources to build structures. There are generally factions that can be made in these servers.

PvP
A server where players are encouraged to fight versus other players (thus the appellation PvP, meaning Player versus Player). Stealing is sometimes allowed.

Hardcore PvP
A type of server which is like PvP, but fully allows griefing.

Prison
In prison servers, there typically is no wilderness, and player must earn money in order to advance in the prison. There are servers that have freedom at the advancement line, In which there you are released back into the world and free to do whatever you want inside of the rules.

Challenge
Usually these servers have some sort of a challenge, such as surviving underwater, or living in a small box with few materials.

Delete Player
If you want to delete a player from the game, you can remove the player's .dat file. Navigate to the Minecraft home directory, open the map folder, open the player's folder, and delete the PLAYERNAME.dat file. This will cause the player to start over at the spawn point with no inventory. The player's changes to the world will be unchanged along with any inventory stored in chests. This will not ban the player that has been deleted.

Edit Player
If you don't want to delete a player completely, but want to remove something from him or move him to a different spot, or even give him an enchanted item, you can edit the PLAYERNAME.dat file with NBTedit simlar to how you would a level save. (Only the player needs to be offline. No server restart needed.)

Creating backups

 * 1) Enter save-all into the console or /save-all in Minecraft (as a server op).
 * 2) Copy the world save file to create the backup. DO NOT MOVE IT! (No server restart needed)

Server Hosts
When you create your first server, you may try to host it from your home computer. Unless you intend to dedicate the hardware solely to Minecraft hosting, this is probably a bad idea. It is recommended that you should have at least 2GB of RAM and a processor that is 2.4 GHz or faster. Also, the server will be taking up a lot of bandwidth, depending on the number of players logged on at once. You can try to find someone else capable of and willing to host it for you. Remember, just because you aren't hosting it doesn't mean it's no longer your server!

In addition to asking a capable friend to host the server you may seek a company that will do this for you. Doing this ensures that you will not have your server stolen and may also provide a better experience. A major downside to this is that it will cost money to host your server with a company, however, doing this will, again, ensure that your server is online 24/7 with no lag. When choosing a host it is important to look at reviews from other players to make sure you're getting the best experience possible.

Server Stealing
If the host of your server decides to ban you and refuses to unban you, this is classified as stealing a server. They are effectively making themselves the owner of the server. If you get someone else to host, make sure they send you regular backups of the server so if they steal it you can find someone more trustworthy.

Death messages
Death messages are broadcasted to everyone on the server upon a player's death. These messages relate to how the player died and are intended to be humorous. Death messages were added in Beta 1.8 Pre-release.

Drowning
 * [player] drowned

Falling
 * [player] hit the ground too hard

Player versus Player
 * [victim] was slain by [killer]
 * [victim] was shot by [killer] Only happens for kills using a bow
 * [victim] was killed by [killer] Only happens for kills using a splash potion

Void
 * [player] fell out of the world

Lava
 * [player] tried to swim in lava

Fire Block
 * [player] went up in flames

Fire Effect
 * [player] burned to death

Explosion

Creepers and Ghasts also cause this message.
 * [player] blew up

Hostile Mob

No "a" or "an" is added before the mob name.
 * [victim] was slain by [mob]
 * [victim] was shot by [mob]
 * [victim] was fireballed by [mob] Only caused by Blazes

Potion of Harming
 * [player] was killed by magic Suicides only

Suffocation
 * [player] suffocated in a wall

Cactus [player] hugged a cactus, but the cactus hugged back
 * [player] was pricked to death

Dispenser when using arrows (previously [player] was shot by Herobrine)
 * [player] was shot by arrow

Other (also caused by /kill command)
 * [player] died

Unused Since Snowballs, Chicken Eggs and Ender Pearls do not deal any damage, this death message cannot be triggered.
 * [victim] was pummeled by [killer] Happens when killed by a Snowball, an Chicken Egg or an Ender Pearl