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.

Server Setup

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.
If you dont think you can make the server and write the code yourself, there are many programs that can help you by writing the code themselves - all you have to do is install the plugins

Server requirements

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.

Types of Gameplay

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. Sadly, griefing is very easy to be done on creative servers. If a server has Bukkit Plugins such as WorldGuard, regions can be protected.

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. Some servers you can say you go OOC, which means Out Of Character, and speak and say for an example: ((Hey guys, I have to go. Make sure that the mayor doesn't see my house.. heheh.))

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. Also, stealing is fully allowed

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 allow you to gain freedom as you advance in the ranks of the prison, in which you can gain or earn your freedom.

Faction

Faction Servers a like a clan server, create your Faction or join one and fight or raid other factions, Usualy griefing is not allowed but some servers allow it.

Challenge

Usually these servers have some sort of a challenge, such as surviving underwater, living in a small box with few materials , or a block in the sky (SkyBlock).

People will know SkyBlock better, not even sure if SkyLand exists. - mandog15

Maintenance

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

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

Death messages

Death messages are broadcast 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
[player] took a long walk off a short pier

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

Dispenser when using arrows

[player] was shot by arrow

(previously [player] was shot by Herobrine)

Other (also caused by /kill command)

[player] died

Unused

[victim] was pummeled by [killer] Happens when killed by a Snowball, a Chicken Egg or an Ender Pearl

Since Snowballs, Chicken Eggs and Ender Pearls do not deal any damage, this death message cannot be triggered.