Tips for running a Minecraft server — plugins, admins, automatic restarts

This is the next step after opening a server with Creating a Minecraft server (Java Edition, Paper and vanilla). It covers installing plugins, setting up admins and a whitelist, starting again automatically when it stops, and automatic backups.

1. Create a start script

Create a start file so you don't have to type the long command every time. If the server stops (including crashes), it starts again automatically after 10 seconds.

cd ~/minecraft
nano start.sh

#!/bin/bash
cd ~/minecraft
while true; do
  java -Xms1G -Xmx3G -jar server.jar nogui
  echo "Server stopped. Restarting in 10 seconds. (To stop it completely, press Ctrl + C)"
  sleep 10
done

chmod +x start.sh
screen -S mc ./start.sh

Set the -Xmx value leaving 1–2GB of the server's memory free. (4GB server → 3G, 8GB server → 6G)

2. Admins (OP) and the whitelist

Enter these in the server console (screen -r mc).

op yourname                 # Give admin privileges
whitelist add friendname     # Add to the whitelist
whitelist on                # Only players on the whitelist can join
whitelist list              # Show the list

For a friends-only server that isn't open to the public, we strongly recommend turning on the whitelist. It keeps strangers from coming in and wrecking your world.

3. Commonly changed settings (server.properties)

With the server stopped, open it with nano server.properties, edit it, and start the server again.

Setting	Description
`motd`	The description shown in the server list
`max-players`	Maximum number of players
`difficulty`	Difficulty (`peaceful`, `easy`, `normal`, `hard`)
`gamemode`	Default game mode (`survival`, `creative`)
`view-distance`	View distance. Lowering it reduces lag (8–10 recommended)
`online-mode`	Keeping it `true` is recommended. If you turn off account verification, others can join under your nickname

4. Install plugins (Paper server)

Plugins don't work on a vanilla server. Switch to a Paper server.jar from papermc.io before using them. (You can keep using your existing world folder.)

On a plugin site like Modrinth, Hangar or SpigotMC, copy the download link for the .jar file that matches your server version.
Download it into the plugins folder.

cd ~/minecraft/plugins
wget "copied download link"

Restart the server to apply it. Type plugins in the console to see the installed plugins listed in green.

Don't install plugins from unknown sources. They can put your whole server at risk.

5. Automatic world backups

Schedule the world to be compressed every day at 5 a.m., with backups older than 7 days deleted. (How to use cron)

mkdir -p ~/mc-backups
crontab -e

0 5 * * * tar -czf ~/mc-backups/world-$(date +\%F).tar.gz -C ~/minecraft world >> ~/mc-backups/backup.log 2>&1
30 5 * * * find ~/mc-backups -name "*.tar.gz" -mtime +7 -delete

Backups that exist only on the server disappear along with it if the server goes away. Download them to your PC from time to time. On a Paper server, the Nether and the End are saved separately in the world_nether and world_the_end folders, so add world_nether world_the_end after world in the command.

6. Reducing lag

Use a Paper server. It's much lighter than vanilla.
Lower view-distance to 8–10.
If it's very laggy when people first join, it's because the map is still being generated. Generating the map in advance with a plugin like Chunky reduces this.
If memory keeps running short, increase -Xmx or consider moving to a plan with more memory.
To check whether the server itself is slow, see Checking a slow server.