Setting Up Your First Minecraft Server

Minecraft server setup is straightforward, but there are a few choices upfront that affect everything else. This guide covers the Zeros Host approach from a fresh server to a running world.

Step 1: Choose a server type

Vanilla Minecraft is fine for small private worlds. For anything with plugins like economy systems, permissions, or custom gamemodes, you want Paper. Paper is a drop-in replacement for the default Minecraft server that adds plugin support, performance optimisations, and a much better API than Spigot.

When you create a server in the Zeros Host dashboard, select Minecraft and choose Paper. The panel will configure the startup command automatically.

Step 2: Configure server.properties

Go to Files in the sidebar and open server.properties. The key settings to check:

• max-players: set this to match your plan's RAM. A rough guide: 2 GB supports about 10 to 15 players on a lightly-modded Paper server.
• gamemode: survival, creative, adventure, or spectator
• difficulty: peaceful, easy, normal, or hard
• online-mode: set to false only if you are running a cracked server (not recommended)
• level-seed: set a seed here if you want a specific world generation

Step 3: Upload plugins

Plugins go in the /plugins/ directory. You can drag and drop .jar files directly from the Files page. Most plugins are distributed as single .jar files from their GitHub releases pages or SpigotMC.

Essential plugins for most servers:

• EssentialsX: home, warp, economy, and general utility commands
• LuckPerms: permissions system, much cleaner than older options
• WorldEdit: essential if you are building anything by hand

Step 4: Set up permissions

If you are using LuckPerms, you can manage groups and permissions from the web editor at luckperms.net/editor. Connect it to your server via the /lp editor command in the console. Assign players to groups with /lp user <player> parent set <group>.

Step 5: Start and connect

Start the server from the panel and watch the console. You will see Paper loading, then each plugin initialising. Any plugin errors will appear here. Once you see Done! For help, type "help", the server is ready.

Connect from Minecraft using the address shown on your dashboard. The default port is 25565. If the panel assigns a different port, use address:port format.

Backups

Minecraft world files can get large quickly. Go to Backups in the panel sidebar to schedule automatic backups. We recommend at minimum a daily backup of your world folder.

Ready to get started? Register at zerosrp.co.uk/register for a 24-hour free trial. See Minecraft hosting for plan details and panel features, or compare all plans at zerosrp.co.uk/pricing.