Lab Report: Creating a Minecraft Server

Name: Abigail Hall
Date: 7/30/24

Objective

The objective of this lab is to create a functional Minecraft server, understanding the key components and steps involved in the process.

Materials

• A computer with a stable internet connection

• A copy of Minecraft server JAR file (e.g., Vanilla, Spigot, Bukkit, or Modded)

• Java Development Kit (JDK)

• Text editor (e.g., Notepad++, VS Code)

• Terminal or command prompt

Procedure

Step 1: Prepare the Server Environment

1. Install Java Development Kit (JDK):

Download the JDK from the official Oracle website or use a package manager like apt for Linux:
bash

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install openjdk-17-jdk

2. Create a Directory for the Server:

Open the terminal or command prompt and create a new directory to hold the server files.
bash

mkdir minecraft_server

cd minecraft_server

Step 2: Download and Set Up the Minecraft Server

3. Download the Minecraft Server JAR File:

   • Visit the official Minecraft website or a trusted source to download the desired server JAR file (e.g., Vanilla, Spigot, Bukkit, or Modded).

   • Move the downloaded JAR file into the minecraft_server directory.

4. Run the Server for the First Time:

Execute the following command to start the server and generate the initial configuration files:
bash
java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar server.jar nogui

4. • This will generate the eula.txt file and other configuration files.

5. Accept the EULA:

   • Open the eula.txt file in a text editor and change eula=false to eula=true.

   • Save and close the file.

Step 3: Configure the Server

6. Edit the Server Properties:

Open the server.properties file in a text editor to configure the server settings such as game mode, difficulty, and maximum players. For example:
properties
gamemode=survival

difficulty=normal

max-players=20

6. • Save and close the file.

7. Allocate More RAM (Optional):

Adjust the -Xmx and -Xms values in the startup command to allocate more memory if needed:
bash

java -Xmx2048M -Xms2048M -jar server.jar nogui

Step 4: Start the Server

8. Run the Server:

Start the Minecraft server by executing the startup command again:
bash

java -Xmx2048M -Xms2048M -jar server.jar nogui

9. Verify Server Operation:

   • The server should now be running. You will see log messages indicating that the server is up and running.

Step 5: Connect to the Server

10. Find Your IP Address:

    • Determine the IP address of the server. For a local server, use the local IP address (e.g., 192.168.x.x). For a remote server, use the public IP address.

11. Launch Minecraft and Connect:

    • Open Minecraft, go to the multiplayer section, and click "Add Server".

    • Enter the server name and IP address, then click "Done".

    • Select the server from the list and click "Join Server" to connect.

Step 6: Manage and Secure the Server

12. Install Core Plugins (Optional):

    • Depending on the server type (e.g., Spigot or Bukkit), download and install core plugins to enhance functionality.

    • Place the plugin JAR files in the plugins directory and restart the server.

13. Set Up Permissions:

    • Configure permissions to control what players can and cannot do on the server. Use a permissions plugin like PermissionsEx or LuckPerms for advanced permissions management.

14. Regular Maintenance:

    • Regularly back up server data to prevent data loss.

    • Keep the server software and plugins up-to-date to ensure security and performance.

Conclusion

Creating a Minecraft server involves setting up the environment, configuring the server, and ensuring proper management and security. This lab provided hands-on experience with server setup, command-line operations, and basic network configuration, enhancing my understanding of server management in a Unix-like system.

Future Improvements

• Experiment with different server types (e.g., Spigot, Bukkit) and plugins to add more features.

• Optimize server performance by fine-tuning resource allocation and settings.

• Implement advanced security measures to protect against unauthorized access and attacks.