4
The Minecraft server is a wonderful thing, and when set up properly, it can be very powerful.
These tips will help you set up and keep a good server.
1. Always use Bukkit!
Even if you are running a vanilla server, you need to always use Bukkit. You might want to expand later, and Bukkit makes that easy.
2. Have a Core Plugin
I can not stress this enough. A core plugin allows you to do stuff like ban, kick, set warps and teleports, as well as other features. There are many good plugins, but I personally recommend Essentials or CommandBook. If you have more RAM and a larger userbase, I recommend Essentials.
3. Have a Permissions plugin
Even if you are a vanilla server, you still need a permissions plugin. This'll allow you to do more advanced stuff and give players powers without directly OPping em, which is dangerous. I recommend PermissionsEX due to its power.
4. Don't be afraid to get your hands filthy!
The Permissions and Core plugin both have config files. Do not keep the defaults! Your server is your own and you should add your own features. Don't just stick with the basic configs. A good server is not easy. You need to code and build it yourself without depending on others. If you can't do it, try to get someone who is experienced to guide you through setting up the server.
5. Have the power to say No.
It is 100% guaranteed that once your server is up, you will get kids coming on saying "I can has OP plz?" YOU MUST SAY NO. These kids always want to grief and just have fun with their permissions. (Tnt'd spawn anyone?) Not only does this ruin the server for you (guess who has to clean up the mess?), it also ruins the server for your entire userbase. Everyone will get upset because their house spontaneously turned into cake. And then they leave, never to come back.
6. Browse Bukkit
Unless you are building a vanilla server, you should get some plugins to make the experience more enjoyable for yourself and your players. The Bukkit Plugins page is a great place to get new plugins. I personally recommend the following for every server (in addition to a Core plugin and a Permissions plugin):
7. Read the ******* manual!
For every plugin you have, read the documentation of the manual. Make sure you know how it works, in and out. There should not be a single plugin on your server that you are not familiar with.
8. Don't expect to grow, but be prepared for it
One of the problems with my server (which is why it's dead) is that I expected it to grow exponentially large. Not every single server becomes as big as Hypixel, and DEFINITELY not overnight. Don't go out and buy a huge server thinking "I'm going to have 10000 users the second I go online!". Get a small server. If it grows, get bigger. If it gets REALLY big, start getting multiple servers and BungeeCording the servers together.
9. Growth requires Staff
Once your server begins to grow from 3 users to 30, you're gonna need staff. You yourself are a server HeadAdmin, so you have control over staff. Make at least 3 ranks: Mod, Mod+, Admin. Choose the players here CAREFULLY. Don't just say "Sure!" when a player randomly asks for staff. Make them earn it. Have at least 3 staff but no more than 5.
I like using these ratios: 1 mod for each 15-25 users, 1 Mod+ for every 3 mods, and 1 Admin for every 60 players.
If you get really big (350+ users), chances are you won't be able to keep up with the server work anymore. In that case, hire a Developer to help maintain your server.
I wrote an article about staff, which you can find here.
10. Create a steady source of income for yourself
This should really be #1. Chances are, you're paying for your server. You need some source of money. Accept donations in exchange for perks.(stupid EULA) Get a job in real life. Become a good YouTuber. Build an online reputation. You ***NEED*** money to have a server. If you don't have money, you can't have a server. Also, if your server costs $60 a month, try to make at least $240 a month. That'll allow you to boost your savings and keep the server alive longer. It also allows your server to grow.
11. Make clear and easy-to-follow rules.
Rules are necessary so you don't get people saying "I got banned, and I didn't even know that was illegal!" You need to have clear rules. Also, you don't want a 100 page rulebook. Keep it short and sweet. This'll make you, your staff, and your players happy.
12. Trust, but watch.
Chances are, you have staff. They also have server permissions and power. They can (by accident or intentionally) turn your entire Spawn to cake. Create rules to limit WorldEdit and similar. Limit staff's banning power.
13. Advertise your server
You need to get users, and to do that you need to advertise. There is a good way and a bad way to do this.
Good way: Post your server to server lists and get your users to vote for rewards. If you have the money, try to advertise with people like PMC or similar.
Bad way: Go on to every server you can and spam "Join our server at: play.myawesomemcserver.com"
14. Get a Website
Like stated before, servers are not cheap. Not only is the server enough, you also need a website. If you are just starting out, use Enjin. It's powerful and simple. If you are pretty big, hire someone to build your website for you. Also, try to get a top-level-domain. Users are much more impressed and think your server is of higher quality if you have a website like myawesomemcserver.com instead of myawesomemcserver.free-web-hosting.com.
15. Don't just add plugins because you or your users want them.
For each plugin your server has, it becomes a bit slower. If the plugin is not needed, don't have it. Use a spreadsheet like this (Google Drive) to decide what plugins to keep and remove. (That spreadsheet was actually for my server).
16. Do some player-service.
Your players are the essential backbone of your server. Without them, your server is nothing. As such, you should do things for them. Have drop parties and keep the users happy. However, don't go over the top. Don't do a drop party just because a single user asks. Make it a stretch goal. (30 users = drop party). Don't change the server time or weather just because a player asks. Don't install a plugin just because a player wants one. And NEVER give a player OP because they want it.
17. Have something unique
Unless you are running a vanilla server, there should be something that brings a user back. Make or find something that only YOUR server has. Keep players coming back. I sometimes find gems deep in the Bukkit library which I'm sure nobody else has. There are thousands of servers out there. Make yours shine.
18. Don't do things "because you are the Owner".
I have seen (and ran) servers that went down because Admins or Owners decided, "Hey, I own this server, I should do <stupid thing here> ." Those things kill a server.
19. Announce major changes to your users
If you are going to make a big change to your server, make sure to announce it to them as early as possible. Do this with in-game announcements or on your website. Make sure the users know what is happening with your server.
20. Meet with your Staff
If you have server staff, make sure to meet with them regularly. Have Skype calls and discuss the problems with the server and the best solution. Make sure to interface with your staff. They help you with the server!
21. Ignore all the above instructions
Not really. That would be a waste of my writing. However, YOUR server is YOURS. You need to set it up how you want to. Do what you want to make it unique. Make sure to have your users' support though. The above tips are just common-sense that most/all startup servers should do.
[ BONUS TIP! ] Buy 21 tips, get a 22nd FREE!
Backup your files often! If there is a hard drive failure, you can keep your server working by having a safe off-site backup (like on a portable hard drive). For big servers, back up daily. Small servers can probably get away with weekly.
These tips will help you set up and keep a good server.
1. Always use Bukkit!
Even if you are running a vanilla server, you need to always use Bukkit. You might want to expand later, and Bukkit makes that easy.
2. Have a Core Plugin
I can not stress this enough. A core plugin allows you to do stuff like ban, kick, set warps and teleports, as well as other features. There are many good plugins, but I personally recommend Essentials or CommandBook. If you have more RAM and a larger userbase, I recommend Essentials.
3. Have a Permissions plugin
Even if you are a vanilla server, you still need a permissions plugin. This'll allow you to do more advanced stuff and give players powers without directly OPping em, which is dangerous. I recommend PermissionsEX due to its power.
4. Don't be afraid to get your hands filthy!
The Permissions and Core plugin both have config files. Do not keep the defaults! Your server is your own and you should add your own features. Don't just stick with the basic configs. A good server is not easy. You need to code and build it yourself without depending on others. If you can't do it, try to get someone who is experienced to guide you through setting up the server.
5. Have the power to say No.
It is 100% guaranteed that once your server is up, you will get kids coming on saying "I can has OP plz?" YOU MUST SAY NO. These kids always want to grief and just have fun with their permissions. (Tnt'd spawn anyone?) Not only does this ruin the server for you (guess who has to clean up the mess?), it also ruins the server for your entire userbase. Everyone will get upset because their house spontaneously turned into cake. And then they leave, never to come back.
6. Browse Bukkit
Unless you are building a vanilla server, you should get some plugins to make the experience more enjoyable for yourself and your players. The Bukkit Plugins page is a great place to get new plugins. I personally recommend the following for every server (in addition to a Core plugin and a Permissions plugin):
- WorldEdit (bukkit)
- WorldGuard (bukkit)
- Deadbolt (bukkit)
- ProtocolLib (bukkit)
- Vault (bukkit)
- <insert minigame here>
- Multiverse2 Suite (bukkit)
7. Read the ******* manual!
For every plugin you have, read the documentation of the manual. Make sure you know how it works, in and out. There should not be a single plugin on your server that you are not familiar with.
8. Don't expect to grow, but be prepared for it
One of the problems with my server (which is why it's dead) is that I expected it to grow exponentially large. Not every single server becomes as big as Hypixel, and DEFINITELY not overnight. Don't go out and buy a huge server thinking "I'm going to have 10000 users the second I go online!". Get a small server. If it grows, get bigger. If it gets REALLY big, start getting multiple servers and BungeeCording the servers together.
9. Growth requires Staff
Once your server begins to grow from 3 users to 30, you're gonna need staff. You yourself are a server HeadAdmin, so you have control over staff. Make at least 3 ranks: Mod, Mod+, Admin. Choose the players here CAREFULLY. Don't just say "Sure!" when a player randomly asks for staff. Make them earn it. Have at least 3 staff but no more than 5.
I like using these ratios: 1 mod for each 15-25 users, 1 Mod+ for every 3 mods, and 1 Admin for every 60 players.
If you get really big (350+ users), chances are you won't be able to keep up with the server work anymore. In that case, hire a Developer to help maintain your server.
I wrote an article about staff, which you can find here.
10. Create a steady source of income for yourself
This should really be #1. Chances are, you're paying for your server. You need some source of money. Accept donations in exchange for perks.(stupid EULA) Get a job in real life. Become a good YouTuber. Build an online reputation. You ***NEED*** money to have a server. If you don't have money, you can't have a server. Also, if your server costs $60 a month, try to make at least $240 a month. That'll allow you to boost your savings and keep the server alive longer. It also allows your server to grow.
11. Make clear and easy-to-follow rules.
Rules are necessary so you don't get people saying "I got banned, and I didn't even know that was illegal!" You need to have clear rules. Also, you don't want a 100 page rulebook. Keep it short and sweet. This'll make you, your staff, and your players happy.
12. Trust, but watch.
Chances are, you have staff. They also have server permissions and power. They can (by accident or intentionally) turn your entire Spawn to cake. Create rules to limit WorldEdit and similar. Limit staff's banning power.
13. Advertise your server
You need to get users, and to do that you need to advertise. There is a good way and a bad way to do this.
Good way: Post your server to server lists and get your users to vote for rewards. If you have the money, try to advertise with people like PMC or similar.
Bad way: Go on to every server you can and spam "Join our server at: play.myawesomemcserver.com"
14. Get a Website
Like stated before, servers are not cheap. Not only is the server enough, you also need a website. If you are just starting out, use Enjin. It's powerful and simple. If you are pretty big, hire someone to build your website for you. Also, try to get a top-level-domain. Users are much more impressed and think your server is of higher quality if you have a website like myawesomemcserver.com instead of myawesomemcserver.free-web-hosting.com.
15. Don't just add plugins because you or your users want them.
For each plugin your server has, it becomes a bit slower. If the plugin is not needed, don't have it. Use a spreadsheet like this (Google Drive) to decide what plugins to keep and remove. (That spreadsheet was actually for my server).
16. Do some player-service.
Your players are the essential backbone of your server. Without them, your server is nothing. As such, you should do things for them. Have drop parties and keep the users happy. However, don't go over the top. Don't do a drop party just because a single user asks. Make it a stretch goal. (30 users = drop party). Don't change the server time or weather just because a player asks. Don't install a plugin just because a player wants one. And NEVER give a player OP because they want it.
17. Have something unique
Unless you are running a vanilla server, there should be something that brings a user back. Make or find something that only YOUR server has. Keep players coming back. I sometimes find gems deep in the Bukkit library which I'm sure nobody else has. There are thousands of servers out there. Make yours shine.
18. Don't do things "because you are the Owner".
I have seen (and ran) servers that went down because Admins or Owners decided, "Hey, I own this server, I should do <stupid thing here> ." Those things kill a server.
19. Announce major changes to your users
If you are going to make a big change to your server, make sure to announce it to them as early as possible. Do this with in-game announcements or on your website. Make sure the users know what is happening with your server.
20. Meet with your Staff
If you have server staff, make sure to meet with them regularly. Have Skype calls and discuss the problems with the server and the best solution. Make sure to interface with your staff. They help you with the server!
21. Ignore all the above instructions
Not really. That would be a waste of my writing. However, YOUR server is YOURS. You need to set it up how you want to. Do what you want to make it unique. Make sure to have your users' support though. The above tips are just common-sense that most/all startup servers should do.
[ BONUS TIP! ] Buy 21 tips, get a 22nd FREE!
Backup your files often! If there is a hard drive failure, you can keep your server working by having a safe off-site backup (like on a portable hard drive). For big servers, back up daily. Small servers can probably get away with weekly.
| Tags |
tools/tracking
3024383
6
21-tips-to-have-a-good-server
newror
SubarashI
cloudkitty
DinoWattz
BlurredSight
ScotsMiser
lisabit
Henry04alcalino
Create an account or sign in to comment.
For 1, Bukkit may be a good choice for some but if someone wants mods on thier servers, Bukkit will not do.
For 10, I'm not going in depth with the EULA stuff as I already made 2 blog posts about that and 90 forum posts but you shouldn't restrict gameplay and have a "Pay to win" server.
(#10)I said neither of those things...
I said to get a job in real life or get a revenue from YouTube ads. There was a reason that text was struck out.
Also Spigot isn't that good for noob servers. It takes some time and config work.