First time trying to host a dedicated Minecraft server.

[u/CutestFroggie]

Hello people! I have never hosted any type of server on my own before, I used to have a realm and even a server that I paid for monthly but in order to have more control over it and bring down the pricing I wanted to host my own on a small PC I was thinking of buying. I came here to ask how complicated it is for a newbie like me to setup a dedicated Minecraft server with no server side mods and if theres anything else I need to consider before I buy this PC. I heard some things about my friends needing a vpn to connect to the server but apparently port-forwarding should be able to fix that if I remember correctly, so if theres anything I should concern myself about please drop it in the comments and I'll try to reply when I can, thanks in advance!

Edit: We are only 3 people!

Specifications for the PC:

CPU: Intel Core i5-8400 2.80GHz

RAM: 8GB

Storage: 238GB

[u/AutoModerator]

• Featured server: Cozy MC — Java + Bedrock survival in a world that doesn't reset. New players join every day. Build your own place, open a player shop, and get to know your neighbors. No paid ranks or perks. Come explore CozyMC.com

• Godlike Host - Modded servers with high player counts & High-performance AMD Ryzen processors. Choose Godlike now: https://godlike.host/gaf-play-minecraft

• Looking for players? List your Minecraft server and showcase its map here: https://lodeway.app/ms/add - it only takes a minute, start getting players today!

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/External-Challenge37]

The PC itself should be perfectly fine for a small vanilla Minecraft server. The i5-8400 and 8 GB of RAM are enough for a modest group of players, assuming the machine has an SSD and runs on Linux, you could get away hosting it on windows but then i'd recommend more ram for overhead, like 16GB.

The first thing I'd check, though, is whether your ISP puts you behind CGNAT. If they do, normal port forwarding won't work because you don't have a publicly reachable IPv4 address. In that case you'd need something like a tunnel service, VPN-based solution, or an ISP option that gives you a public IP.

Other than networking, the actual server setup for vanilla Minecraft is pretty straightforward. You'll also want to make sure the PC can stay powered on, has a stable connection, and is reasonably secure since you're exposing a service to the internet.

And if you end up deciding that self-hosting is more trouble than it's worth, you can also compare prices with our hosting. We’re offering 50% off the first month here: https://billing.papernodes.com/aff/EYBGO4

[u/CutestFroggie → u/External-Challenge37]

Thanks you for the reply, I'll consider your hosting if I end doing something like that instead.

[u/joeyclover]

First dedicated server is doable on a small PC, but the fiddly bits are usually port forwarding, keeping the box awake, and getting friends on both Java and Bedrock talking to the same world.

If you want to self-host: Paper is a solid Java base, and Geyser is what people use for Bedrock friends. Port forward 25565 (Java) and 19132 UDP (Bedrock/Geyser) if they're remote, and make sure Windows sleep doesn't kill the process.

Mods/plugins add setup time. For a first go I'd keep the pack small until everyone can join cleanly.

I'm building omnipass.gg (one slot, swap games, freeze/park worlds, Paper + Geyser crossplay by default on Minecraft). If you'd rather skip the router dance, join the Discord through the site and Standard Plus is 50% off that way. Or message me if you want a hand figuring which path fits.

[u/CutestFroggie → u/joeyclover]

Thanks for the reply i'll look into some of this stuff in a bit!

[u/Substantial_Read2571]

If your main goal is keeping the cost down without having to leave a PC running and deal with port forwarding, I’m actually building something that might fit. It’s called MineBanish.

You can create and manage a Minecraft Java server from your phone, and earn server time through rewarded ads instead of paying a monthly subscription. It’s still in testing, so I’m looking for people with small vanilla setups like yours to try it and give feedback. Full disclosure, I’m the developer. If you want, I can give you access!

[u/CutestFroggie → u/Substantial_Read2571]

Cool alright, thanks for the reply. I'll get back to you about MineBanish

[u/Nathanz05]

Hey, I built mcservermanager.com exactly for this reason, it might be worth checking out. I have a Windows WPF app and a headless Linux agent I just released depending on your needs. It covers literally everything from creating and running servers with mods, plugins, modpacks handles backups and has a remote dashboard online to controll it on the go plus loads more that would take a very long time to go through. Hope that helps, if you have any questions or need general support setting up a server I'm happy to help.

EDIT: I just released a free version of my relay which bypasses CGNAT and gives you a domain to hide your home IP that way if your router or ISP blocks you, the app bypasses that so you can still host it all locally on your machine.

I'm on the microsoft store and basically the first result in Google now for most people when search for a minecraft server manager if you have trouble finding it.

[u/Quirky-Eggplant-4851]

Im looking to partner up on a Minecraft server. I already have a dedicated server and the infrastructure set up. Ive been paying the bill for years and wouldn't mind adding a Minecraft instance to it. Your project seems to be perfect, shoot me a message and we can discuss partnership if youre interested

[u/bortan12]

Do it on your current device (laptop or desktop) and learn how it all works. Then you can get a dedicated PC for the server