Pi miscellaneous

How to Easily Set Up a Minecraft Server on Raspberry Pi

Hosting your very own Minecraft server on Raspberry Pi is simpler than you might think! A Minecraft server provides a fun and collaborative gaming experience where you control the world, mods, and settings. By leveraging the affordability and efficiency of the Raspberry Pi, you can create a budget-friendly Minecraft server to enjoy with friends and family.

This guide will cover everything from the hardware requirements to advanced tips for optimizing your server’s performance.

Why Choose Raspberry Pi for a Minecraft Server?

Key Benefits of Using Raspberry Pi

  • Cost-Effective: The Raspberry Pi offers an affordable alternative to expensive hosting services. It eliminates the need for cloud-based hosting fees.
  • Customizable: You have complete control over server settings, mods, and plugins.
  • Energy Efficient: Consuming only a fraction of the power used by a traditional PC, the Raspberry Pi is ideal for 24/7 operation.
  • Compact Design: The small size and quiet operation make it perfect for home setups.

What You’ll Need

Hardware

  • Raspberry Pi 4 (Recommended): Choose a 4GB or 8GB RAM model for smoother gameplay. Raspberry Pi 3 can work but may struggle with multiple players or mods.
  • MicroSD Card: At least 16GB storage is recommended. Use Class 10 or higher for faster read/write speeds to minimize lag.
  • Power Supply: Use the official Raspberry Pi adapter (5V/3A for Pi 4).
  • Ethernet Cable or Wi-Fi Module: Ethernet is preferred for stable and lag-free connectivity.
  • Optional Accessories: Heatsinks or a cooling fan for extended gaming sessions.

Software

  • Raspberry Pi OS: Download from Raspberry Pi OS. Choose the Lite version if you’re running a headless setup (no monitor).
  • Java Development Kit (JDK): Required to execute Minecraft’s server files.
  • Minecraft Server JAR File: The official server software is available at Minecraft Downloads.

Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Your Raspberry Pi Minecraft Server

Step 1: Prepare Your Raspberry Pi

  1. Install Raspberry Pi OS: Download Raspberry Pi OS from the official site and use a tool like Balena Etcher or Raspberry Pi Imager to flash it onto your microSD card.
  2. Boot and Update Your Pi: Insert the microSD card into your Raspberry Pi and power it on. Once it boots, update the system with:
    sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Java

  1. Install Java Runtime Environment with the command:
    sudo apt install openjdk-17-jdk -y
  2. Verify the installation by typing:
    java -version

Step 3: Download the Minecraft Server File

  1. Create a directory for your Minecraft server:
    mkdir ~/minecraft-server && cd ~/minecraft-server
  2. Download the server JAR file from the Minecraft website using:
    wget https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/<server_version>/server.jar
    Replace <server_version> with the actual version string of the server file.

Step 4: Configure the Minecraft Server

  1. Start the server for initialization using:
    java -Xmx2G -Xms2G -jar server.jar nogui

    • -Xmx2G allocates up to 2GB RAM to the server. Adjust this value based on your Pi’s available memory.
    • nogui disables the graphical interface for better performance.
  2. Accept the End User License Agreement (EULA): The server will stop and generate an eula.txt file. Open it with:
    nano eula.txt
    Change eula=false to eula=true and save it.
  3. Restart the server with the same command:
    java -Xmx2G -Xms2G -jar server.jar nogui

How to Connect to Your Minecraft Server

Find Your Raspberry Pi’s IP Address

Use the command: hostname -I to find your Pi’s IP address.

Connecting from Minecraft

  1. Open Minecraft on your PC or console.
  2. Navigate to Multiplayer > Add Server.
  3. Enter your Raspberry Pi’s IP address.
  4. Save and click Join Server to start playing!

Optimizing Server Performance

Adjust Server Properties

  1. Open the server.properties file with:
    nano server.properties
  2. Modify settings:
    • Reduce view-distance to 6 for lighter resource loads.
    • Adjust max-players to fit the capabilities of your Pi.

Use Optimized Server Software

Switch to Spigot or Paper for improved performance. Download Spigot with:
wget https://download.getbukkit.org/spigot/spigot-<version>.jar

Optional: Adding Mods and Plugins

  1. Place your plugins in the plugins folder.
  2. Restart your server to apply the changes.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

1. Server Lag or Crashes

  • Cause: High player load or insufficient resources.
  • Solution: Lower the view-distance, reduce player count, or allocate more RAM.

2. Unable to Connect to Server

  • Cause: Incorrect IP address or port forwarding issues.
  • Solution: Double-check the IP address with hostname -I and ensure port 25565 is open.

Conclusion

Setting up a Minecraft server on Raspberry Pi is an exciting way to enjoy multiplayer gaming with friends. With full control over the server, you can customize it to your liking, whether it’s for family fun or community building. Follow this guide to set up and optimize your server, ensuring an enjoyable experience for all players.

Ready to build your Minecraft world? Start your adventure today with Raspberry Pi!

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