Setting up a Minecraft server
I am going to presume the reader has some technical capability and experience with computers beyond that of the standard user.
A friend at the lab where I volunteer had mentioned he and a friend were into Minecraft. After some prompting I decided to check it out only to find the "free" version was a bit short on time (100 minutes) and wasn't enough to really do anything. This isn't a criticism, merely a comment on my age where I need more time to try things out.
To set up a (free) server simply go to Minecraft's web site at http://minecraft.net and go to the download section. The server comes in two flavours. Either download the Windows version or the version for every other operating system. If thought about for more than half a second the realisation that the Windows version is likely to be slower and less capable should convince anybody which one to run. Make sure the latest JAVA is installed.
Here is a list of requirements:
I advise setting up the server in a separate directory on a machine not running anything else. Again for speed. This way the entire directory can be copied from one machine to another without change during scheduled down-time. It is possible to set up the machine to run unattended without a monitor or keyboard depending on what other software is installed. There is a one line script on the download page I mentioned earlier. If the admin so chooses they can install screen and ssh. This way they have manual control over the server from a remote machine.
To set up the server for the first time just run the script they provide and sit back until the world has generated. Once it is done type "stop" then run the script again. It's that simple.
There is a file containing the server options. The admin might want to edit this file and remove the world file then recreate the world with the new options. There is plenty of information about the options and what they do on the net.
I found around by fiddling around with the client software (options only - no hacking involved) I was able to connect to the server instead of playing the demo. This is a good thing for developers. Accessing software on ones own LAN is always desirable. I have found the client software behaves differently on Macs and Linux when unregistered.
If any of the authors of Minecraft read this, they have been in contact with my friend and my efforts are to help him along a little. As of this date he wants to replace some of the code with something better/cleaner/faster/more capable. He will be in touch again when it is done. Hopefully his efforts will make it into a subsequent update.
A friend at the lab where I volunteer had mentioned he and a friend were into Minecraft. After some prompting I decided to check it out only to find the "free" version was a bit short on time (100 minutes) and wasn't enough to really do anything. This isn't a criticism, merely a comment on my age where I need more time to try things out.
To set up a (free) server simply go to Minecraft's web site at http://minecraft.net and go to the download section. The server comes in two flavours. Either download the Windows version or the version for every other operating system. If thought about for more than half a second the realisation that the Windows version is likely to be slower and less capable should convince anybody which one to run. Make sure the latest JAVA is installed.
Here is a list of requirements:
- A spare machine (it is faster to run the server on a separate machine although a virtual machine will work in a pinch).
- Hard drive space to store the persistent world data.
- Memory for users and program execution (the more the better).
- A network connection (internet may be necessary for installation but the server can be run with only a LAN connection).
- Players with client software matching the server version number.
I advise setting up the server in a separate directory on a machine not running anything else. Again for speed. This way the entire directory can be copied from one machine to another without change during scheduled down-time. It is possible to set up the machine to run unattended without a monitor or keyboard depending on what other software is installed. There is a one line script on the download page I mentioned earlier. If the admin so chooses they can install screen and ssh. This way they have manual control over the server from a remote machine.
To set up the server for the first time just run the script they provide and sit back until the world has generated. Once it is done type "stop" then run the script again. It's that simple.
There is a file containing the server options. The admin might want to edit this file and remove the world file then recreate the world with the new options. There is plenty of information about the options and what they do on the net.
I found around by fiddling around with the client software (options only - no hacking involved) I was able to connect to the server instead of playing the demo. This is a good thing for developers. Accessing software on ones own LAN is always desirable. I have found the client software behaves differently on Macs and Linux when unregistered.
If any of the authors of Minecraft read this, they have been in contact with my friend and my efforts are to help him along a little. As of this date he wants to replace some of the code with something better/cleaner/faster/more capable. He will be in touch again when it is done. Hopefully his efforts will make it into a subsequent update.
posted by Mike at 3:51 p.m.
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