Minecraft Server Guides
Guides for Minecraft servers with Docker, Hetzner, backups, and common operational problems.
Quick starts for common tasks
If you already know what you need to fix, jump straight to the right guide.
First deployment
Set up the server baseline with Docker
If you are starting from scratch, begin here with Hetzner, Debian, SSH, and Docker Compose.
Version mismatch
Determine the correct Java version
If the server fails because of Java versions or modloader combinations, this guide helps you sort it out.
Players cannot join
Check ports, firewall, and domain step by step
Check Docker port mapping, Linux firewall, Hetzner Cloud Firewall, and DNS/SRV records in order.
Protect your data
Make backups and restores reliable first
Secure world data, restores, and snapshot or volume decisions early.
Server already live? Lock down world backups and restore next
Use the Backup Guide for backups, restores, and offsite storage as one reliable workflow.
Docker Operations
Server setup, administration, permissions, and day-to-day operating tasks for Docker-based Minecraft servers.
Next steps
More guides in this topic
Paper vs Vanilla vs Fabric vs Forge: Which Minecraft Server Software Should You Choose?
Choosing the wrong server software creates avoidable pain later. This guide compares Vanilla, Paper, Fabric, Quilt, Forge, and NeoForge based on plugins, mods, performance, and operational complexity.
Fix Permission Denied in itzg/minecraft-server with UID/GID and Bind Mounts
Seeing permission errors in /data or files that Docker cannot write? This guide explains why itzg/minecraft-server defaults to UID 1000:GID 1000 and how to fix ownership safely.
Determining the Correct Java Version for Operating a Minecraft Server
If you want to set up a Minecraft server, you may encounter an error message related to the Java version when starting the server. In this article, you will learn how to determine the correct Java version for your Minecraft server.
Setting up a Minecraft Server on a Hetzner Cloud Server with Docker Compose
In this article, we will show you how to set up a server for Minecraft: Java Edition on a Hetzner Cloud server. We will go through the steps of creating the cloud server, installing Debian, setting up an SSH key, and configuring Docker Compose for easy server management.
Networking
Connection issues, DNS, domains, ports, and the checks that help players join reliably.
Next steps
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Set Up Java and Bedrock Crossplay with Geyser and Floodgate
Want Bedrock players on phones or consoles to join your Java server? This guide shows a direct Paper-based Geyser and Floodgate setup without introducing a separate proxy layer.
Minecraft Domain Without a Port: How to Set Up an SRV Record
Want players to join via example.com instead of an IP and port? This guide shows how SRV records work for Minecraft Java Edition and how to configure them correctly.
Performance
Practical diagnostics for lag, TPS, MSPT, Spark reports, and safe Paper tuning choices.
Next steps
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View Distance vs Simulation Distance: Safe Starting Values for Paper
Paper exposes view-distance and simulation-distance separately, which makes them one of the safest first levers for performance tuning. This guide explains what each setting changes and which starting values are sensible.
Use Spark Profiler to Find Minecraft Lag in Paper and Docker
Paper bundles Spark starting with 1.21, which makes it the preferred profiler for diagnosing lag. This guide shows how to capture a useful report and how to read the first findings without guesswork.