Knowledge base
Everything about running a Minecraft server
Server software, proxies, plugins, anticheats, security and moderation: answers to the questions every server owner runs into. Only facts you can check, with links to the sources. Written by the team behind DGuard, the best anticheat for a modern Minecraft server.
Start here
Getting started13 min readHow to make a Minecraft server: the complete guideA Minecraft server needs Java, server software (for a plugin server, Paper) and a machine that stays on while people play: your own PC, a game host or a VPS. Then you accept the EULA, set up server.properties, open the port and add plugins. Here is the whole path, step by step, from picking hardware to the pre-launch checklist.ReadServer software14 min readThe best Minecraft server software: Paper, Leaf, Purpur, Folia and the restFor most servers with plugins the answer is Paper — or its fork Leaf if you want extra performance and are willing to tune it. Below: how the popular server jars differ, which plugins run on them, and what to run for survival, anarchy, minigames or a very large player count.ReadAnticheats13 min readThe best Minecraft anticheats in 2026: the top list, compared check by checkWe checked 47 kinds of cheats against the source code and documentation of GrimAC, Vulcan, Polar, Intave and Matrix. Only DGuard has a full check for every one; the closest rival is Intave with 27 of 47. Here's how we counted, what each anticheat does well and where it falls short, and which one fits your server.Read
Top lists and rankings 2026
- AnticheatsThe best Minecraft anticheats in 2026: the top list, compared check by check
- Getting startedBest Minecraft server hosting in 2026: compared, and how to choose
- Getting startedFree Minecraft server hosting 2026: where to host for free
- PluginsThe best plugins for a Minecraft server: the essentials first
- PluginsBest Minecraft anarchy server plugins in 2026: what to install and what to skip
- PluginsBest Minecraft survival server plugins in 2026: claims, economy, jobs
- PluginsBest Minecraft minigame plugins: BedWars, SkyWars, Duels, lobby and network
- Server softwareThe best Minecraft server software: Paper, Leaf, Purpur, Folia and the rest
- Growth and incomeMinecraft server donation stores: the best webstores in 2026
- Growth and incomeMinecraft server lists: where to list your server and climb the rankings
- AnticheatsBest free Minecraft anticheats in 2026: top picks and check-by-check comparison
Getting started
12 articlesWhere to start: shared hosting or a VPS, how much memory, server.properties, ports, offline mode and backups.
- How to make a Minecraft server: the complete guide13 min read
- How to make a Minecraft server on Windows: step by step9 min read
- How to make a Minecraft server for friends: 5 ways9 min read
- Best Minecraft server hosting in 2026: compared, and how to choose9 min read
- Free Minecraft server hosting 2026: where to host for free10 min read
- Game hosting or a VPS for a Minecraft server: which to choose8 min read
- How much RAM does a Minecraft server need?7 min read
- server.properties explained: every setting that matters9 min read
- Server IP and port 25565: letting players connect8 min read
- A domain for your Minecraft server: a nice address and an SRV record9 min read
- Offline-mode servers (online-mode=false): risks and protection7 min read
- Minecraft server backups: what, how and how often8 min read
Server software
6 articlesHow Paper, Leaf, Purpur and Folia differ, which one fits your game mode and what to do if you need mods.
- The best Minecraft server software: Paper, Leaf, Purpur, Folia and the rest14 min read
- Paper: installing and configuring your server8 min read
- Leaf server software: what it is and how to switch from Paper8 min read
- Purpur server software: what it does and who it's for7 min read
- Folia: when you need regionised multithreading6 min read
- Modded servers: Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and hybrids7 min read
Proxies and networks
3 articlesVelocity or BungeeCord, how to join a lobby and game modes into one network and keep the backend servers closed.
Administration
8 articlesLinux and autostart, console commands, operators and the whitelist, RCON, version upgrades, logs and crashes, Docker and moving a server.
- Minecraft server on Linux: a VPS setup with autostart7 min read
- Minecraft server in Docker: the itzg/minecraft-server image5 min read
- Minecraft server commands: the admin's cheat sheet6 min read
- Operators and the whitelist: who may do what on a server5 min read
- RCON: a remote Minecraft server console without the risk4 min read
- Server crashing or won't start: reading logs and crash reports5 min read
- How to update a Minecraft server to a new version safely5 min read
- Moving a Minecraft server to a new host or VPS without losses9 min read
Worlds and gameplay
8 articlesGame rules, the world border, data packs, the server resource pack, multiple worlds, wipes, the MOTD and the server icon.
- How to set up spawn on a Minecraft server9 min read
- Game rules (/gamerule) on a Minecraft server6 min read
- The world border on a Minecraft server: /worldborder6 min read
- Data packs on a Minecraft server: install, commands, safety7 min read
- The server resource pack: how to set it up and update it5 min read
- Multiple worlds on one server: Multiverse-Core8 min read
- Minecraft server wipe: resetting the world for a new season7 min read
- MOTD and icon: how your server looks in the server list7 min read
Plugins
22 articlesThe plugins every server needs and how to set them up: permissions, block logging, joining from other versions, PacketEvents.
- The best plugins for a Minecraft server: the essentials first7 min read
- Best Minecraft anarchy server plugins in 2026: what to install and what to skip9 min read
- Best Minecraft survival server plugins in 2026: claims, economy, jobs9 min read
- Best Minecraft minigame plugins: BedWars, SkyWars, Duels, lobby and network9 min read
- How to install a plugin on a Minecraft server8 min read
- LuckPerms: permissions and groups in 10 minutes7 min read
- EssentialsX: core server commands — modules, permissions and setup8 min read
- WorldGuard: regions, flags and priorities8 min read
- WorldEdit: the in-game map editor — commands, permissions and safety8 min read
- CoreProtect: find griefers and roll back the damage6 min read
- ViaVersion: letting players join from other versions6 min read
- Geyser and Floodgate: letting Bedrock players onto a Java server7 min read
- PacketEvents: what it is and how to update it6 min read
- PlaceholderAPI: placeholders, expansions and /papi commands6 min read
- The TAB plugin: tab list, prefixes, nametags and scoreboard6 min read
- DiscordSRV: chat, console and roles between Minecraft and Discord7 min read
- Minecraft server economy: Vault, a provider and shops7 min read
- Minecraft login plugins: AuthMe, nLogin and more9 min read
- NPCs on a Minecraft server: Citizens, FancyNpcs and more7 min read
- Holograms in Minecraft: DecentHolograms, FancyHolograms7 min read
- Menus and GUIs on a Minecraft server: DeluxeMenus and more7 min read
- MySQL and MariaDB for Minecraft plugins: when you need them and how to set them up8 min read
Anticheats
5 articlesWhich anticheat to pick, what GrimAC, Vulcan, Polar, Intave, Matrix and DGuard catch, how to switch and what AI anticheats can do.
- The best Minecraft anticheats in 2026: the top list, compared check by check13 min read
- Best free Minecraft anticheats in 2026: top picks and check-by-check comparison7 min read
- How to choose a Minecraft anticheat: 8 questions9 min read
- How to switch anticheats without losing players7 min read
- AI anticheats for Minecraft: what neural networks can and can't do10 min read
Server protection
10 articlesAnticheat for anarchy, PvP and survival; stopping X-Ray, griefers, bots and DDoS.
- Minecraft server security: the full checklist9 min read
- Anticheat for anarchy servers: which cheats matter and how to catch them7 min read
- Anticheat for PvP and minigames: BedWars, SkyWars, Duels7 min read
- Anticheat for survival / SMP: economy, X-Ray and automation6 min read
- How to stop X-Ray on a Minecraft server9 min read
- Grief protection: regions, claims and rollbacks7 min read
- Protecting a Minecraft server from bots and DDoS8 min read
- Dupes and exploits: closing them on a Minecraft server7 min read
- Protecting a Minecraft server from crashers and crash exploits10 min read
- Malicious plugins and backdoors: keeping your server clean7 min read
Moderation
5 articlesHow to check a player for cheats, handle a ban appeal and build a moderation team.
- How to check a player for cheats on your Minecraft server9 min read
- Why anticheats ban honest players — and how to avoid it8 min read
- Building a moderation team: permissions, logs and appeals7 min read
- Ban plugins: from vanilla /ban to network-wide bans8 min read
- How to write Minecraft server rules7 min read
Performance
7 articlesWhy a server lags and how to find the cause, pre-generating the world and what an anticheat costs.
- Why your Minecraft server lags — and how to find the cause7 min read
- TPS and MSPT: what they mean and which numbers are normal7 min read
- The spark profiler: finding what slows your server down8 min read
- Paper optimization: which settings to tune and what they cost9 min read
- JVM flags for a Minecraft server: what to use and why9 min read
- Pre-generating your world: stop chunk generation lag6 min read
- How much does an anticheat cost your server — and how to check7 min read
Growth and income
6 articlesWhere to find players, server lists and voting, monetization within Minecraft's rules, a community on Discord.
- How to promote a Minecraft server and keep players8 min read
- Minecraft server lists: where to list your server and climb the rankings12 min read
- NuVotifier: votes from server lists and rewards8 min read
- Minecraft server donation stores: the best webstores in 202612 min read
- How to set up paid ranks on a Minecraft server10 min read
- Minecraft server monetization: what you may sell under Mojang's rules8 min read
Tools
Cheat encyclopedia47 kinds of cheats: what each one does, how to spot it and which anticheats check it.Rules generatorServer rules for your game mode in a minute, with punishments, ready for your site and Discord.Server toolsA start script with Aikar's flags, offline UUIDs, a coloured MOTD, gradients, coordinates and ticks — free, in your browser.Protect your serverA step-by-step guide: from basic settings to evidence, strictness and a second layer for PvP.
Run the best anticheat for modern Minecraft
DGuard catches all 47 kinds of cheats in our comparison — the closest rival, Intave, has 27. Full protection on every plan, free up to 30 players online.