Modded servers: Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and hybrids

A modded server runs on a mod loader — Fabric, NeoForge or Forge — not on Paper. If the mods add new blocks, items or mobs, every player installs the same modpack. If all you want is vanilla gameplay with plugins and better performance, you don't need mods: use Paper or Leaf. Hybrid servers that combine mods and Bukkit plugins do exist, but compatibility is never guaranteed.

Mods vs plugins#

A plugin works through the server API (Bukkit, Spigot, Paper) and changes nothing on the client: players join with plain Minecraft. A mod changes the game's code itself. A server-side mod can stick to server logic, but a mod with new content has to be installed on the player's side too — otherwise the client has no idea what those blocks and items are.

Hence two separate ecosystems. Plugins go into plugins/ on Paper and its forks; mods go into mods/ on a server with a loader. You can't drop a mod into Paper's plugins/ or a plugin into Fabric's mods/: each expects its own API.

Fabric, NeoForge and Forge#

The golden rule: the mods pick the loader, not the other way round. List the mods you want, check which loader and Minecraft version each one is released for (Modrinth and CurseForge show this for every version), and only then set up the server. Mods for different loaders can't share one folder.

Setting up a Fabric server#

1. 1

   Build and test a client first

   The Fabric wiki recommends installing Fabric on your own client, adding every mod you want and making sure the game runs — only then build the server.

2. 2

   Install Fabric into the server folder

   Download the installer from fabricmc.net, open the Server tab, pick the Minecraft version and loader version and choose a folder. The installer downloads the server jar and can generate start scripts.

3. 3

   Accept the EULA and start

   Create eula.txt containing eula=true and run the jar the installer set up. How much memory to give it: How much RAM a server needs.

4. 4

   Copy the mods over

   Copy the mods from your client into the server's mods/. Mods labelled CLIENT aren't needed on the server, and some of them can crash it.

java -Xms2G -Xmx2G -jar fabric-server-launch.jar nogui

Mods only the server needs#

Not every mod needs the client. Optimisation is the classic example. Lithium optimises game physics, mob AI and block ticking and, according to its authors, doesn't change vanilla mechanics; it goes on the server without players installing it. FerriteCore reduces memory usage and is marked optional on both client and server on Modrinth.

Mods like these are the main reason to run Fabric for a server with no new content: players join with a vanilla client. But there are no Bukkit plugins on Fabric, so permissions, region protection, economy and the anticheat all have to be mods too. Some projects ship both: LuckPerms, for instance, exists for Bukkit as well as for Fabric, Forge and NeoForge.

Hybrid servers: mods and plugins together#

A hybrid is a server on a mod loader that also implements the Bukkit API so it can run plugins. It sounds like the best of both worlds, but the server has to reconcile two systems that know nothing about each other: mods rewrite game code, while plugins expect Bukkit and Paper behaviour.

• Arclight — "a Bukkit server implementation on common mod loaders"; the repository is tagged Forge, NeoForge and Fabric. Supported versions and their status are tracked in a GitHub discussion.
• Mohist — a Forge hybrid implementing the Bukkit and Spigot APIs. The project's own status table marks it End Of Life.
• Youer — from the same site: a NeoForge hybrid that, per its description, is compatible with the Bukkit, Spigot and Paper APIs.

Be clear about the risks. Plugins that reach into server internals or network packets are especially fragile on hybrids. Mods and plugins can hook the same events. And when something breaks, it's unclear whom to ask — the mod, plugin or server authors. Test the setup on a copy of the server and keep backups.

Anticheats on a modded server#

Most anticheats are plugins for the Bukkit and Paper API. On plain Fabric, Forge or NeoForge a plugin won't even load — there's no plugins/ folder. So for a modded server, look for protection built specifically for your loader and version.

The second problem is the mods themselves. An anticheat compares a player's movement and actions with vanilla mechanics. A mod that adds a jetpack, a new vehicle or different weapon physics creates behaviour the anticheat doesn't expect. The more content mods, the more exemptions you'll be configuring.

DGuard is a plugin for Paper and Leaf on versions 1.21–26.3. It doesn't run on plain mod loaders, and hybrids aren't on the supported list. If your server can live with plugins, run Paper or Leaf and set up DGuard — free up to 30 players online. If you need a modpack, choose protection that fits your loader, and contact support with any DGuard questions.

FAQ#