How to Set Up Minecraft Server on Debian

If you have a system running Debian, here are the steps you need to follow, to install Minecraft server on it. This article assumes that you have rented a Debian server from a server provider, and you have a local Windows system, with which you will be accessing the remote Debian server. You can as well use this guide if you have direct access to the Debian server; just skip the remote server accessing steps.

You will need the PuTTY client, to access the remote Debian server. Here’s where you can download PuTTY. Double click the .exe file to open it. Enter the IP address of the Debian server in the Host Name (or IP address) box. This should be given to you by the server provider. You can save this session, so it becomes easy to connect again later. Select SSH under Protocol. Click Open. You might see a security alert window. Click Yes. A command window will open. Enter the username (mostly root) and password to login. These credentials as well will be given to you by the server provider.

Update local packages with the latest changes made in the repositories by typing:-
apt-get update

Install Java by typing:-
apt-get install openjdk-6-jre

Or if you have Java already, then update it by typing:-
apt-get install default-jre

This program allows applications to run, even if the SSH session is closed (i.e. if you close the PuTTY window). For installing screen, type the following:-
apt-get install screen

It is recommended that a separate user be created, apart from root, for running the Minecraft server. Let’s assume the user name to be minecraft
adduser minecraft

You will be prompted to enter a password, and retype it. Additional details would be asked as well, which can be skipped by simply pressing Enter. Finally type ‘Y’ for ‘Is the information correct’. The new user is now created. A home directory by the same name will be created too.

Since you are now logged in as root, switch to the new user by typing:-
su – minecraft
The next time you open PuTTY, you can directly login to this new user, instead of root.

Enter the home directory that was created
cd /home/minecraft

In-order to get the installer, you can use the wget command, as follows:-
wget http://www.minecraft.net/download/minecraft_server.jar

Note:- You can as well use an FTP client such as FileZilla or WinSCP. These clients are used for quick and easy file transfers from other systems to a remote server. They also let you easily edit and modify files on the server, rather than use complicated terminal commands. The clients can be installed on your local Windows system and can be used to connect to the Debian server.

As mentioned earlier, screen is needed for allowing Minecraft server to run on the Debian server, even if you exit from the PuTTY SSH session. Without screen, once you close the SSH session, the Minecraft server will also terminate. Start the Minecraft server by typing the following:-
screen -S minecraftscreen java -Xms1024M -Xmx1024M -jar minecraft_server.jar nogui

Here:-
screen -S minecraftscreen – creates a screen session called minecraftscreen.
java – launches the Java application.
Xms – Initial memory allocated to the Java application (JVM).
Xmx – Maximum memory that the Java application can use.
nogui – Disables the GUI (graphical user interface). Can be omitted if you want the GUI.

1024MB (or 1GB) of memory is being allocated as initial (Xms) and maximum (Xmx) memory for the JVM. You can allocate more memory if your RAM is large enough. Your Minecraft server will start and create the world, along with other files that are necessary. Once you see ‘Done’ at the command terminal, you’re good to start playing. Open the Minecraft client on your system, enter the IP address of the Debian server, and you should be able to play.

In case you want to make changes to the Minecraft server files, like server.properties, or the ops file, or any other file, edit it by using the nano command. Stop the server first by typing stop and then type the following:-
sudo nano filename

For example:-
sudo nano server.properties

Or if you are in a different directory, then give the filename along with its path.
For example:-
sudo nano /home/minecraft/server.properties

Here, sudo is used because you are logged in as a different user, rather than root. Hence you need the permissions of root to execute the nano command.

In case nano is not already installed, do so by typing:-
apt-get install nano

Once you make the required changes to a file, press
Ctrl+X
You will be asked whether you want to save the file. Press Y and then Enter.

You can disconnect from the SSH session (PuTTY) by pressing:-
Ctrl+D.

To re-attach to the session, type:-
screen -r minecraftscreen

This YouTube video gives a detailed set up of Minecraft server on Debian. (The WinSCP client has been used here.)