The question of whether you want to rent a Minecraft server or host your own, might have crossed your mind if you’ve been interested in maintaining one. Here’s a brief guide, which can be helpful to anyone considering Minecraft server hosting.
The professional Minecraft server providers will have a dedicated set-up for running and maintaining the Minecraft servers. They will have the right kind of hardware with the right kind of specifications. When it comes to security and data protection too, the providers would already have equipments in place, for taking back-ups. You can always have your own set-up at home. However, this could be highly expensive, complicated and time consuming.
Generally, at home, you might not be able to have a dedicated set-up for Minecraft. Apart from running the server, you might have to use the home network and computer for your regular browsing, emailing and other online activities. This can be strenuous on the home network. Moreover, if you are an ardent gamer yourself, you’ll need to get another computer or beef-up your existing one, to play the game, while also running the server; since it is recommended that the computer used for hosting the server, should not be used for gaming. You will as well need a highly reliable and powerful network connection. Setting up a dedicated server at home, though possible, is thus an expensive affair. Renting a server can work out to be more cost effective.
Most providers offer full time (24/7/365) support for the servers. In case anything unexpected happens, they’ll have their troubleshooting methods in place for getting things back on track. This saves you the hassle of continuously monitoring the system and hence, plenty of time too.
These days, many of the providers are offering high levels of customization. You can either opt for admin privileges, or cast the entire responsibility upon the provider. Even when it comes to installing plug-ins, wrappers and Mods, or altering the properties files, many of the providers bestow sufficient privileges on the users. Tools are being made available for accessing and customizing the server. Thus, server customization is possible to a large extent.
A trial period is offered by most providers, for their numerous packages. In case you are not pleased with the package you chose, you can switch during this trial period. You can as well switch the provider, if you’re not happy with their service, with a complete refund. On the other hand, if you’re setting up your own server, you must have thorough understanding of the technical and networking aspects.
While many providers do offer customization privileges to the users, 100% customization is seldom possible. If you have your own server, you can customize it completely, to suit your tastes.
Very few providers offer dedicated servers to their customers. Generally, one physical server is shared by more than one user, by the creation of VPS (virtual private servers). Thus, when setting up a Minecraft server at home, you can always make it 100% dedicated. And there will be no hassle of over-crowded and congested servers.
Renting a server seems to have many more advantages than hosting your own. The only thing required is – choosing the right provider and the right package, and paying the specified rental. The rest of the hassle is taken care of by the providers themselves. Many providers offer instant set-up too, so you can start playing almost immediately, after registration. Then again, if you are not able to find the right kind of package, and if you are willing to invest time, effort and capital, then you can always host your own Minecraft server.
