How to Create a Minecraft Java Edition Server on Ubuntu 24.04 (Noble Numbat)

Minecraft remains one of the world’s most beloved games. Hosting your own private Minecraft Java Edition server allows you and your friends to play together in a persistent world you control. This guide will walk you through setting up a Minecraft server on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat).

Prerequisites

• A server running Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.
• sudo privileges or root access.
• Access to your server’s command line (e.g., via SSH).
• Recommended minimum 2GB RAM (more needed for more players/mods).

Step 1: Update System and Install Java

First, ensure your server’s package list is up-to-date. Then, install Java, which is required to run the Minecraft server. Minecraft currently requires Java 17 or newer. We’ll install OpenJDK 17 (a free, open-source Java implementation).

# Update package lists
sudo apt update -y

# Install OpenJDK 17 JRE (Headless version is suitable for servers)
sudo apt install openjdk-17-jre-headless -y

Verify the installation by checking the Java version:

java -version

Example Output (on Ubuntu 24.04):

openjdk 17.0.x <DATE> # Version numbers might differ slightly
OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 17.0.x+x-Ubuntu-124.04.x)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (build 17.0.x+x-Ubuntu-124.04.x, mixed mode, sharing)

(Note: Ubuntu 24.04 might default to newer Java versions like 21 if installed differently, which should also work with current Minecraft versions. Installing version 17 explicitly ensures compatibility.)

Step 2: Create a Dedicated Minecraft User

For security reasons, it’s best practice not to run the Minecraft server as the root user. Let’s create a dedicated user account named minecraft.

sudo adduser minecraft

You’ll be prompted to set a password and fill in some user information (you can leave most fields blank by pressing Enter).

Now, switch to the new minecraft user:

sudo su - minecraft

You will now be operating as the minecraft user in its home directory (/home/minecraft). All subsequent commands in this guide (unless specified otherwise) should be run as this user.

Step 3: Download the Minecraft Server JAR

We need to download the official Minecraft server software file (a .jar file).

1. Create a directory for the server files within the minecraft user’s home directory:
   mkdir ~/server cd ~/server
2. Get the Download Link: Go to the official Minecraft Java Edition Server Download page. Right-click the download link for the latest server JAR file and select “Copy Link Address” (or similar wording depending on your browser).
3. Download the File: Use the wget command in your server terminal, pasting the link you just copied. Use the -O option to rename the downloaded file to minecraft_server.jar for consistency.
   Replace <PASTE_THE_DOWNLOAD_LINK_HERE> with the actual URL you copied wget <PASTE_THE_DOWNLOAD_LINK_HERE> -O minecraft_server.jar

Example wget Output (link will vary):

--TIMESTAMP--  <COPIED_MINECRAFT_SERVER_URL>
Resolving <server_hostname>... <IP_address>...
Connecting to <server_hostname>|<IP_address>|:443... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK
Length: <SIZE> [application/java-archive]
Saving to: ‘minecraft_server.jar’

minecraft_server.jar   100%[===================>] <SIZE>  --.-KB/s    in Xs

TIMESTAMP (XXX MB/s) - ‘minecraft_server.jar’ saved [<SIZE>/<SIZE>]

Step 4: Configure Firewall (UFW)

Before starting the server, ensure the default Minecraft port (25565) is open in your server’s firewall. Ubuntu uses ufw (Uncomplicated Firewall).

Note: Run these ufw commands using sudo – you might need to temporarily exit the minecraft user session (exit) or open a separate terminal logged in with your sudo-privileged user.

sudo ufw allow 25565/tcp
sudo ufw enable # If not already enabled, confirm with 'y'
sudo ufw status # Verify the rule is active

Example ufw status Output:

--TIMESTAMP--  <COPIED_MINECRAFT_SERVER_URL>
Resolving <server_hostname>... <IP_address>...
Connecting to <server_hostname>|<IP_address>|:443... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK
Length: <SIZE> [application/java-archive]
Saving to: ‘minecraft_server.jar’

minecraft_server.jar   100%[===================>] <SIZE>  --.-KB/s    in Xs

TIMESTAMP (XXX MB/s) - ‘minecraft_server.jar’ saved [<SIZE>/<SIZE>]

Remember to switch back to the minecraft user if you exited:

sudo su - minecraft and cd ~/server.

Step 5: First Server Run and EULA Agreement

The first time you try to run the server, it will fail but generate important configuration files, including the End User License Agreement (EULA) file that you must accept.

We will use screen to run the server. screen allows the server process to keep running even if you disconnect from your SSH session.

1. Start a screen session: (Make sure you are the minecraft user in the ~/server directory)
   Start a named screen session called 'minecraft' screen -S minecraft
   Your terminal window will clear – you are now inside the screen session.
2. Run the server for the first time: Allocate initial (-Xms) and maximum (-Xmx) memory. 1GB (1024M or 1G) is fine for the first run. nogui prevents the server from trying to open a graphical interface.
   java -Xms1G -Xmx1G -jar minecraft_server.jar nogui
3. Agree to the EULA: The server will stop, mentioning the EULA. You need to edit the generated eula.txt file.
   nano eula.txt
   Change the line
   eula=false to eula=true: #By changing the setting below to TRUE you are indicating your agreement to our EULA (https://aka.ms/MinecraftEULA).
#TIMESTAMP eula=true
   Save and close the file (Press Ctrl+X, then Y, then Enter).

Step 6: Configure Server Properties

You can customize your server’s settings by editing the server.properties file.

nano server.properties

Here are a few common settings you might want to change:

• motd: The “Message of the Day” displayed in the server list.
• gamemode: survival, creative, adventure, spectator.
• difficulty: peaceful, easy, normal, hard.
• pvp: true or false (Player vs Player combat).
• max-players: Maximum number of concurrent players.
• level-seed: Enter a specific world seed if desired.
• white-list: true or false. If true, only players listed in whitelist.json can join.

Explore the file for many other options. You can find a full list on the Official Minecraft Wiki. Save and close (Ctrl+X, Y, Enter) when done.

Step 7: Run the Minecraft Server

Now you can start the server properly within the screen session. Allocate more memory this time – 4GB (-Xmx4G) is a reasonable starting point for a few players, but adjust based on your server’s available RAM and player count. -Xms1G sets the initial heap size.

(Make sure you are still inside the screen session. If you detached or got disconnected, reattach with screen -r minecraft)

# Example: 1GB initial, 4GB maximum RAM
java -Xms1G -Xmx4G -jar minecraft_server.jar nogui

The server will start loading. You’ll see log messages, including world generation progress. Wait for the message indicating the server is done loading (e.g., Done (...)! For help, type "help").

Example Startup Log Snippet (version and timings will vary):

[TIMESTAMP] [ServerMain/INFO]: Building unoptimized datafixer
[TIMESTAMP] [ServerMain/INFO]: Environment: authHost='https://authserver.mojang.com', accountsHost='https://api.mojang.com', sessionHost='https://sessionserver.mojang.com', servicesHost='https://api.minecraftservices.com', name='PROD'
...
[TIMESTAMP] [Server thread/INFO]: Starting minecraft server version <MINECRAFT_VERSION>
[TIMESTAMP] [Server thread/INFO]: Loading properties
[TIMESTAMP] [Server thread/INFO]: Default game type: SURVIVAL
[TIMESTAMP] [Server thread/INFO]: Generating keypair
[TIMESTAMP] [Server thread/INFO]: Starting Minecraft server on *:25565
...
[TIMESTAMP] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing level "world"
...
[TIMESTAMP] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: X%
...
[TIMESTAMP] [Server thread/INFO]: Time elapsed: XXX ms
[TIMESTAMP] [Server thread/INFO]: Done (XXXs)! For help, type "help"

To detach from the screen session (leaving the server running in the background), press Ctrl+A, then press D. You’ll see [detached from ...minecraft]. You can now safely close your SSH connection.

To reattach later (e.g., to stop the server or view the console), run:

screen -r minecraft

To stop the server gracefully, type stop in the attached console and press Enter.

Step 8: Connect to Your Server

1. From Minecraft Client: Launch Minecraft Java Edition. Go to Multiplayer -> Add Server.
2. Server Address:
   • If playing on the same machine as the server, use localhost.
   • If connecting from another computer on the same local network, use the server’s private IP address (find it with ip addr show on the server).
   • If connecting from over the internet, use your server’s public IP address (you can find this by running curl ifconfig.me on the server or using a site like whatismyipaddress.com). Crucially, you must have configured port forwarding on your router to forward TCP port 25565 to your server’s private IP address.

Important Management & Best Practices

• Run as Non-Root: Always run the server as the dedicated minecraft user you created.
• Memory Allocation: Adjust -Xms and -Xmx values based on your server’s RAM and expected load. Don’t allocate all your server’s RAM; the OS needs some too.
• Backups: Regularly back up the world directory (located inside your ~/server directory) to prevent data loss! You can stop the server, create a compressed archive of the world folder, and then restart the server.
• Whitelist: Enable the whitelist (white-list=true in server.properties) and add allowed players (whitelist add <username> in the server console) for a private server.
• Keep Updated: Regularly update the Minecraft server JAR (server.jar) when new versions release by repeating Step 3. Also, keep your Ubuntu system updated (sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade).
• Advanced: For more robust server management, consider setting up a systemd service file instead of using screen. This allows for automatic startup on boot and better process management (though it’s more complex to set up).

Conclusion

You’ve successfully set up your own Minecraft Java Edition server on Ubuntu 24.04! Enjoy playing with your friends in your private world. Remember to manage resources, perform backups, and keep your server secure.