# Manage a Minecraft Server After you get your Minecraft server up and running on a Cloud Server with Linux, there are many ongoing tasks to perform and changes you can make. Learn how to perform management and administrative tasks on a Minecraft server, including how to start and stop the Minecraft server, change the map seed, and use console commands. --- ### Tip Minecraft is one of the most popular games in the world right now. We’ve got a list of Minecraft servers to help you find the best servers for Minecraft for your gameplay style. --- ## Requirements - A Cloud Server with Linux. - [Minecraft server](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/server/know-how/setting-up-a-minecraft-server-with-a-dedicated-server/) installed and running. - Root access to the server. ## Stop the Minecraft Server from the command line There are several reasons why you might want to stop the Minecraft server from the command line. When the server is stopped from the command line, it automatically saves all player and map data to the files. This lets you make changes to the game or back up a clean copy of the files without worrying about creating a conflict. --- ### Note This procedure must be done as the **root** user. --- If you are running Minecraft in a detached **screen** session, as we covered in the article Install and Run a Minecraft Server, reattach to that screen session with the command: ```none screen -r ``` You will see the current output of the game, including messages about which players have joined or left the game, player deaths, and so forth. To stop the Minecraft server, hit **CTRL**+**C**. The session will finalize and quit, and you will be returned to the command line: ```none [18:08:31] [Server Shutdown Thread/INFO]: Stopping server [18:08:32] [Server Shutdown Thread/INFO]: Saving players [18:08:32] [Server Shutdown Thread/INFO]: Saving worlds [18:08:32] [Server Shutdown Thread/INFO]: Saving chunks for level 'world'/Overworld root@localhost:~/minecraft# ``` ## Start the Minecraft Server from the command line First, begin a new screen session with the command: --- ### Note This procedure must be done as the **root** user. --- ```none screen -r ``` Next, start the Minecraft server with the command: ```none java -Xms1G -Xmx1G -jar minecraft_server.jar nogui ``` The start-up process will take a few moments to complete. ```none [17:04:55] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 82% [17:04:56] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 90% [17:04:57] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 97% [17:04:57] [Server thread/INFO]: Done (17.525s)! For help, type "help" or "?" ``` At this point, your server is running. Use **ctrl**+**a**+**d** to detach this window, so that it continues to run after you exit. ## Changing the seed Every map begins with a seed, a long string of digits which (among other things) specify the map's spawn point. To change your map's spawn point, you will need to change the seed. **Generating a new random seed** To get a new, random seed, first stop the Minecraft server as described in the section above. Then rename the **world** folder **original-world** with the command: ```none sudo mv /minecraft/world /minecraft/original-world ``` Start the Minecraft server as described in the section above. It will automatically generate a new **world** folder, with a new random seed. **Use a specific new seed** To set a specific new seed, first stop the Minecraft server as described in the section above. Then save a copy of your existing world by renaming the folder to **original-world** with the command: ```none sudo mv /minecraft/world /minecraft/original-world ``` Next, you will need to edit the **server.properties** file: ```none sudo nano /minecraft/server.properties ``` Scroll down until you find the line: ```none level-seed= ``` Put the seed at the end of this line. For example, to use the seed **1168863261** you would edit the line to read: ```none level-seed=1168863261 ``` Then start the server as described in the section above. It will automatically generate a new world from that seed. **Restoring your original world** If you want to restore your original world, first rename the **original-world** folder back to **world** with the command: ```none sudo mv /minecraft/original-world /minecraft/world ``` If you **created a new world from a random seed,** all you need to do now is start the Minecraft server. If you **created a new world from a specific new seed,** a few more steps are involved. Edit the **server.properties** file: ```none sudo nano /minecraft/server.properties ``` Scroll down until you find the line: ```none level-seed=[seed number] ``` Delete the seed number so that the line reads: ```none level-seed= ``` Save and exit the file. Next you will need to create a fresh world, then replace that with your original world. Delete the existing **world** folder: ```none sudo rmdir /minecraft/world ``` Start the Minecraft server. Wait for it to finish generating a new world. Then stop the Minecraft server. Now replace the **world** folder with **original-world**: ```none sudo mv /minecraft/original-world /minecraft/world ``` Finally, start the Minecraft server. ## Console commands As the server administrator, there are many [console commands](http://minecraft.gamepedia.com/Commands "Minecraft console commands") which you can issue from the command line on your server. You can issue console commands from the active **screen** session. If you have detached from the **screen** where the Minecraft server is running, you can reattach to it with the command: ```none screen -r ``` You will see the most recent output from the game's log, lines like: ```none [19:16:14] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing start region for level 0 [19:16:15] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 5% [19:16:16] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 52% [19:16:17] [Server thread/INFO]: Done (3.155s)! For help, type "help" or "?" /op mechagrue [19:16:52] [Server thread/INFO]: Opped mechagrue [19:21:16] [User Authenticator #1/INFO]: UUID of player mechagrue is 1913411c-1b11-4f69-a0f1-bb64ee119b5b [19:21:16] [Server thread/INFO]: jdoe[/45.01.69.102:61579] logged in with entity id 366 at (68.72628356970813, 74.0, 263.6769861238363) [19:21:16] [Server thread/INFO]: jdoe joined the game [19:21:59] [Server thread/INFO]: jdoe drowned ``` Type out the console command and hit **Enter**. If the command is correct, the server will respond with a confirmation message. If the command is incorrect, the server will suggest you use the /help command: ```none [19:21:16] [Server thread/INFO]: jdoe joined the game [19:21:59] [Server thread/INFO]: jdoe drowned /test [19:23:09] [Server thread/INFO]: Unknown command. Try /help for a list of commands ``` ### Grant yourself operator status By default, a Minecraft server does not have any server operators (OPs) set. A player with OP status is granted the highest level of admin rights, and can kick, ban, grant other players OP status, and more. You will most likely want to grant yourself OP rights. If you have just set up your Minecraft server, you will first need to open your desktop Minecraft and connect to your server, if you have not already done so. This lets your server find and save your UUID. You will need to issue this console command from the active screen session, as described above. To grant yourself operator rights, use the **/op** command: ```none /op [player name] ``` For example, if your player name was jdoe the command would be: ```none /op jdoe ``` If the command is successful, the server with respond with: ```none [19:16:52] [Server thread/INFO]: Opped jdoe ``` ### Set up a whitelist A whitelist blocks anyone who is not on the list from connecting to your Minecraft server. This lets you create a list of players who you want to allow on your server, and blocks everyone else. You will need to issue this console command from the active **screen** session, as described above. To enable the whitelist, use the command: ```none whitelist on ``` The server will respond with: ```none whitelist on [19:27:44] [Server thread/INFO]: Turned on the whitelist ``` To add a player to the whitelist, use the command: ```none /whitelist add [player name] ``` For example, to add the player **jdoe** to your whitelist, the command would be: ```none /whitelist add jdoe ``` The server will respond with: ```none /whitelist add jdoe [19:28:47] [Server thread/INFO]: Added jdoe to the whitelist ``` --- ### Note Server ops are always automatically added to the whitelist by default. --- To remove a player from the whitelist, use the command: ```none /whitelist remove [player name] ``` For example, to remove the player **jdoe** from the whitelist, the command would be: ```none /whitelist remove jdoe ``` The server will respond with: ```none /whitelist remove jdoe [19:35:03] [Server thread/INFO]: Removed jdoe from the whitelist ``` This is a markdown version of: [https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/server/know-how/manage-a-minecraft-server/](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/server/know-how/manage-a-minecraft-server/) for AI/LLM consumption.