Ultimate Guide: Setting Up Your Minecraft Server on GGServers

This in-depth tutorial will walk you through setting up various types of Minecraft servers on GGServers, from basic vanilla to advanced modded configurations, trending server types, and essential optimizations for the best gameplay experience.

Part 1: Getting Started with GGServers

Choosing the Right Plan

Before purchasing, consider these factors to select the appropriate plan:

Server Type	Recommended Plan	Minimum RAM	Ideal For
Vanilla	Standard	2GB	Small groups (5-10 players)
Spigot/Paper with plugins	Standard	3GB	Medium communities (10-20 players)
Modded (lightweight)	Standard	4GB	Small modded servers (3-8 players)
Modded (heavy)	Premium	6GB+	Larger modded communities
Trending servers (OneBlock, SMP)	Premium	5GB+	Content creators, active communities

Premium vs. Standard Hardware Differences:

• Premium uses higher clock-speed CPUs (better single-thread performance)
• Premium offers NVMe storage vs. SATA SSDs on Standard
• Premium includes priority support and network traffic

Initial Setup Process

1. After purchasing, you’ll receive an email with:
   • Control panel URL (typically panel.ggservers.com)
   • Your username and password
   • Server IP address
2. First-time login steps:
   • Change your password immediately (Account → Settings → Security)
   • Set up two-factor authentication for added security
   • Verify your server information is correct

Part 2: Setting Up a Vanilla Minecraft Server

Basic Installation

1. In your control panel, navigate to “Servers” → Your Server
2. Select the “Install” tab
3. Choose server type: “Vanilla”
4. Select your desired Minecraft version (latest stable recommended: 1.20.4)
5. Click “Install” and wait for completion

Essential Configuration

1. Navigate to “Configuration” → “Server Settings”
2. Configure these important settings:
   • Server Name: Your server’s display name
   • MOTD: The message displayed in the server list
   • Gamemode: Survival, Creative, Adventure, or Spectator
   • Difficulty: Peaceful, Easy, Normal, or Hard
   • View Distance: 8-12 recommended (higher values increase RAM usage)
   • Spawn Protection: Radius around spawn where blocks can’t be modified
   • PVP: Enable or disable player-versus-player combat
   • Max Players: Set your server capacity
3. Advanced server.properties settings (via File Manager):
   • simulation-distance: 4-8 recommended (affects mob activity range)
   • network-compression-threshold: 256 recommended (balances bandwidth and CPU)
   • use-native-transport: true (improves network performance)

World Configuration

1. Go to “Worlds” tab to manage your Minecraft worlds
2. Options for world management:
   • Upload an existing world
   • Create a new world with custom seed
   • Configure world type (default, flat, large biomes, etc.)
   • Set world border limits
3. To upload an existing world:
   • Compress your world folder into a ZIP file
   • Click “Upload World”
   • Select your ZIP file
   • Name your world and click “Upload”
   • Set as active world in server settings

Part 3: Setting Up a Modded Minecraft Server

Installing a Pre-configured Modpack

1. Navigate to “Modpacks” in your control panel
2. Browse available platforms:
   • CurseForge (largest selection)
   • Feed The Beast (FTB)
   • Technic
   • ATLauncher
3. Select your desired modpack:
   • Popular options: RLCraft, All The Mods 9, Better Minecraft, Enigmatica 6
   • Filter by Minecraft version if needed
   • Check RAM requirements before installing
4. Click “Install” and wait for completion (large modpacks may take 10-15 minutes)

Creating a Custom Modded Server

1. Choose a mod loader:
   • Forge (most common, widest mod support)
   • Fabric (lighter weight, growing mod ecosystem)
2. Install the mod loader:
   • Go to “Server Type”
   • Select “Forge” or “Fabric”
   • Choose compatible Minecraft version
   • Install and wait for completion
3. Upload mods:
   • Navigate to “File Manager”
   • Open the “mods” folder
   • Click “Upload” and select your .jar mod files
   • Ensure all mods are compatible with your Minecraft version
4. Configure Java arguments for optimal performance:
   • Go to “Startup” → “Java Settings”
   • For 4GB RAM: -Xmx3584M -Xms3584M -XX:+UseG1GC -XX:+ParallelRefProcEnabled -XX:MaxGCPauseMillis=200 -XX:+UnlockExperimentalVMOptions -XX:+DisableExplicitGC -XX:+AlwaysPreTouch -XX:G1NewSizePercent=30 -XX:G1MaxNewSizePercent=40 -XX:G1HeapRegionSize=8M -XX:G1ReservePercent=20 -XX:G1HeapWastePercent=5 -XX:G1MixedGCCountTarget=4 -XX:InitiatingHeapOccupancyPercent=15 -XX:G1MixedGCLiveThresholdPercent=90 -XX:G1RSetUpdatingPauseTimePercent=5 -XX:SurvivorRatio=32 -XX:+PerfDisableSharedMem -XX:MaxTenuringThreshold=1
   • For 8GB RAM: -Xmx7168M -Xms7168M (with same flags as above)

Part 4: Setting Up Trending Server Types

OneBlock Skyblock Server

OneBlock is a popular challenge where players start on a single block that regenerates with new resources as you mine it.

1. Installation:
   • Go to “Server Type” → “Paper” (recommended for plugins)
   • Install latest compatible version (1.20.4)
2. Install OneBlock:
   • Navigate to “Plugins” tab
   • Search for “OneBlock” plugin
   • Click “Install”
3. Configuration:
   • Restart your server
   • Join and use /ob create to create your OneBlock island
   • Configure settings in /plugins/OneBlock/config.yml
4. Recommended companion plugins:
   • EssentialsX for basic commands
   • LuckPerms for permissions
   • CoreProtect for anti-griefing

SMP (Survival Multiplayer) Server

SMPs gained massive popularity through content creators like Dream SMP.

1. Installation:
   • Select “Paper” as server type
   • Choose latest version (1.20.4)
2. Essential SMP plugins:
   • EssentialsX: Core functionality
   • GriefPrevention: Claim land and prevent griefing
   • Dynmap: Live web map of your server
   • DiscordSRV: Link your server to Discord
3. SMP-specific configuration:
   • Set spawn-protection=0 in server.properties
   • Configure GriefPrevention for claim blocks
   • Set up economy system with EssentialsX and Vault
4. Community features:
   • Create spawn area with WorldEdit
   • Set up shops with ChestShop
   • Configure custom join messages

Pixelmon Server (Pokémon in Minecraft)

Pixelmon combines Minecraft with Pokémon gameplay and remains extremely popular.

1. Installation:
   • Go to “Modpacks” → “CurseForge”
   • Search for “Pixelmon” and select latest version
   • Install (requires minimum 4GB RAM, 6GB recommended)
2. Configuration:
   • Navigate to config/pixelmon/pixelmon.hocon
   • Adjust spawn rates, legendary spawn chances
   • Configure gyms and NPC trainers
3. Recommended additions:
   • PixelExtras plugin for enhanced features
   • Custom NPCs mod for gym leaders
   • JourneyMap for navigation

Part 5: Plugin Installation and Configuration

Installing Plugins

1. Choose a compatible server type:
   • Paper (recommended for best performance and plugin compatibility)
   • Spigot (good compatibility with older plugins)
   • Bukkit (basic plugin support)
2. Navigate to “Plugins” tab in your control panel
3. Browse available plugins or use search function
4. Click “Install” next to desired plugins
5. Restart server after installing plugins

Essential Plugins Configuration

EssentialsX Suite

1. Basic setup:
   • Configure spawn point: /setspawn
   • Set up warps: /setwarp [name]
   • Configure kit: /kit create [name]
2. Economy setup:
   • Edit config.yml to set starting balance
   • Configure sign shops
   • Set up recurring costs/rewards

LuckPerms (Permissions)

1. Initial setup:
   • Create groups: /lp creategroup [name]
   • Set default group: /lp group default parent set
2. Permission assignment:
   • Add player to group: /lp user [player] parent add [group]
   • Set specific permission: /lp user [player] permission set [permission] true
   • Group permissions: /lp group [group] permission set [permission] true
3. Advanced configuration:
   • Create permission inheritance structure
   • Set up prefix/suffix for chat formatting
   • Configure meta data for groups

CoreProtect (Anti-Griefing)

1. Basic commands:
   • Check block history: /co inspect
   • Rollback changes: /co rollback u:[username] t:[time] r:[radius]
   • Look up player actions: /co lookup u:[username] t:[time]
2. Configuration options:
   • Set database options in config.yml
   • Configure what actions to track
   • Set up automatic purging of old data

Part 6: Performance Optimization

Server Optimization

1. Paper server optimizations:
   • Navigate to File Manager → paper.yml
   • Set max-auto-save-chunks-per-tick: 6
   • Enable use-faster-eigencraft-redstone: true
   • Set optimize-explosions: true
2. Spigot optimizations:
   • Edit spigot.yml
   • Reduce mob-spawn-range to 4
   • Set entity-activation-range values lower
   • Adjust merge-radius for items and experience
3. Server.properties optimizations:
   • Set view-distance: 8 (or lower if needed)
   • Set simulation-distance: 6
   • Enable network-compression-threshold: 256

Memory Management

1. Adjust Java flags based on your plan:
   • Standard plans: Focus on garbage collection efficiency
   • Premium plans: Can use more aggressive settings
2. Monitor performance:
   • Use /tps command to check server tick rate
   • Monitor RAM usage in the control panel
   • Use Spark plugin for detailed performance analysis
3. Regular maintenance:
   • Restart server daily (can be automated in GGServers)
   • Clear entities periodically with ClearLag
   • Prune unused chunks with world border plugins

Part 7: Advanced Server Management

Scheduled Tasks

1. Set up automated restarts:
   • Go to “Scheduled Tasks” in control panel
   • Create new task for server restart
   • Set frequency (daily recommended)
   • Configure warning messages before restart
2. Automated backups:
   • Create backup task
   • Set retention policy (how many backups to keep)
   • Configure off-peak times for backups

Custom MOTD and Server List Appearance

1. Install ServerListPlus plugin
2. Configure in plugins/ServerListPlus/config.yml:
   • Set multiple rotating MOTDs
   • Configure player count display
   • Add hover text and server icons
3. Create custom server icon:
   • Create 64×64 PNG image
   • Upload as server-icon.png in root directory

Setting Up a Server Website and Vote System

1. Install Votifier plugin
2. Register your server on listing sites:
   • Minecraft-Server-List.com
   • TopMinecraftServers.org
   • MinecraftServers.org
3. Configure vote rewards:
   • Install VoteRewards plugin
   • Set up reward commands for voters
   • Create cumulative rewards for loyal players

Part 8: Troubleshooting Common Issues

Server Won’t Start

1. Check console for error messages
2. Common causes:
   • Port conflicts (change port in server.properties)
   • Incompatible plugins/mods (remove recently added ones)
   • Corrupted world files (try loading a backup)
3. Resolution steps:
   • Review latest logs in “Console” tab
   • Try starting with minimal plugins
   • Contact GGServers support with error details

Performance Issues

1. Diagnosing lag:
   • Install Spark plugin
   • Run /spark profiler during lag
   • Analyze results for bottlenecks
2. Common lag sources:
   • Redstone contraptions (limit with plugins)
   • Entity cramming (use ClearLag)
   • Chunk loading (install Chunky for pre-generation)
3. Resolution steps:
   • Reduce view-distance
   • Remove problematic plugins/mods
   • Upgrade to Premium plan if CPU is bottleneck

Connection Issues

1. Troubleshooting steps:
   • Verify correct IP and port
   • Check server status in control panel
   • Test connection from different networks
2. Common causes:
   • Firewall blocking connection
   • Incorrect Minecraft version
   • Server still starting up
3. Resolution:
   • Restart server
   • Verify Minecraft version matches
   • Contact GGServers support for network issues

Conclusion

Setting up and managing a Minecraft server with GGServers gives you complete control over your gameplay experience. Whether you’re running a small vanilla server for friends or a large modded community, these configurations and optimizations will help you create the perfect Minecraft environment.

Remember that server management is an ongoing process—regularly update your plugins and mods, monitor performance, and adjust settings as your community grows. With GGServers’ user-friendly control panel and reliable hardware, you have all the tools you need to create an exceptional Minecraft server.

For any issues not covered in this guide, GGServers offers 24/7 support through their ticket system, ensuring you never have to troubleshoot complex problems alone.

If you’d like to learn more about GGServers, read our in-depth article here.