🖥️ Linux VPS Help Desk + Minecraft Server Setup

📘 Guide to Managing a Linux VPS (Ubuntu/Debian) and Setting Up a Minecraft Server

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🔑 1 - Connect to Your VPS

To connect to your Linux VPS (Ubuntu/Debian) via SSH:

ssh username@your_vps_ip

Replace username with your VPS user and your_vps_ip with the server's IP address.

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⚙️ 2 - Basic Linux Commands

🖥️ Command	📘 Description
ls -la	List files and directories (including hidden)
pwd	Display current working directory
df -h	Show disk usage in human-readable format
free -m	Display RAM usage in megabytes
top or htop	Monitor running processes
adduser NAME	Create a new user
usermod -aG sudo NAME	Grant sudo privileges to a user

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☕ 3 - Install Java

Minecraft requires Java. Recommended version: Java 17

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install openjdk-17-jre -y
java -version

This updates the system and installs Java 17. Verify the installation with java -version.

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👤 4 - Create a Dedicated Minecraft User

sudo adduser mcserver
sudo su - mcserver

This creates a user mcserver for running the Minecraft server and switches to that user.

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🎮 5 - Download and Run the Minecraft Server

mkdir ~/minecraft && cd ~/minecraft
wget https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/.../server.jar
java -Xmx2G -Xms1G -jar server.jar nogui

• After running, a eula.txt file is created. Edit it to change eula=false to eula=true:

  nano eula.txt

• Save and exit (Ctrl + X, then Y, then Enter).

Note: Replace the ... in the wget URL with the latest Minecraft server JAR link from Mojang’s official site.

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🔓 6 - Open the Minecraft Port

sudo ufw allow 25565
sudo ufw reload

This opens port 25565 (Minecraft’s default port) and reloads the firewall.

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♻️ 7 - Keep the Server Running

Method 1 (screen / Simple)

Use screen to run the server in a detachable session:

screen -S minecraft
java -Xmx2G -Xms1G -jar server.jar nogui

• Detach from the session: Ctrl + A, then D.
• Reattach later: screen -r minecraft.

Method 2 (systemd / Advanced)

Create a systemd service for automatic server management:

# /etc/systemd/system/minecraft.service
[Unit]
Description=Minecraft Server
After=network.target

[Service]
User=mcserver
WorkingDirectory=/home/mcserver/minecraft
ExecStart=/usr/bin/java -Xmx2G -Xms1G -jar server.jar nogui
Restart=on-failure

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Activate the service:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable minecraft
sudo systemctl start minecraft

Check status: sudo systemctl status minecraft.

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🛠️ 8. Common Issues and Solutions

⚠️ Issue	💡 Solution
Port already in use	Find and terminate the process: lsof -i :25565 then kill -9 PID
Low RAM	Increase allocated RAM (e.g., -Xmx4G for 4GB)
Server crash	Check logs in ~/minecraft/logs/latest.log for errors

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🔧 Useful Applications and Tools

🖥️ SSH and VPS Management Tools

• PuTTY (Windows): A lightweight SSH client for connecting to your VPS.
  • Download: PuTTY Official Site
  • Usage: Enter your VPS IP, username, and connect. Save sessions for quick access.
• MobaXterm (Windows): An all-in-one terminal with SSH, SFTP, and X11 forwarding.
  • Download: MobaXterm
  • Features: Tabbed sessions, file transfer, and built-in tools like top viewer.
• Termius (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android): A modern SSH client with a sleek interface and cloud sync.
  • Download: Termius
  • Usage: Ideal for managing multiple VPS connections across devices.
• OpenSSH (Linux/macOS): Built-in SSH client for Linux and macOS. Use the ssh command directly in the terminal.
• FileZilla (Cross-Platform): For transferring files to/from your VPS via SFTP.
  • Download: FileZilla
  • Usage: Connect using your VPS IP, username, and port 22 for secure file transfers.

🖥️ VPS Management Tools

• htop: Interactive process viewer for resource monitoring.

  sudo apt install htop -y

• ncdu: Interactive disk usage analyzer.

  sudo apt install ncdu -y

• tmux: Alternative to screen for persistent terminal sessions.

  sudo apt install tmux -y

🔒 Security and Monitoring

• ufw: Simple firewall for Ubuntu/Debian.

  sudo apt install ufw -y

• fail2ban: Protects against brute-force attacks on SSH.

  sudo apt install fail2ban -y

• netdata: Real-time VPS resource monitoring in the browser.
  • Website: Netdata

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🎮 Websites for Comprehensive Plugin Lists

These are the go-to sites for finding Minecraft plugins, with filters for new releases, categories, and versions:

• Modrinth: A modern hub for Paper/Spigot/Fabric plugins. Lists thousands of plugins with filters for Minecraft version or category (e.g., Admin Tools, Fun). Great for new 2025 plugins like Simple Voice Chat or LuckPerms. Why use it? Clean interface, trusted downloads, and active updates.
• SpigotMC: The largest repository for Bukkit/Spigot plugins, with over 40,000 resources. Includes ratings, reviews, and new plugins like NoCheatPlus or WorldEdit. Why use it? Massive selection, active community, and reliable for most server types.
• Hangar (PaperMC): Focused on Paper plugins, which are optimized for performance. Lists plugins like GeyserMC (Bedrock-to-Java) or CoreProtect (anti-grief). Why use it? Perfect for Paper servers, with a focus on modern, high-quality plugins.
• BuiltByBit (McMarket): Offers both free and premium plugins. Features new 2025 plugins like AntiXray or MythicMobs. Why use it? Good for advanced or unique plugins, with a mix of free and paid options.

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💻 GitHub Users/Repositories for Plugin Lists

GitHub is more for source code, but some repos curate lists of plugins or host plugin projects. Here are the best:

• bs-community/awesome-minecraft: A curated list of Minecraft resources, including a plugin section. Links to over 100 top plugins, like ViaVersion (version compatibility). Why use it? Well-organized, with links to plugin downloads.
• maximjsx/awesome-plugins: A collection of modern plugins, including 2025 releases like PacketEvents (packet management). Why use it? Focuses on high-quality, performance-oriented plugins.

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📌 Useful Resources

• 🌍 Minecraft Wiki
• ⚡ PaperMC (Performance)
• 🔧 SpigotMC