Plan your Minecraft server.

Choose your server type

Start here if you are deciding between Vanilla, plugins, or mods.

Paper vs Vanilla

Compare Vanilla behavior with Paper's plugin support and configuration options.

Paper vs Purpur

Explore whether Purpur's additional gameplay controls fit your server.

Fabric vs Forge

Choose a mod loader around the mods or modpack and Minecraft version you want to run.

Plan sizing and performance

Once you know your software, consider memory needs and the settings that affect server load.

How much RAM does a Minecraft server need?

Understand how players, software, exploration, and world activity affect memory needs.

How much RAM does a modded server need?

Plan around your pack's recommendations, player activity, and measured usage.

View distance vs simulation distance

Learn what each setting controls before tuning your server.

Prepare backups and migration

Plan recovery before making changes or moving an existing world.

Choose a Minecraft server backup schedule

Match backup frequency and retained recovery points to how often your world changes.

Move a Minecraft world to a new host

Prepare the source files, match the server environment, and plan validation and rollback.