Personal Minecraft Server Hosting: One-Click Launch with Docker Container

By | November 1, 2016

run-minecraft-server-at-jelastic-platformWe are pretty sure there is no a single developer that haven’t heard about Minecraft - the extremely popular sandbox video game with more than 100 million users around the world. And it’s not surprising - due to the great variety of available maps, mods, and extensions, it represents the truly endless virtual reality where every player can find the way to express himself.
A few years ago, we’ve already discovered how to Play Minecraft in the Cloud, with a server setup inside VPS. But the time flies and hosting technologies are constantly developing, so today we’d like to consider rather more modern and demanded implementation of Minecraft server hosting - on top of Docker containers.
For that, we’ll use a special pre-configured JPS package, that allows to get the ready-to-go personal Minecraft server up and running inside Jelastic PaaS in a matter of minutes. And to make this review complete, we’ll also consider how to establish a connection to such instance via dedicated Minecraft game client and start your journey throughout its endless world with your own Minecraft cloud server.
So, just pass through the simple steps below and you are gonna get into the game in no time!

Host Personal Minecraft Server

As it was mentioned above, in this guide we are going to leverage the Jelastic-dedicated Minecraft Server package, with all of the required configurations being already predefined. It will automatically deploy the latest itzg/minecraft-server Docker image version into isolated container within a separate environment and adjust it for convenient usage.
Let’s go on!
1. Switch to the above mentioned project at GitHub and perform one of the following:

  • if you don’t have Jelastic account yet - just scroll down to the Deploy Now section within the repository description and click on Deploy to Jelastic button.install minecraft

Fill in the opened form (specifying your name, email, and company) to be instantly registered at the chosen Jelastic installation and proceed directly to the 4th step of this instruction.

  • if you have Jelastic account  - copy link to the manifest.jps file within repository master branch.minecraft server github

2. Now log into your Jelastic account and click the Import button at the top pane.import minecraft server
3. Paste the link you’ve got in the first step into the URL section of the opened Import frame.import minecraft project
Click Import to download and execute this manifest.
4. Within the automatically opened installation frame, click on the terms of service hyperlink to read through the Minecraft end-user license agreement and tick the corresponding checkbox.Minecraft server installation
Next, specify general environment data, such as:

  • Environment - domain name for your personal Minecraft server
  • Display name - environment alias to be displayed at dashboard (optional)
  • Region (if available) - hardware set the environment will be created at

Click Install to host your personal Minecraft server at Jelastic.
5. In a minute, you’ll be notified about successful package installation.install minecraft server
Your own Minecraft server is ready and working now, so you can Open in browser its start page.
6. Within a new browser tab, all the dedicated information on your personal Minecraft server will be displayed, including the exact Minecraft version it’s running.get my minecraft server
Below, you can find a short guidance on how to connect to it via the local game client.

Tips:

  • Subsequently, you can easily redeploy Docker image to smoothly update your Minecraft server to the latest version without re-creating the whole environment and keeping all your custom data safe within the appropriate volumes.
  • Find out even more awesome solutions at Jelastic JPS Collection.

Congratulations! You’ve hosted your personal Minecraft server. Now, let’s see how to connect to it within game launcher and eventually start playing.

Connect to Minecraft Server

Obviously, to start the game, you need to preliminary purchase it at the official website and have Minecraft client being installed at your local computer. When this is accomplished, follow the next steps:
1. In order to establish the connection to your custom server, Minecraft launcher should run the same game version as it’s deployed inside your Jelastic environment (i.e. the latest one).
So, open Minecraft client at your local machine and click the Change profile button.change minecraft server version
2. Within the opened settings frame, ensure that the stated Use version is the same as your hosted server runs (it can be checked through clicking the Open in browser button for your environment - the used Minecraft release will be shown within page header):personal minecraft server

Tip: If this setting isn’t set properly and your personal Minecraft server version differs from the local one, it will be displayed as strikeout during the connection establishment. If being shown this, you’ll need to recheck and correct used game version within the above-circled field.

Click Save profile to apply the changes and return to launcher main page.
3. Now, start Minecraft with the Play button and select Multiplayer option.start minecraft multiplayer
4. To connect the server, choose either Direct Connect (for one-time connection) or Add Server (for remembering your choice) option.connect Minecraft server
5. In the opened window, you’ll need to set your personal Minecraft server details.setup minecraft server
Fill in the shown fields with the following data:

  • Server Name - any desired name to be displayed for server within your game client
  • Server Address - link for connection to your personal Minecraft server, without protocol identificator. The appropriate endpoint is automatically added to your Jelastic cloud server during installation.
Tip: This URL is sent to you via email message after Minecraft cloud server installation; also, it can be found at server start page (accessible via Open in browser button next to the appropriate container at Jelastic dashboard):

connect to your Minecraft serverClick Done to save changes and connect to your own Minecraft server.
Here you are! Now you can enjoy the incredible Minecraft gameplay with your friends over your own rules.

Still having some issues with Minecraft cloud server installation? Do not hesitate to ask for a help within the comments below or appeal for our technical experts’ assistance at Stackoverflow - Jelastic team is always open to provide our users with required technical support.