Beginner's Guide to Minecraft Server Hosting
Everything you need to know to get started with your Minecraft server — from first login to inviting friends.
Welcome to your new Minecraft server! This guide walks you through the essentials of managing your server using the XGamingServer panel.
Understanding Your Panel
When you log into the XGamingServer panel, you'll see several pages in the sidebar:
- Dashboard — Server status, resource usage, and quick actions like reinstall
- Console — Live server output and command input
- Files — Browse, edit, upload, and download server files
- Startup — Server settings like version, server name, memory, and JVM flags
- Backups — Create and restore server snapshots
- Network — View and manage port allocations
- Schedules — Set up automated tasks (restarts, commands, backups)
- Databases — Create MySQL databases for plugins
First Steps After Setup
1. Start your server — Click the Start button on the Dashboard. Wait for the console to show "Done" — your server is ready.
2. Connect to your server — Open Minecraft, go to Multiplayer → Add Server, and enter your server IP and port. See How to Connect for details.
3. Give yourself admin (OP) — In Console, type: op YourUsername. This gives you full command access in-game. See Adding Admins.
4. Set a server name — Go to Startup and change the server name. See Change Server Name.
5. Set a password (optional) — Add a whitelist to control who can join. See Adding a Whitelist.
Choose Your Server Type
Your server type determines what features are available:
| Type | Best For | Supports |
|---|---|---|
| Paper (recommended) | Most servers | Plugins, best performance |
| Vanilla | Pure Minecraft experience | Nothing extra |
| Fabric | Lightweight mods | Fabric mods |
| Forge / NeoForge | Modpacks | Forge mods and modpacks |
To change your server type, go to Startup and select a different JAR. See Server Types Explained for a full comparison.
Essential Guides
- Configure Your Server — Customize server.properties
- Installing Plugins — Add functionality with plugins
- Installing Mods — Add mods to Forge/Fabric servers
- Performance Guide — Optimize server performance
- Aikar's Flags — Optimize Java memory settings
Getting Help
If you run into issues, check the Troubleshooting Guide or join our Discord for community support.
How is this guide?
