How to Install a Custom Server JAR on Your Minecraft Server

Upload and run a custom Minecraft server JAR like Purpur, Pufferfish, Mohist, Magma, or Folia on your XGamingServer Minecraft server.

If you want to run a server type beyond the built-in Vanilla, Paper, Forge, or Fabric — like Purpur, Pufferfish, Mohist, Magma, or Folia — you can upload any compatible JAR and point your server's startup at it.

Popular Custom JARs

JAR	Based on	Best for
Purpur	Paper	Extra gameplay features (rideable mobs, AFK kicks, configurable rules)
Pufferfish	Paper	Maximum performance, 100+ player servers
Folia	Paper	Region-based threading for huge servers (experimental)
Leaves	Paper	Vanilla parity + selective Paper optimizations
Mohist	Forge + Paper	Run Forge mods AND Bukkit plugins together
Magma	Forge + Paper	Alternative Forge + Bukkit hybrid
Arclight	Forge/NeoForge + Bukkit	Modern Forge mod + plugin hybrid

Install a Custom JAR

Download the JAR from the official source

Always download from the official project site (links above). Pick the build for your Minecraft version. Save the file with a clean name like purpur-1.20.4.jar.

Security note: Never download server JARs from random forums or "modified" sites — they're a common vector for crypto-miner malware.

Stop the server

In the XGamingServer Panel, open Console and stop your server.

Create a backup

Open Backups and create a snapshot. If the new JAR breaks your world or plugins, you'll want a rollback point.

Upload the JAR

Click Files in the sidebar. Upload your .jar file to the server root (same level as server.properties). For files over 100 MB, use SFTP instead.

Update the startup configuration

Click Startup in the sidebar. Find the Server JAR File (or similar) variable and change it to the exact filename you uploaded:

purpur-1.20.4.jar

Save the change.

Start the server

Start from Console. Watch the startup log — the new JAR should announce itself (e.g., "This server is running Purpur version git-Purpur-...").

Compatibility Notes

Custom JAR	Compatible plugins	Compatible mods	Notes
Purpur	All Paper/Spigot/Bukkit	❌	Drop-in Paper replacement
Pufferfish	All Paper/Spigot/Bukkit	❌	Drop-in Paper replacement
Folia	Folia-aware plugins only	❌	Many plugins are not Folia-compatible yet
Mohist / Magma / Arclight	Most Bukkit	Most Forge	Hybrids — expect some incompatibilities
Leaves	All Paper/Spigot/Bukkit	❌	Vanilla-feature parity

Hybrid warning: Mohist/Magma/Arclight let you run mods and plugins, but the cost is fragility. Some mods conflict with some plugins. Always test on a staging server before going live.

Should You Use a Custom JAR?

For most servers — no, stick with Paper. Paper covers 95% of needs and is the most stable, most-supported option.

Switch to a custom JAR only if you have a specific need:

Pufferfish/Folia — your Paper server is hitting tick lag with many players
Purpur — you want vanilla gameplay tweaks (rideable mobs, AFK rules, etc.)
Mohist/Arclight — you genuinely need Forge mods AND Bukkit plugins on the same server
Leaves — you want Paper-level performance with vanilla parity (no behavior changes)

Common Issues

Problem	Fix
Server still uses old JAR	The Startup → Server JAR File variable wasn't updated
`Unable to access jarfile`	Filename mismatch — check exact case-sensitive name
`UnsupportedClassVersionError`	Wrong Java version. See Java Version
Plugins crash on startup	Plugin is not compatible with the new server type — check plugin docs
Mods don't load on Mohist	Mods must be in `mods/`, not `plugins/`. Some Forge mods don't work on hybrids
Server crashes immediately	Restore the previous JAR via your backup

Switching Back

To revert to a built-in server type:

Stop the server
In Startup, change the Docker Image or Server Type back to Paper/Vanilla/Forge
Reset the Server JAR File to the default (e.g., server.jar)
Start

Or restore from the Backup you made before installing.

How to Install a Custom Server JAR on Your Minecraft Server

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