How To Install Minecraft Server on AlmaLinux 10

Setting up a Minecraft server on AlmaLinux 10 opens doors to unlimited gaming possibilities. This comprehensive guide walks you through every step needed to create a stable, secure, and high-performance Minecraft server environment.

AlmaLinux 10 represents the perfect foundation for hosting game servers. Its enterprise-grade stability, robust security features, and excellent resource management make it an ideal choice for both beginners and experienced server administrators. Unlike other Linux distributions, AlmaLinux offers the reliability of Red Hat Enterprise Linux without the licensing costs.

Self-hosting your Minecraft server provides complete control over gameplay settings, player management, and server performance. You’ll eliminate monthly hosting fees while gaining valuable Linux administration experience. This tutorial requires approximately 30-45 minutes to complete, assuming basic familiarity with Linux command-line operations.

Understanding AlmaLinux 10 for Minecraft Server Hosting

Why Choose AlmaLinux 10 for Game Servers

AlmaLinux 10 delivers enterprise-grade stability that ensures your Minecraft server runs smoothly without unexpected crashes or performance degradation. The distribution maintains full compatibility with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, providing access to extensive documentation and community support resources.

The DNF package manager simplifies software installation and updates, making server maintenance significantly easier compared to other Linux distributions. Security updates arrive regularly through official repositories, ensuring your server remains protected against vulnerabilities.

Performance Advantages

AlmaLinux 10 optimizes system resources efficiently, allowing more memory allocation to your Minecraft server application. The kernel includes performance enhancements specifically designed for server workloads, resulting in better frame rates and reduced latency for players.

Long-term support guarantees compatibility with future Minecraft updates while maintaining system stability. This reliability proves crucial for servers with established player communities who expect consistent uptime.

System Requirements and Hardware Planning

Minimum Hardware Specifications

Your AlmaLinux 10 system needs adequate resources to run Minecraft server smoothly. Minimum requirements include:

• CPU: Dual-core processor running at 3.0+ GHz
• RAM: 4GB system memory (8GB recommended for optimal performance)
• Storage: 20GB available disk space (SSD strongly recommended)
• Network: Stable internet connection with 10+ Mbps upload speed

Recommended Hardware Configuration

For enhanced performance and larger player capacity, consider these specifications:

• CPU: 6-core processor for supporting 30+ concurrent players
• RAM: 16GB total system memory for smooth gameplay
• Storage: 100-200GB SSD for world data, backups, and system files
• Bandwidth: 1 Gbps connection for lag-free multiplayer experience

Scalability Planning

Player capacity directly correlates with available system resources. Each active player typically requires 50-100MB of RAM, depending on world complexity and installed plugins. Plan hardware upgrades based on expected community growth.

Storage requirements increase over time as world files expand. Minecraft worlds can grow to several gigabytes, especially with extensive player building and exploration. Regular backups multiply storage needs significantly.

Pre-Installation System Preparation

Updating AlmaLinux 10 System

Begin by updating your AlmaLinux 10 installation to ensure all packages reflect the latest security patches and features:

sudo dnf update -y
sudo dnf upgrade -y

This process may take several minutes depending on your internet connection and installed packages. Reboot your system if kernel updates were applied:

sudo reboot

Security Hardening

Configure firewall settings before installing server software. AlmaLinux 10 includes firewalld by default:

sudo systemctl enable firewalld
sudo systemctl start firewalld
sudo firewall-cmd --state

Create a dedicated user account for running the Minecraft server. This security measure prevents potential vulnerabilities from affecting system-wide operations:

sudo useradd -m -s /bin/bash minecraft
sudo passwd minecraft

Network Configuration

Configure a static IP address for your server to ensure consistent connectivity. Edit the network configuration file:

sudo nmcli connection show
sudo nmcli connection modify [connection-name] ipv4.addresses [your-static-ip]/24
sudo nmcli connection modify [connection-name] ipv4.gateway [your-gateway]
sudo nmcli connection modify [connection-name] ipv4.dns [dns-server]
sudo nmcli connection modify [connection-name] ipv4.method manual

Installing Required Dependencies

Java Installation Process

Minecraft server requires Java to run properly. Modern Minecraft versions need Java 17 or later. Install OpenJDK using DNF:

sudo dnf install java-17-openjdk java-17-openjdk-headless -y

For the latest Minecraft versions, Java 21 provides better performance:

sudo dnf install java-21-openjdk java-21-openjdk-headless -y

Verify the installation and check the Java version:

java -version
javac -version

Screen Utility Installation

The screen utility allows your Minecraft server to run in the background, continuing operation even after you disconnect from SSH:

sudo dnf install screen -y

Screen provides essential functionality for server management. Learn basic screen commands:

• screen -S minecraft – Create new session named “minecraft”
• Ctrl+A, D – Detach from screen session
• screen -r minecraft – Reattach to session
• screen -list – Show all active sessions

Essential System Packages

Install additional utilities for server management and file handling:

sudo dnf install wget curl git nano vim htop -y

These tools provide:

• wget/curl: Download files from the internet
• git: Version control for configuration files
• nano/vim: Text editors for configuration
• htop: System resource monitoring

Downloading and Setting Up Minecraft Server

Creating Server Directory Structure

Switch to the minecraft user account and create a dedicated directory structure:

sudo su - minecraft
mkdir -p ~/minecraft-server
cd ~/minecraft-server

Organize files properly to maintain clean server management:

mkdir -p backups logs scripts plugins

Downloading Official Minecraft Server

Download the latest Minecraft server JAR file from the official Minecraft website. Replace the URL with the current version:

wget https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/[hash]/server.jar

Alternatively, download a specific version:

wget https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/[version-hash]/server.jar -O minecraft-server-[version].jar

Verify the download completed successfully:

ls -la *.jar

Initial Server Configuration

Run the server for the first time to generate configuration files:

java -Xmx2G -Xms1G -jar server.jar nogui

This command will fail because you haven’t accepted the EULA yet. Edit the generated eula.txt file:

nano eula.txt

Change eula=false to eula=true and save the file.

Basic Server Properties Configuration

Edit the server.properties file to configure basic settings:

nano server.properties

Key configuration options include:

server-port=25565
difficulty=normal
gamemode=survival
max-players=20
view-distance=10
simulation-distance=10
online-mode=true
pvp=true
spawn-protection=16
white-list=false
motd=Welcome to My AlmaLinux Minecraft Server

Firewall Configuration and Security

Configuring Firewalld

Open port 25565 for Minecraft traffic through the firewall:

sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=25565/tcp
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=25565/udp
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

Verify the firewall rules:

sudo firewall-cmd --list-all

Network Security Measures

Install and configure fail2ban for additional security:

sudo dnf install fail2ban -y
sudo systemctl enable fail2ban
sudo systemctl start fail2ban

Create a custom jail for SSH protection:

sudo nano /etc/fail2ban/jail.local

Add the following configuration:

[DEFAULT]
bantime = 3600
findtime = 600
maxretry = 3

[sshd]
enabled = true
port = ssh
filter = sshd
logpath = /var/log/secure
maxretry = 3

Additional Security Hardening

Disable root login and configure SSH key authentication:

sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config

Modify these settings:

PermitRootLogin no
PasswordAuthentication no
PubkeyAuthentication yes

Restart SSH service:

sudo systemctl restart sshd

Server Launch and Initial Testing

Starting the Minecraft Server

Create a startup script for easy server management:

nano ~/minecraft-server/start.sh

Add the following content:

#!/bin/bash
cd ~/minecraft-server
java -Xmx4G -Xms2G -XX:+UseG1GC -XX:+UnlockExperimentalVMOptions -XX:MaxGCPauseMillis=100 -XX:+DisableExplicitGC -XX:TargetSurvivorRatio=90 -XX:G1NewSizePercent=50 -XX:G1MaxNewSizePercent=80 -XX:G1MixedGCLiveThresholdPercent=35 -XX:+AlwaysPreTouch -XX:+ParallelRefProcEnabled -Dusing.aikars.flags=mcflags.emc.gs -jar server.jar nogui

Make the script executable:

chmod +x ~/minecraft-server/start.sh

Launching in Screen Session

Start the server using screen for background operation:

screen -S minecraft
./start.sh

Detach from the screen session using Ctrl+A, D. The server continues running in the background.

Performance Monitoring

Monitor server performance using various tools:

htop

Check Java process resource usage:

ps aux | grep java

Monitor network connections:

ss -tulpn | grep :25565

Advanced Configuration and Optimization

JVM Performance Tuning

Optimize Java Virtual Machine settings for better performance. The startup script includes Aikar’s flags, which provide excellent performance for Minecraft servers:

-XX:+UseG1GC -XX:+UnlockExperimentalVMOptions -XX:MaxGCPauseMillis=100 -XX:+DisableExplicitGC -XX:TargetSurvivorRatio=90 -XX:G1NewSizePercent=50 -XX:G1MaxNewSizePercent=80 -XX:G1MixedGCLiveThresholdPercent=35 -XX:+AlwaysPreTouch -XX:+ParallelRefProcEnabled

Memory Allocation Optimization

Calculate optimal memory allocation based on available system RAM:

• 4GB System RAM: -Xmx2G -Xms1G
• 8GB System RAM: -Xmx4G -Xms2G
• 16GB System RAM: -Xmx8G -Xms4G

Leave at least 2GB for the operating system and other processes.

Server Properties Advanced Settings

Fine-tune server performance through server.properties modifications:

view-distance=8
simulation-distance=6
entity-broadcast-range-percentage=80
network-compression-threshold=256
player-idle-timeout=30

These settings balance performance with gameplay experience. Lower values improve performance but may affect gameplay quality.

Plugin Support Configuration

For enhanced server functionality, consider installing Spigot or Paper instead of vanilla Minecraft server:

wget https://download.getbukkit.org/spigot/spigot-[version].jar

Or download Paper for better performance:

wget https://papermc.io/api/v2/projects/paper/versions/[version]/builds/[build]/downloads/paper-[version]-[build].jar

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Java Installation Problems

If Java installation fails, check available packages:

sudo dnf search openjdk

Remove conflicting Java versions:

sudo dnf remove java-*-openjdk

Reinstall the correct Java version:

sudo dnf install java-17-openjdk java-17-openjdk-headless -y

Port Binding Issues

Verify port availability before starting the server:

sudo netstat -tulpn | grep :25565

If the port is in use, identify the process:

sudo lsof -i :25565

Kill the conflicting process if necessary:

sudo kill -9 [PID]

Memory and Performance Issues

Monitor memory usage during server operation:

free -h
top -p $(pgrep -f minecraft)

If experiencing memory issues, adjust JVM settings:

-Xmx2G -Xms1G -XX:+UseG1GC -XX:MaxGCPauseMillis=50

Connection Timeout Problems

Test network connectivity from external networks:

telnet [your-server-ip] 25565

Check firewall rules and router port forwarding configuration. Verify the server is listening on the correct interface:

sudo ss -tulpn | grep :25565

World Generation Errors

If world generation fails, check available disk space:

df -h

Verify file permissions in the server directory:

ls -la ~/minecraft-server/

Reset file permissions if needed:

chmod -R 755 ~/minecraft-server/
chown -R minecraft:minecraft ~/minecraft-server/

Maintenance and Long-term Management

Automated Backup System

Create a backup script for regular world saves:

nano ~/minecraft-server/backup.sh

Add the following content:

#!/bin/bash
DATE=$(date +"%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S")
BACKUP_DIR="~/minecraft-server/backups"
WORLD_DIR="~/minecraft-server/world"

mkdir -p $BACKUP_DIR
tar -czf $BACKUP_DIR/world_backup_$DATE.tar.gz $WORLD_DIR
find $BACKUP_DIR -name "*.tar.gz" -mtime +7 -delete

Schedule automatic backups using cron:

crontab -e

Add this line for daily backups at 3 AM:

0 3 * * * /home/minecraft/minecraft-server/backup.sh

Server Update Management

Create an update script for easy server maintenance:

nano ~/minecraft-server/update.sh

#!/bin/bash
echo "Stopping server..."
screen -S minecraft -X stuff "stop\n"
sleep 30

echo "Backing up current server..."
cp server.jar server.jar.backup

echo "Downloading latest server..."
wget https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/[latest-hash]/server.jar -O server.jar.new
mv server.jar.new server.jar

echo "Starting server..."
screen -S minecraft -d -m ./start.sh

Performance Monitoring

Set up continuous monitoring for server health:

nano ~/minecraft-server/monitor.sh

#!/bin/bash
LOG_FILE="~/minecraft-server/logs/performance.log"
echo "$(date): CPU: $(top -bn1 | grep "Cpu(s)" | awk '{print $2}'), Memory: $(free -m | awk 'NR==2{printf "%.2f%%\n", $3*100/$2}')" >> $LOG_FILE

Schedule monitoring every 15 minutes:

*/15 * * * * /home/minecraft/minecraft-server/monitor.sh

Advanced Tips and Best Practices

Community Management

Implement whitelist functionality for better server control:

# Enable whitelist in server.properties
white-list=true

Add trusted players through the server console:

screen -r minecraft
whitelist add [playername]

Multi-Server Network Setup

For advanced configurations, consider setting up multiple server instances:

mkdir -p ~/minecraft-network/{survival,creative,minigames}

Each server requires separate configuration files and port assignments. Use different ports (25565, 25566, 25567) for each instance.

Security Best Practices

Implement regular security audits:

sudo dnf update -y
sudo fail2ban-client status
sudo firewall-cmd --list-all

Monitor system logs for suspicious activity:

sudo tail -f /var/log/secure
sudo journalctl -u sshd -f

Performance Optimization

Regular maintenance tasks improve server longevity:

# Clean temporary files
sudo dnf clean all
sudo rm -rf /tmp/*

# Optimize system performance
sudo systemctl disable unnecessary-service
sudo systemctl stop unnecessary-service

Monitor disk usage and clean old log files:

du -sh ~/minecraft-server/logs/
find ~/minecraft-server/logs/ -name "*.log" -mtime +30 -delete

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Minecraft. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the Minecraft server on your AlmaLinux OS 10 system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official Minecraft website.