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Choose the right hosting method
Your first decision is whether the host’s game should remain open. Mindustry’s in-game host is the simplest choice for a small, same-network session. A dedicated server is a separate headless process: it can run on another computer, be administered from its console, and remain available while nobody is running the full game client.
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| Approach | Best for | Availability | Network reach | Administration | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-game Host Multiplayer Game | A few friends on the same Wi-Fi or LAN | Only while the host’s game stays open | Usually local network | Controls exposed by the game session | Fastest setup, but not persistent |
| Standalone Java JAR | A persistent private or public server | Runs independently on Linux or Windows | LAN, or internet after forwarding port 6567 | Console commands and server configuration | Requires Java, firewall work, and ongoing administration |
| Community Docker deployment | Administrators already comfortable with containers | Container runs independently | Depends on the host’s firewall and network | Project-specific container instructions | Convenient repeatability, but it is not the official baseline |
If you only need one evening of LAN play, do not rent a machine or configure a router. If the world must continue when the host logs out, choose the JAR on a dedicated machine or a virtual server.
Option 1: host a same-network game from Mindustry
The official documentation describes in-game hosting as the easy route for a few players on the same network. The host’s game must remain open for others to play.
- Start Mindustry on the computer that will host.
- Open the multiplayer menu and choose Host Multiplayer Game.
- Select the map, mode, and other game options in the normal game setup screens.
- Have players on the same Wi-Fi or wired network open Play, then look for the hosted game or use the host’s local address if the client asks for one.
- Keep Mindustry running. Closing the game ends this hosting session.
This method avoids installing Java, downloading a server release, and changing router settings. It is not a substitute for a dedicated server when players need access at different times or from outside the home network.
What you need for a dedicated server
- A Linux or Windows machine that can stay powered on while players need the server.
- A compatible Java runtime. The official guide says to install Java but does not specify a runtime version in the documented steps; check the current server release requirements before choosing a Java package.
- The Mindustry server release downloaded from the official itch.io page or official GitHub releases. The file is commonly named
server.jarorserver-release.jar, but use the filename you actually downloaded. - Local firewall access for port 6567 over both TCP and UDP when clients need to connect.
- For internet play from home, router forwarding of port 6567 over both TCP and UDP, plus the host’s public IP address.
The server software is the JAR itself; ordinary hosting does not require buying a dedicated physical appliance. A separate computer is recommended for continuous operation because the server is then independent of a player’s game session.
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Install and launch the official Java server
1. Install Java without assuming an obsolete version
Install a Java runtime supported by the server build you intend to run. Because the documented guide does not state a fixed Java release number, do not copy an old tutorial’s version requirement blindly. If the JAR refuses to start, read the Java error and the release notes for that specific build, then install the required runtime.
2. Download one server release
Get the server release from Mindustry’s official itch.io page or its official GitHub releases. Save the JAR in a dedicated folder, such as a server directory in your home folder. Keep track of the exact filename; commands that say server.jar are examples and must be changed when your file has another name.
3. Run the JAR from its own directory
Open a terminal (or Command Prompt/PowerShell on Windows), change into the folder containing the JAR, and run:
java -jar server.jarFor a file named server-release.jar, run:
java -jar server-release.jarLaunching from the directory that contains the JAR keeps the server’s maps, saves, logs, and configuration associated with that installation. Leave this terminal open while you administer the server. The process provides a server console rather than a normal graphical game window.
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At the server console, enter:
host <mapname> [mode]Replace <mapname> with the map name. The bracketed mode is optional. The current official wiki says that omitting the mode defaults to survival and that omitting the map uses a random map. For example, a named map with the default mode is entered as:
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host <mapname>Use the console’s help command whenever you need the commands available in the build you are running:
helpOpen the server to your network
Local Windows firewall
On a Windows host, the official guide says to allow port 6567 for both TCP and UDP in Windows Firewall. Create rules that apply to the network profile you actually use, and avoid opening unrelated ports.
Linux firewall
The exact command depends on the firewall software and distribution. The requirement is the same: permit inbound TCP 6567 and UDP 6567 to the machine running the JAR. If a local firewall blocks either protocol, clients may fail to discover or join even when the server console is running.
Router forwarding for internet players
Devices on the same home network can reach the host’s local IP without router forwarding. Players outside the home network cannot do so until the router forwards port 6567, both TCP and UDP, to the server machine’s local address.
- Give the server machine a dependable local address, using your router’s address-reservation feature if available.
- Open the router’s port-forwarding page. Its label and location differ by make and model.
- Create a rule for external port 6567 to the server machine’s internal IP and port 6567.
- Create or enable both protocol entries: TCP and UDP.
- Confirm that the host firewall also allows TCP 6567 and UDP 6567.
- Share the host’s public IP with trusted players only after the forwarding rule is active.
A home public IP is tied to the household. The official guide cautions about that exposure and suggests considering a VPN or a web host instead. A cloud VM or dedicated server is an alternative; the guide gives Amazon AWS, Linode, and DigitalOcean as examples of cloud services, not as a promise of a particular Mindustry plan, price, or configuration.
How players connect
On each client, use Play → Join Game → Add Server. Enter the host address and port 6567.
- For a same-network game, enter the host computer’s local IP address.
- For an internet game, enter the host’s public IP after port forwarding is configured.
- Use the same server port that was opened in the firewall and router.
- Mindustry is cross-platform when devices run the same game version. If a PC, iOS, or Android player cannot connect, compare the exact game versions before changing network settings.
If the server is visible but joining fails, check the host firewall and both protocol rules. If local players can join but remote players cannot, the likely boundary is router forwarding, the public address, or an upstream network that blocks inbound connections.
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Start, inspect, and control the server from its console
The official wiki documents these useful commands. Command names can change between builds, so run help and verify them against the wiki for your target release.
| Command | Purpose |
|---|---|
host |
Start hosting a map and mode. |
stop |
Stop the active game/server session. |
status |
Inspect current server status. |
maps |
List maps available to the server. |
reloadmaps |
Reload the map list after map files change. |
save |
Save the current game. |
load |
Load a saved game. |
saves |
List available saves. |
playerlimit |
Set or inspect the player limit. |
config |
View or change server configuration. |
whitelist |
Manage a whitelist for restricted access. |
kick and ban |
Remove a player temporarily or block access. |
admins |
Manage administrator permissions. |
players |
List connected players. |
version |
Display the server build information. |
Documented settings include the server name and description, listening port, startup commands, logging, anti-spam controls, whitelist behavior, autosave and autosave spacing, and auto-pause. Configuration syntax and available keys should be checked for the build you installed rather than copied from an older wiki page.
Keep worlds available and recover safely
Use saves and autosave deliberately
Before maintenance, use save and confirm the result with saves. The configuration supports autosave and autosave spacing; choose intervals that match how much progress your group can afford to lose. An autosave is not a replacement for an occasional copy of the server’s data directory to storage that is not the running machine.
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Plan for a clean stop
Use the server console’s stop command before closing the terminal or shutting down the machine. This gives the server an opportunity to finish its normal shutdown rather than being terminated abruptly.
Keep the release identifiable
Run version when diagnosing a connection problem and record which JAR produced the world. Updating clients or the server to different builds can create a version mismatch; update deliberately and have players use the same Mindustry version.
Docker: a secondary route for experienced administrators
A community Docker Compose example provides a containerized setup. In that implementation, the compose file maps 6567/TCP and 6567/UDP and mounts a persistent volume for server data. The documented start command is:
docker compose up -dThat repository’s own instructions govern console access, maps, mods, configuration, and storage. Treat it as one community implementation, not the official Mindustry method or an endorsement. The official JAR process is the simplest baseline because it has fewer layers to troubleshoot.
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The official FAQ says a Raspberry Pi can run the dedicated server with the right Java version, while the Mindustry game itself does not support Raspberry Pi. The documentation names no Pi model, memory requirement, or compatible accessory. Raspberry Pi is therefore optional hardware, not a requirement for normal hosting.
If you choose one, verify that the exact model and operating system support the Java runtime required by the current server release. Do not assume that a kit, power supply, storage device, or model will work merely because it is marketed for general server use.
Privacy, cost, and operational choices
Running the JAR on equipment you already own avoids a separate hosting bill, but the machine and home internet connection must remain available. Public forwarding exposes a household address and requires you to maintain firewall and router rules. A rented VM or dedicated host shifts the server away from the home network and can provide a more suitable always-on environment, but it introduces a recurring charge and another account to secure. No universal price or player-capacity figure is established by the official documentation, so choose based on availability, privacy, administration effort, and your own network limits rather than an invented benchmark.
Troubleshooting by symptom
The JAR will not start
- Confirm that the terminal is in the directory containing the downloaded file.
- Use the exact filename, such as
server-release.jar, instead of assuming it is namedserver.jar. - Run the Java version supported by that release; the official setup guide does not define one universal version.
- Read the error output before replacing files or changing network settings.
The server starts but no world is running
A running JAR is not automatically a hosted match. Enter host <mapname> [mode] in the server console. Use maps to see available map names, then status to confirm the active state.
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LAN players cannot join
- Confirm that the host is still running the game or JAR.
- Have clients use the host’s local IP and port 6567.
- Allow TCP and UDP 6567 through the host firewall.
- Check that every client runs the same Mindustry version.
Local players can join, but internet players cannot
- Check that the router forwards external port 6567 to the correct internal machine.
- Verify that both TCP and UDP rules exist.
- Confirm the host firewall allows both protocols.
- Give remote players the current public IP, not the private 192.168.x.x or similar local address.
- Consider whether the internet provider or an upstream router prevents inbound connections; a cloud VM or other hosted environment may be more practical.
A player sees a version or compatibility error
Run version on the server and compare it with the clients. Update or roll back deliberately so all players use the same game version. Cross-platform play depends on matching versions.
Players are removed or unwanted users return
Use players to identify connected users, then kick or ban as appropriate. For a private server, configure the whitelist and administrator permissions, and review the anti-spam settings available in your build.
Quick Recap
A practical 2026 setup checklist
- Decide whether the session is LAN-only or must remain online independently of a player.
- For LAN-only play, use Host Multiplayer Game and keep the host’s game open.
- For persistence, install a supported Java runtime on Linux or Windows.
- Download the current server JAR from the official release channel and note its exact filename.
- Run
java -jar [actual-file-name].jarfrom the directory containing it. - Use
maps, then start a world withhost <mapname> [mode]. - Allow TCP 6567 and UDP 6567 through the host firewall.
- For remote players, forward TCP 6567 and UDP 6567 on the router and share the public IP carefully.
- Tell players to connect through Play → Join Game → Add Server using the correct address and port.
- Check
versionon the server and align every client before troubleshooting deeper network problems. - Use
save,saves, whitelist controls, and administrator commands as the community grows.
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