To host Mineshafts & Monsters, use the exact 1.16.5 Forge release and matching server-pack archive, install it with 64-bit Java 8, build the Forge server before copying in the pack files, accept the Minecraft EULA, and then expose the configured server port to anyone outside your home network. The pack does not include a ready-made server.jar; that file is not missing or broken.
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This guide covers a self-hosted Windows or Linux server, matching clients, memory planning, router access, and the managed-hosting alternative when you do not want to maintain the machine yourself.
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Client and server must come from the same Mineshafts & Monsters edition and revision. Open the project’s CurseForge files, select the Minecraft 1.16.5 Forge client release your group will use, and download the server-pack file associated with that same release. Do not combine the normal edition with Lite, or a newer client with an older server pack.
| Project file | Release date listed by the project | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
MnM_1.11_Serverpack_hf3 |
November 10, 2022 | Server files for the 1.11 pack revision |
MnM 1.10.9 Serverpack |
January 22, 2022 | Server files for the 1.10.9 pack revision |
The dates identify the project files listed for those revisions; they are not a promise that every newer client release is compatible with either archive. Record the exact filename you chose and give that same release to every player.
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Decide between the full and Lite editions
The full edition has the larger memory requirement. The Lite edition is a separate profile, not a performance switch you can apply after installing the full pack. Mixing their files can produce missing-mod errors, registry mismatches, or a world that will not load. Pick one edition before you create the server directory.
Prepare the host computer
A self-hosted server needs a machine that can remain online while people play. A desktop, spare PC, or Linux host is suitable if it has enough free memory, stable storage, and a network connection that accepts incoming connections. The server process, the operating system, and any other applications all share the host’s resources.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems- Install a 64-bit Java 8 runtime. A 32-bit Java installation cannot address the memory this pack needs.
- Keep the host connected by Ethernet where possible; Wi-Fi interruptions often look like mod or server failures.
- Reserve free RAM for the operating system. Never assign every gigabyte to the Java process.
- Use a clean, dedicated server folder rather than extracting into a client installation or a folder containing another modpack.
- Make sure the account running the server can read and write the folder, including the world, configuration, log, and backup files.
Use Java 8, not the newest Java on your system
Minecraft 1.16.5 and its Forge generation are built for Java 8. Forge’s 1.16.x documentation and its maintained Java compatibility table identify Java 8 for this Minecraft line. Newer Java versions may start some components but can also cause class-loading, launch, or mod-initialization errors, so verify the executable used by the server rather than relying on your operating system’s default.
Verify the runtime before installing Forge
- Install a 64-bit Java 8 runtime for your operating system.
- Open a terminal or Command Prompt and run
java -version. - Confirm that the reported major version is Java 8 and that the installation is 64-bit. If the command reports a newer release, call the Java 8 executable explicitly or adjust your system path before continuing.
- When you later launch the server from a script, check that the script points to the same Java 8 executable you verified. A correct interactive command does not help if a service or shortcut starts a different Java installation.
Build the Forge server first
The server-pack FAQ explains why there is no server.jar: you must create a Forge server and then place the server-pack contents inside it. The server archive is an overlay of mods, configuration, and other files; it is not a complete vanilla server installer.
Install the exact Forge build
- Download the Forge installer for Minecraft 1.16.5 that the selected Mineshafts & Monsters release expects. Use the installer’s server option, not the client option.
- Create a new, empty directory such as
MineshaftsMonsters-Server. Avoid spaces and avoid placing it inside your client’s.minecraftfolder. - Run the Forge installer, choose Install server, and select that empty directory.
- Let the installer download the libraries and generate the Forge server files. Do not rename generated files while the installer is working.
- After installation, confirm that the directory contains Forge’s libraries and launch files. The exact generated Forge filename depends on the build you selected.
If the installer reports that it cannot find Java, select the 64-bit Java 8 executable directly. If it installs successfully but the first launch fails with a Java class or bytecode error, stop and verify the runtime again before changing mods.
Extract the matching server pack into the Forge directory
- Back up the untouched Forge directory if you want a rollback point.
- Open the server-pack archive for the exact client release and edition you selected.
- Extract its contents directly into the Forge server directory. Preserve the supplied folder structure; in particular, do not place
modsorconfigone level too deep inside another folder. - Allow existing files to be replaced when the archive contains a pack-specific version of a configuration file.
- Open
README.txtif the archive includes it and follow any release-specific instructions. The project specifically directs server operators to read that file.
At this point, the absence of a file literally named server.jar is still normal. Forge’s generated launch files and libraries are what start this 1.16.5 server.
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Start the Forge launch script generated by the installer from inside the server directory. On Windows this is commonly the generated batch launcher; on Linux it is commonly the generated shell launcher. Start it from a terminal when possible so you can read the log instead of closing a window that contains the error.
- Launch the Forge server once with the Java 8 runtime.
- Wait for it to stop or finish creating its initial files. The first run creates items such as
eula.txt, configuration folders, and a world directory. - Open
eula.txt, read the Minecraft EULA, and changeeula=falsetoeula=trueif you agree to it. - Save the file without changing its name or extension.
- Launch the same Forge script again and wait until the log reports that the server is ready for connections.
A server that shuts down immediately after the first launch is often behaving as designed because the EULA has not been accepted. If it stops after you set the value, inspect the terminal output and the latest log for a Java, library, permission, or mod-loading error.
Allocate realistic memory
The pack author’s guidance is a floor, not a guarantee of identical performance for every world. Exploration, entity counts, view distance, terrain generation, and the number of simultaneous players all affect usage. Leave enough memory for the operating system and any control panel or backup process.
| Edition | Listed minimum | Listed recommendation | Practical interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Mineshafts & Monsters | 6 GB | 7–8 GB | Use at least 6 GB for the Java heap; 7–8 GB is the author’s recommended range when the host can spare it. |
| Lite Mineshafts & Monsters | 4 GB | 6–7 GB | Use at least 4 GB; 6–7 GB is the recommended range for a more comfortable margin. |
Choose a safe heap size
Set the Java maximum heap below the host’s physical RAM. For example, an 8 GB host cannot safely dedicate all 8 GB to a full-pack Java process because the operating system also needs memory. If the machine has 16 GB available, an 8 GB maximum heap leaves room for the OS and background services; the right value still depends on what else runs there.
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Change the memory values in the Forge launch script or the hosting panel’s Java settings, then restart the server. Watch the log and operating-system memory monitor during a normal play session. Repeated out-of-memory errors indicate that the allocation is too low for the workload or that the host is too small; severe lag with plenty of free heap can instead point to CPU, disk, network, or world-generation load.
Let players connect on the local network
Players connected to the same home or office network can use the host computer’s private address. Find the host’s local IPv4 address in the operating system’s network settings, keep the server running, and have a LAN player enter that address together with the configured Minecraft port if the client asks for one. They do not need your public internet address for a same-network connection.
Allow friends outside your network
Remote players need three things: a running server listening on the configured port, a firewall rule allowing that port, and a router rule forwarding the port to the host’s private address. Minecraft’s official server guidance warns that port forwarding may be required for connections from outside the local network.
- In the server configuration, identify the listening port. If you have not changed it, use the port shown by the server’s startup log and configuration rather than assuming a different value.
- Give the host a stable private address, either with a router DHCP reservation or a correctly configured static address. A forwarding rule breaks when the router assigns the computer a new address.
- Create an inbound firewall rule on the host for the server’s protocol and port. Permit only the network profiles you understand, and do not disable the firewall globally as a shortcut.
- Sign in to the router and create a port-forwarding rule from the chosen external port to the host’s private address and the server port. Some routers label this as Port Forwarding, NAT, or Virtual Server.
- Give remote players your public address and port through a trusted channel. Test from a genuinely external network, such as a phone hotspot; testing from inside the same LAN can produce misleading results because some routers do not support hairpin connections.
If your internet provider uses carrier-grade NAT, inbound forwarding may not work even when the router rule is correct. In that case, ask the provider about a reachable public address or use a managed host instead of exposing a home connection.
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Each player should install the same Mineshafts & Monsters edition, the same revision, the same Minecraft 1.16.5 Forge generation, and the same mod list supplied by that server-pack release. A player who installs the full pack while the server runs Lite, or who uses a different revision, should expect registry, channel, or missing-mod errors.
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Fix a mismatch cleanly
- Have the affected player note the exact server-pack filename and edition running on the server.
- Remove or disable the incorrect client profile rather than adding individual mods until the error disappears.
- Install the matching CurseForge file release and let it recreate the profile.
- Do not copy a server’s entire
configfolder into a client unless the pack’s instructions require it; use the supplied client profile for client-side settings. - Retry the connection only after the Forge version and mod list match exactly.
Self-hosting versus managed hosting
Self-hosting gives you direct access to files and configuration, but you maintain Java, Forge, the pack archive, firewall rules, router forwarding, backups, updates, and hardware. A managed service handles the machine and hosted network workflow, which is useful when your home connection is not reachable or you do not want to administer a server.
| Consideration | Self-hosted server | Managed CurseForge server |
|---|---|---|
| Setup effort | Install Java 8, Forge, the server pack, EULA, firewall, and router forwarding yourself. | Choose the modpack and matching server-pack file, select a plan and region, enter server details, and purchase through the hosted flow. |
| File and configuration control | Highest control: you can inspect, back up, and edit the server directory directly. | Control depends on the provider’s panel and file access; confirm that the exact pack revision is supported. |
| Networking responsibility | You provide a reachable public address, firewall rule, and port forwarding. | The provider supplies the hosted network endpoint, removing home-router forwarding work. |
| Resources | Limited by your computer’s CPU, RAM, storage, and connection. | Published example tiers include 4 GB, 8 GB, and 12 GB RAM plans; availability and pricing change, so check the current offer before ordering. |
| Latency and region | Latency depends on the host’s home location and internet route. | Choose the region closest to most players when the service offers that option. |
| Backups and maintenance | You are responsible for scheduled copies, updates, recovery, and safe shutdowns. | Check what backups, restore points, support, and modpack updates are included; they are provider-specific. |
| Recurring cost | No hosting subscription, but you pay in electricity, hardware, and your time. | A recurring plan charge applies; prices and promotions are volatile. |
The hosted CurseForge workflow is: select Mineshafts & Monsters, choose the matching server-pack file, select a RAM plan, choose a region, enter the server details, and complete the purchase. Verify support for your exact release before paying. The project page also advertises a preconfigured third-party hosting option; treat any discount or included feature as subject to the current terms shown there.
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Backups, updates, and safe changes
Once the server works, stop it cleanly before copying files or changing the pack. Keep at least one offline or separately stored backup of the world and the server configuration. A useful backup set includes the world folder, server.properties, the config directory, permission or operator files, and any custom scripts. Label backups with the pack revision and date so you can identify a compatible restore point.
Do not replace only one or two mods from a new pack release while leaving the rest of the old files in place. Read the release notes and README, make a complete backup, and update the server and every client to the same revision. Test major changes with the server stopped and keep the previous directory available until the new version has loaded successfully.
Troubleshooting checklist
There is no server.jar
That is expected for this pack. Install the exact Forge 1.16.5 server into a clean directory first, then extract the matching server-pack archive into it. Do not download an unrelated vanilla jar and expect the modpack to configure itself.
The installer or server reports Java errors
Run java -version and verify 64-bit Java 8. Check the Java path used by the Forge installer and by the launch script separately. Remove a newer Java path from that script rather than changing mods to compensate for an incompatible runtime.
The server closes immediately
Inspect eula.txt and set eula=true after the initial run if you agree to the EULA. If it still stops, launch from a terminal and read the final error lines; a wrong Java version, incomplete Forge installation, permissions problem, or malformed configuration will normally be named there.
Friends on the internet cannot join
First confirm that a LAN player can connect. Then verify the server is listening, the host firewall allows the configured port, the router forwards that port to the current private address, and the remote player is using your current public address. If all four are correct but the port remains unreachable, investigate carrier-grade NAT or ask the internet provider whether inbound connections are blocked.
The server runs out of memory or lags badly
Compare the Java heap with the pack guidance: full edition, 6 GB minimum and 7–8 GB recommended; Lite, 4 GB minimum and 6–7 GB recommended. Leave host headroom, reduce simultaneous exploration or other workload, and observe CPU, disk, and network use before adding more memory. Raising the heap cannot repair a missing mod, a bad Java version, or a network forwarding error.
Only one player gets a connection or registry error
Compare that player’s edition, revision, Forge generation, and mod list with the server. Reinstall the exact profile from the same CurseForge file release instead of manually adding or removing individual mods.
When the server is ready
Consider the setup complete when the server starts without errors on Java 8, the EULA is accepted, the intended world loads, a LAN client can join, and a remote test succeeds if you plan to invite people over the internet. Record the exact pack filename, Forge build, Java version, memory allocation, and network port. Those details turn the next update or recovery into a repeatable procedure rather than guesswork.
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