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Host SkyFactory 3 by downloading the official Feed The Beast server installer, running it in a dedicated folder, accepting the Minecraft EULA, and launching the generated script. The current official release listed for the pack is version 3.0.21 (pack ID 25, version ID 123), built for Minecraft 1.10.2, Forge, Java 8, and a minimum/recommended allocation of 4 GB RAM. The procedure below covers Windows, macOS, Linux, internet access for friends, maintenance, and the common failures that stop an older Forge server from starting.
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SkyFactory 3 server requirements and compatibility
SkyFactory 3 is an older Forge modpack, so matching the supported versions matters more than using the newest Java or Minecraft release. Feed The Beast’s current version page lists these requirements:
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| Item | Official value | What it means for your server |
|---|---|---|
| Pack release | 3.0.21 | The latest release currently shown by Feed The Beast. |
| Pack ID / version ID | 25 / 123 | Use these identifiers if the installer asks you to select a pack manually. |
| Minecraft | 1.10.2 | Every connecting client must use the SkyFactory 3 profile for this Minecraft version. |
| Mod loader | Forge (c3) | The server and clients must use the Forge build bundled with the same pack release. |
| Java | Java 8 | Use a 64-bit Java 8 runtime; newer Java majors can prevent this old Forge stack from booting. |
| Memory | At least 4 GB; 4 GB recommended | That is the pack’s stated allocation, not the total physical RAM your computer needs. Leave additional memory for the operating system and other applications. |
Feed The Beast publishes the requirements at its SkyFactory 3 versions page. A separate CurseForge record identifies the 3.0.21 server archive as FTB_Presents_SkyFactory_3_Server_3_0_21_1.zip, 142.1 MB, uploaded May 8, 2021; that page is an archival download record rather than a newer pack release.
Choose self-hosting or a managed server
Self-hosting at home
Running the server on your own PC gives you direct access to worlds, configs, scripts, and logs. You are also responsible for Java installation, firewall and router rules, backups, updates, power, and troubleshooting. A desktop that is already powered on is usually the lowest-cash-cost option, but electricity, upload bandwidth, and outages affect the real cost and uptime.
#1 Best Overall
- DELUXE COLLECTION — Includes Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition, three Bedrock add-ons, three exclusive Character Creator items, and 700 Minecoins.
- CREATE YOUR WORLD — Build whatever you imagine in an infinite world that’s unique in every playthrough.
- EXPLORE AND CRAFT — Discover biomes, resources, and mobs, then craft your way through a sandbox world filled with surprises.
- SURVIVE THE ADVENTURE — Face mysterious foes, travel across exciting landscapes, and venture into perilous dimensions.
- PLAY TOGETHER — Play cross-platform with friends in Bedrock Edition on console, mobile, and PC, or join community servers in Java Edition on PC, Mac, and Linux. Online console multiplayer requires a platform-specific subscription (sold separately).
Managed hosting
A managed host supplies a control panel, a persistent machine, and provider-side network administration. You trade some filesystem and operating-system control for easier restarts, scheduled tasks, and support. Feed The Beast identifies BisectHosting as a hosting partner and describes 24/7/365 support, more than 2,000 Minecraft modpacks, and hosting for more than 70 games. Those are FTB’s partner-page claims; check the provider’s current plans, locations, storage limits, and SkyFactory 3 availability before paying because no current prices are established here.
| Decision factor | Home server | Managed host |
|---|---|---|
| Administration | You install Java, run scripts, open ports, update files, and repair failures. | The provider supplies a panel and infrastructure; you still manage the world, mods, and player permissions. |
| Control | Full access to the filesystem, JVM arguments, logs, configs, and backups. | Control depends on the plan and panel; some low-level access may be restricted. |
| Availability | Depends on your power, internet connection, router, and whether the computer stays on. | Usually designed for continuous operation, subject to the provider’s status and maintenance. |
| Cost | Consider existing hardware, electricity, and any upgrade or networking cost. | Recurring plan charge; verify the current amount and included resources directly. |
| Support | You are your own support desk, with community documentation as a reference. | Provider support may help with the panel and machine, but not every modpack problem. |
Download the official server installer
- Open Feed The Beast’s SkyFactory 3 server-files page.
- Select your operating system and the pack release shown as 3.0.21. If the page asks for identifiers, use pack ID 25 and version ID 123.
- Download the installer to a new, empty server folder. Do not put it inside an existing client instance or another modpack’s directory.
- Keep the downloaded filename unchanged. Feed The Beast explicitly warns that the filename tells the installer which pack and version to install; renaming it can make the installer request pack and version IDs or fail to identify the release.
Feed The Beast describes its modpacks as “server ready,” but the installer still has to download and unpack the libraries, Forge files, mods, configs, and launch scripts into your folder. Allow that process to finish before editing anything.
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1. Create a dedicated folder
Create a path such as C:MinecraftSkyFactory3 on a drive with several gigabytes of free space. Avoid a protected system directory and avoid cloud-synced folders, which can lock region files while the server is saving.
2. Run the installer
Copy the unchanged installer into the folder and double-click it, or open PowerShell in that folder and run it. Approve any Windows security prompt only after confirming that you downloaded the file from the official FTB page. Answer the installer’s prompts and let it complete all downloads.
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- ULTIMATE COLLECTION — Includes Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition, five Bedrock add-ons, five exclusive Character Creator items, and 1000 Minecoins.
- CREATE YOUR WORLD — Build whatever you imagine in an infinite world that’s unique in every playthrough.
- EXPLORE AND CRAFT — Discover biomes, resources, and mobs, then craft your way through a sandbox world filled with surprises.
- SURVIVE THE ADVENTURE — Face mysterious foes, travel across exciting landscapes, and venture into perilous dimensions.
- PLAY TOGETHER — Play cross-platform with friends in Bedrock Edition on console, mobile, and PC, or join community servers in Java Edition on PC, Mac, and Linux. Online console multiplayer requires a platform-specific subscription (sold separately).
3. Launch the generated script
When installation finishes, the folder should contain a generated run.bat. Double-click run.bat or run it from Command Prompt so you can read the log. The first launch may stop while creating files; that is expected until the EULA is accepted.
4. Accept the EULA
Stop the process if it is still open, open eula.txt in the server folder, change eula=false to eula=true, save, and start run.bat again. You must accept Mojang’s EULA before other players join.
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1. Prepare the directory
Create a folder for the server, place the unchanged installer inside it, and open Terminal in that directory. Keeping the path free of unusual shell characters makes the launch commands easier to copy.
2. Make the installer executable
Use chmod +x ./installer-file-as-downloaded, replacing the descriptive name with the exact filename you downloaded. Do not rename the file to make the command shorter; use shell tab completion if necessary.
Rank #3
- CREATE YOUR WORLD — Build whatever you imagine in an infinite world that is unique in every playthrough.
- EXPLORE AND CRAFT — Discover biomes, resources, and mobs, then craft your way through a sandbox world full of surprises.
- SURVIVAL ADVENTURES — Face mysterious foes, travel across varied landscapes, and venture into perilous dimensions.
- PLAY TOGETHER — Play solo or join friends in local split-screen and cross-platform play across console, mobile, and PC. Online multiplayer supports up to 8 players.
- COMMUNITY PLAY — Connect with players on community servers, or subscribe to Realms Plus (sold separately) to play with up to 10 friends on a private server.
3. Run the installer and answer its prompts
Execute the file with ./installer-file-as-downloaded. The installer creates the Forge, mod, configuration, and script files in the current directory. On macOS, Gatekeeper may quarantine an unfamiliar download; if execution is blocked, use Finder’s Open action once or remove the quarantine attribute only after verifying the download source.
4. Start with the generated script
After installation, use run.sh from that same directory. If the shell reports a permission error, run chmod +x run.sh and try again. Edit the generated script only after confirming that the unmodified installation starts.
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As on Windows, stop the process, edit eula.txt so it contains eula=true, save it, and run ./run.sh again.
Configure the first successful startup
Set memory without starving the operating system
Open the generated launch script and locate its Java memory arguments. Keep the pack’s stated 4 GB allocation as your starting point, then leave additional physical RAM for the operating system and any graphical desktop. Do not allocate all installed memory: that causes swapping and can make the server less responsive. Change one value at a time and keep a copy of the original script so you can undo a failed edit.
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If the script invokes a Java executable from the wrong installation, replace that command with the full path to a 64-bit Java 8 executable. Confirm the selected runtime from the startup log; seeing a newer Java major version is a strong explanation for early Forge crashes.
Review server.properties
Run the server once so it generates server.properties, stop it cleanly with the console stop command, and then review the file. Set the world name, difficulty, game mode, player limit, whitelist, and message of the day to match your group. Keep the default server port unless you have a reason to change it; if you do change it, the firewall and router must use the same number. Never edit properties while the server is running, because the next save can overwrite your changes.
Grant operator access carefully
From the server console, use the op playername command for a trusted administrator, replacing playername with the player’s exact in-game name. Operators can change world settings and run commands, so use a whitelist for a private friends’ server and remove operator status when it is no longer needed.
Let friends connect over the internet
Local testing first
Join from the host computer using the local server address shown by your operating system. Test a second device on the same home network before changing router settings. This separates a Forge or Java problem from an internet-routing problem.
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- Play and share with friends on console, mobile and Windows 10
- discover community creations in the new in-game store
- access new mini games and game modes through servers
Allow the server through the host firewall
Create an inbound firewall rule for the Java process or the TCP port configured in server.properties. Apply the rule only to the network profiles you trust. If Windows asks whether Java should communicate on private or public networks, select the profile that matches your network instead of enabling every profile automatically.
Forward the port on your router
Log in to the router, create a port-forward entry for the server’s TCP port, and point it to the host computer’s stable local IP address. Reserve that local address in DHCP or configure a static address so the rule does not break after a reboot. Give friends your public IP address and port, not the private address beginning with ranges such as 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x.
Check carrier-grade NAT and changing public addresses
If the port appears closed despite a correct firewall and forwarding rule, your internet provider may be using carrier-grade NAT, or the router may be behind another router. Ask the provider for a public IPv4 address or use a managed host. If your public address changes, provide the new address to friends or use a reputable dynamic-DNS service; do not expose the router’s administration interface to the internet.
Keep the pack identical on every client
Each player should install the same SkyFactory 3 release and let its launcher install the matching Minecraft and Forge components. A client on another pack version, a manually added mod, or a different Forge build can be rejected during login or crash while loading. Do not copy a client’s world or config changes into the server unless you understand their effect.
Backups, updates, and routine administration
Back up before every risky change
Stop the server cleanly, copy the entire world directory, and store at least one copy outside the server machine. Also preserve server.properties, the config directory, scripts, and any whitelist or permissions files. Take an additional backup before changing mods, deleting chunks, or moving between pack releases. A backup made while the server is writing region files can be incomplete, so never rely on a live copy as your only backup.
Use a controlled update process
- Record the current pack version, Java executable, memory arguments, and installed customizations.
- Stop the server and make a dated backup.
- Install the new server files in a separate directory rather than overwriting the working copy.
- Move only the required world and configuration data after checking that the release is compatible.
- Start the new copy, watch the log for missing mods or conversion errors, and keep the old directory until players have confirmed that the world loads correctly.
Shut down cleanly
Use the console stop command instead of closing the terminal window or killing the Java process. A clean stop flushes chunks and reduces the chance of region-file corruption.
Troubleshooting checklist
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Installer asks for pack or version IDs | The installer was renamed or the filename no longer matches the release. | Download it again and keep the original filename; if prompted, enter pack ID 25 and version ID 123. |
| “Unsupported major.minor version” or an early Forge crash | The process is using a Java major version other than Java 8. | Install 64-bit Java 8 and point run.bat or run.sh directly to that executable. |
| Server stops immediately and mentions the EULA | eula.txt still contains eula=false. |
Read the EULA, change the value to true, save, and restart. |
| “Could not reserve enough space” or repeated out-of-memory errors | The JVM allocation is too high for available physical RAM, or the server is competing with other applications. | Close other programs, verify 64-bit Java, and set a conservative allocation while leaving memory for the operating system. |
| You can join locally but friends cannot | Firewall, port forwarding, double NAT, or carrier-grade NAT. | Test the configured port from outside your network, verify the forwarding target’s local IP, and check with the ISP if no public address is available. |
| “Missing mods” or Forge handshake failure | Client and server pack versions or Forge builds differ. | Install the same SkyFactory 3 release on every client and remove manually added or removed mods. |
| World rolls back or chunks are damaged | Process was killed during a save or files were edited while running. | Stop with the console command, restore the latest known-good backup, and avoid live file copies. |
run.sh says permission denied |
The script is not executable. | Run chmod +x run.sh and launch it from the server directory. |
What capacity should you expect?
Feed The Beast does not publish a tested maximum player count, CPU benchmark, or measured tick-performance threshold for SkyFactory 3. Treat player capacity as a sizing judgment: monitor CPU utilization, memory pressure, disk activity, and server tick time while your group plays. Add players gradually, avoid running other heavy applications on a self-hosted machine, and use a separate test copy when experimenting with automation-heavy bases. A provider’s advertised slot count is not a SkyFactory 3 performance guarantee.
Quick Recap
Official references
- FTBTeam: Create your own server for any FTB Modpack — operating-system-specific installer and launch guidance.
- Feed The Beast: SkyFactory 3 server files — pack selection and server downloads.
- Feed The Beast: SkyFactory 3 versions and requirements — Minecraft, Java, Forge, and memory requirements.
- CurseForge: FTB Presents SkyFactory 3 3.0.21 Server — archive filename and upload record.
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