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How to Host an FTB Skies 2 Aero Modpack Server (Java 21, Windows, Linux and macOS)

A complete setup guide for hosting FTB Skies 2: Aero: choose a matching release, install with FTB's Server Installer, run Java 21, configure Windows or macOS/Linux, and handle networking, backups, and updates.

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To host an FTB Skies 2: Aero server, download the official FTB Server Installer for pack ID 134, select the exact release your players will use, and let the installer create the server files and Java runtime. Aero targets Minecraft 1.21.1, requires Java 21, needs at least 6 GB of RAM, and is best started with an 8 GB allocation for a small private server. After the files are installed, you still have to handle the normal Minecraft work: accepting the EULA, configuring the server, opening the firewall and router, making backups, and keeping the process running.

Check the requirements before downloading

FTB Skies 2: Aero is a Minecraft 1.21.1 modpack. Feed The Beast’s current pack information (2026) lists these requirements:

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Item What to use Qualification
Modpack FTB Skies 2: Aero The server and every client must use the same release.
Minecraft version 1.21.1 This is the game version targeted by Aero.
Java Java 21 The FTB installer can download the required runtime.
Memory 6 GB minimum; 8 GB recommended These are the figures published by FTB, not a player-capacity benchmark.
FTB pack ID 134 Used by the installer and automation flags.

An 8 GB allocation is a sensible starting point for a small private server, but do not give every byte of the machine’s memory to Minecraft. Leave enough for the operating system, file cache, and any monitoring or backup software. FTB does not publish a fixed CPU, storage, bandwidth, or player-count target for Aero, so hardware beyond memory must be sized from your world-generation load, view distance, number of players, and other services on the host.

If you are upgrading a physical computer, an “8GB RAM module” is only useful when it matches the machine’s DDR generation, form factor, slot layout, speed support, and (where applicable) ECC requirement. Check the motherboard or server documentation before buying; capacity alone does not establish compatibility.

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Choose one exact pack release

Open FTB’s server-files listing, choose FTB Skies 2: Aero, and select the release you intend to run. At the time of the current listing, the newest entry shown was release 1.13.0, version ID 100527, with earlier releases also available. Release numbers can change as FTB publishes updates, so record the value you selected instead of assuming that “latest” will remain the same.

Every player should install that identical release in the FTB launcher. A newer client connecting to an older server (or the reverse) can produce missing-mod, registry, or protocol errors. Keep the selected pack version in your setup notes and use it again when you rebuild or update the machine.

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Understand the FTB Server Installer

FTB distributes an executable installer rather than a traditional server ZIP. FTB describes it as a single binary that can download, update, and extract the modpack files. It can also obtain the Java runtime and modloader components needed by the selected pack.

Download the installer build that matches your operating system and CPU architecture from the official server-files page. Windows downloads normally use AMD64; use an ARM build when the Windows computer is ARM-based. macOS and Linux have their own installer builds.

Do not rename the downloaded file. FTB’s guide says the filename identifies the pack and version, which is useful when several installers are stored in one archive or deployment directory.

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Install the server on Windows

The Windows process is graphical and does not require a separate Java installation when you use the normal installer path.

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  1. Create a dedicated directory. For example, create C:MinecraftFTB-Skies-2-Aero. Avoid putting a live server in a personal Downloads folder that may be cleaned automatically.
  2. Download the correct installer. Select the Windows AMD64 build, or the ARM build if that is the architecture of the host. Confirm that the page shows the Aero release you chose.
  3. Preserve the filename. Copy the executable into the new directory without changing its name.
  4. Run the installer. Double-click the executable and answer its prompts. It downloads the selected pack, Java runtime, and modloader files into the target location.
  5. Start the generated server script. When installation finishes, launch run.bat. The first run may take longer while files are prepared and the world is created.
  6. Accept the EULA. Follow the prompt, or use the documented -accept-eula installer option when you are automating installation. You must agree to Minecraft’s EULA before operating the server.
  7. Restart after world creation. Stop the process cleanly once the initial world exists, then start run.bat again. Use that stopped state to edit server.properties, set access controls, and grant operator permissions before inviting players.

Run the installer and server from a directory where your Windows account has write permission. If Windows security software blocks the executable, verify that you downloaded it from FTB’s official listing before allowing it; do not obtain a replacement binary from an unverified mirror.

Install the server on macOS or Linux

On Unix-like systems, the installer must be executable. The filename in the commands below is the example for pack 134, version 100527; substitute the exact filename displayed for your selected release.

  1. Create and enter the server directory. A Linux example is mkdir -p /srv/ftb-aero && cd /srv/ftb-aero. Choose a path owned by the account that will run the server.
  2. Download the matching installer. Use the macOS or Linux build for the selected Aero release and place it in that directory.
  3. Grant execute permission. Run chmod +x serverinstaller_134_100527. Include the file’s actual extension or full name if the download page supplies one.
  4. Run the installer. Execute ./serverinstaller_134_100527 and answer its prompts. The installer downloads the pack files, Java runtime, and modloader components.
  5. Start the generated script. After installation, run ./run.sh. On macOS, use the same command from Terminal; on Linux, run it as the dedicated service account rather than as root.
  6. Accept the EULA and restart. Approve the EULA when prompted, or provide -accept-eula during an automated install. Let the first startup create the world, stop the process, make your configuration changes, and start run.sh again.

If the shell reports “permission denied,” check that you ran chmod +x on the installer and that the directory is writable. If macOS places the download in a quarantine state or blocks execution, confirm the file’s origin and use the operating system’s security prompt only after verifying the official download.

Use installer flags for repeatable deployments

The installer supports command-line options that are useful for a headless machine, a scripted rebuild, or a pinned version. The README describes -version as selecting a specific release; if it is omitted, the latest stable release is selected.

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Flag Purpose Example or caution
-pack Choose the FTB pack by ID. -pack 134 selects FTB Skies 2: Aero.
-version Pin an exact server-files version ID. -version 100527; pin this when clients must remain reproducible.
-dir Set the destination directory. -dir /srv/ftb-aero.
-auto Run the installer without interactive prompts where supported. Review the resulting files and logs after an unattended run.
-latest Select the latest available release. Convenient for a deliberate update, but not appropriate when you require a fixed version.
-validate Validate the downloaded or installed files. Useful after copying an installation or recovering from an interrupted download.
-threads Control installer download or extraction concurrency. Choose a value appropriate for the host rather than assuming more threads is always better.
-no-java Prevent the installer from obtaining Java. Use only when a compatible Java 21 runtime is already installed and available to the process.
-accept-eula Record EULA acceptance during installation. Use only after the operator has accepted the Minecraft EULA.

A pinned Linux installation can therefore be expressed as ./serverinstaller_134_100527 -pack 134 -version 100527 -dir /srv/ftb-aero -accept-eula. Keep the command, installer filename, and resulting version ID in your deployment notes. If you intentionally want FTB’s newest stable release, omit -version or use -latest, then make sure every client is updated to the same release before connecting.

Complete the first startup

Accept the EULA and verify the generated files

The first launch creates the server’s configuration and world files. A normal installation should leave you with the generated run.bat on Windows or run.sh on macOS/Linux, along with the modpack files and Java runtime selected by the installer. Read the console output for a clean startup and stop the server with its normal stop command rather than closing the terminal window.

Set basic server options

After stopping the initial run, edit server.properties for the game mode, difficulty, view distance, message of the day, whitelist behavior, and the server port you intend to expose. Change one setting at a time and keep a copy of the file so an update can be compared against the previous configuration.

Control administrative access

Grant operator permissions only to trusted accounts and enable a whitelist when the server is private. Do not publish operator credentials in chat, scripts, or screenshots. Test that an ordinary player account has only the permissions you intended before opening the server to others.

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Make the server reachable safely

FTB’s server-file guide stops after obtaining and creating the files; networking is ordinary Minecraft administration. Perform these checks in order:

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  1. Test locally first. From the same machine, connect using the address appropriate for a local client. Confirm that the server reaches a playable world before changing router settings. No external connectivity test is implied here; you must perform your own.
  2. Allow the process through the host firewall. Create an inbound rule for the Minecraft server port shown in server.properties. Restrict the rule to trusted networks while testing.
  3. Use a stable private address. On a home network, reserve the host’s LAN address in the router or configure a static address so a port-forward rule does not break after a reboot.
  4. Forward only the selected port. Map the router’s external port to the server’s private address and the same internal port, unless you deliberately chose different values. Do not expose administration services that the game does not require.
  5. Share the correct address. Players outside your network need the public address or a maintained DNS name, plus a non-default port if you changed it. Never post your router’s management credentials.
  6. Re-test after every change. A local connection, a connection from another device on the LAN, and a connection from an outside network test different failure points.

Carrier-grade NAT, a double-router setup, corporate firewalls, and changing public addresses can prevent inbound connections even when the server is configured correctly. In those cases, a managed host or a network service that provides an reachable endpoint may be simpler than repeatedly changing local forwarding rules.

Backups, updates, and process supervision

Back up the world and configuration

Copy the world directory, server.properties, whitelist and operator files, and any custom scripts to storage that is not the live server disk. Stop the server cleanly, or use a backup method that is designed for a running Minecraft world, so region files are not captured mid-write. Keep multiple dated generations and periodically verify that a backup can actually be restored.

Update deliberately

Before changing Aero releases, stop the server, take a full backup, and write down the current pack version. Install the new release in a separate directory when possible. Have every player update to that same release, then start the new directory and watch the console for mod or world-conversion errors. Keeping the old directory intact gives you a rollback path.

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Keep the process running

A closed SSH session or terminal window can stop a server. On Linux, use a service manager or a persistent session tool; on Windows, use Task Scheduler or a service wrapper that can restart the process and record logs. Whatever method you choose, configure orderly shutdown, startup after reboot, log retention, and alerts for repeated crashes. These are operational choices, not features supplied by the FTB installer.

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Diagnose common setup failures

The installer will not execute

On macOS/Linux, confirm the path and run chmod +x on the exact downloaded filename. On Windows, confirm that you used the build for the machine’s architecture and that security software has not quarantined the file. Re-download from the official server-files listing if the file is incomplete.

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The server reports a Java problem

The standard installer is designed to download the needed Java runtime, and FTB’s documentation answers the Java question directly: “No, the server installer will download the correct version of Java for you.” Do not add -no-java unless you have verified a compatible Java 21 installation and understand which executable the generated script will call.

Players receive version or missing-mod errors

Compare the client’s Aero release with the server’s selected release ID and pack version. Reinstall or update the out-of-sync client; do not try to solve a release mismatch by copying random mod JARs between installations.

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The server stops at the EULA check

Accept the EULA through the installer prompt or rerun the installation with -accept-eula after the operator has agreed. Then start the generated script again.

Players cannot connect from outside

Verify local access first, then check the host firewall, the server port in server.properties, the router’s forwarding target, and the host’s private address. If LAN access works but outside access fails, investigate double NAT or carrier-grade NAT before changing modpack files.

The process runs out of memory

Confirm that the host provides at least 6 GB and begin with the recommended 8 GB allocation while retaining memory for the operating system. If the machine cannot provide that safely, reduce the workload or move the server to a larger host; FTB does not publish a guaranteed player count for a given allocation.

Self-hosting or managed hosting?

Consideration Self-hosting Managed hosting
Control Complete control over files, release timing, configuration, and backups. The provider supplies a control panel and host environment; some low-level choices are limited.
Technical work You administer Java, scripts, firewall rules, router forwarding, updates, and uptime. The provider handles much of the machine and network administration, while you still manage the world and pack settings.
Cost model Uses hardware and electricity you already own, but you carry maintenance and availability costs. Recurring hosting charges; current prices and terms must be checked before purchase.
Connectivity Depends on your ISP, public address, NAT, and upload capacity. Uses the provider’s network and geographic locations; verify latency and included resources.
Backups and support You choose the backup destination, retention, and recovery procedure. Check whether backups, restore points, modpack installation help, support hours, and cancellation terms are included.

FTB names BisectHosting as its partner for readers who prefer hosted Minecraft servers. Treat that as a starting point, not a specification: confirm that the current offering supports FTB Skies 2: Aero, Java 21, at least the pack’s recommended memory, the region you need, backups, player slots, cancellation terms, and the exact price before ordering.

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Self-hosting is the better fit when you already have suitable hardware and are comfortable with terminal, firewall, backup, and process administration. Managed hosting is preferable when reliable public access matters more than control, or when you do not want to maintain a Java process and home-network forwarding yourself.

A reproducible launch checklist

  • Record the Aero release number and FTB version ID selected from the server-files page.
  • Provide at least 6 GB of RAM; target 8 GB while leaving memory for the operating system.
  • Use Java 21, preferably the runtime downloaded by the official installer.
  • Keep the installer filename unchanged and store it with your deployment notes.
  • Run the generated run.bat or run.sh, accept the EULA, and restart after the first world creation.
  • Configure server.properties, whitelist and operator permissions before inviting players.
  • Test local connectivity, then firewall and router access, before sharing a public address.
  • Automate backups, startup after reboot, log retention, and crash notification.
  • When updating, back up first, pin the new release, and update every client to the same version.

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