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World desk10 min

How to Host The Afterlife Modpack Server (Minecraft 1.20.1 Forge)

A complete guide to hosting The Afterlife by DarkGrissu: choose the correct 1.20.1 Forge server pack, install it safely, connect friends and troubleshoot compatibility or network failures.
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To host the DarkGrissu edition of The Afterlife with friends, install its dedicated Minecraft 1.20 server pack on a Minecraft 1.20.1 Forge server, then have every player install release 1.1.3 with the same loader and configuration. CurseForge lists that release on April 16, 2024, along with a separate server-pack download.

Do not confuse it with Afterlife by DAQEM, which targets Minecraft 1.18.1 on Fabric. Its files cannot be mixed with DarkGrissu’s 1.20.1 Forge files.

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Identify the correct Afterlife project first

Several projects use “Afterlife” in their names. The procedure below is for The Afterlife by DarkGrissu. CurseForge describes it as inspired by “Life in the woods,” “After Humans” and “Time,” and lists more than 200 mods spanning technology, exploration, adventure/RPG and multiplayer. The listed release is 1.1.3 for Minecraft 1.20.1 with Forge (released April 16, 2024).

Project Minecraft version Mod loader Server file Use with this guide?
The Afterlife by DarkGrissu 1.20.1 Forge The entry under “Minecraft 1.20 Server Packs” for release 1.1.3 Yes
Afterlife by DAQEM 1.18.1 Fabric Afterlife 1.1.2 Server Pack No; it is a different project

Before downloading anything, open the project page and check all three identifiers—author, Minecraft version and loader. A folder labelled only “Afterlife” is not enough to establish compatibility.

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What you need before installing

A 64-bit Java host

Use a current 64-bit Java runtime compatible with Minecraft 1.20.1. Install Java on the computer or hosting plan that will run the server, not merely on the players’ PCs. Keep operating-system memory and CPU capacity outside the amount assigned to Minecraft; allocating every available megabyte can make the host unstable.

Server files and an empty directory

Download the dedicated server-pack archive from the DarkGrissu project’s files. CurseForge lists it separately under “Minecraft 1.20 Server Packs.” An ordinary client instance contains launcher metadata and client-only content; uploading it blindly is a common cause of missing libraries and startup errors.

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Network access

A self-hosted server must be reachable from the internet. You need permission to allow Java through the host firewall and, on a home connection, access to the router so you can forward the port shown in the server’s configuration. A managed host supplies an address and handles the external routing.

How much RAM does an Afterlife server need?

The DarkGrissu listing does not publish a universal minimum server specification, and no independent benchmark establishes one. Hosting pages are therefore planning references rather than tested requirements.

Source and listing Memory guidance Other published details How to interpret it
CreeperHost page for The Afterlife, Minecraft 1.20.1 Forge 4,500 MB minimum 4 × 4.5 GHz CPU; 40 GB SSD A provider-specific starting plan for the named pack, not an official requirement
StickyPiston Afterlife page 7 GB minimum; 8 GB recommended for more players and chunks The page is for the older Afterlife project Useful as a conservative planning reference, but it is not a DarkGrissu benchmark

Start with the smallest plan that leaves headroom, then watch memory use during the busiest activity you expect: several players generating new terrain, running machines and saving simultaneously. If the process approaches its limit, reduce view and simulation distance, avoid having everyone explore fresh chunks at once, stop unrelated services and increase the allocation only when the host has spare capacity. Longer saves or an out-of-memory crash are signs to investigate; they do not prove a particular RAM number is universally correct.

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  • 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).

Install The Afterlife 1.1.3 on a self-hosted Forge server

1. Verify the release

  1. Open DarkGrissu’s CurseForge project.
  2. Confirm that the selected file is The Afterlife 1.1.3, for Minecraft 1.20.1 and Forge.
  3. Check that you are not on DAQEM’s 1.18.1 Fabric project before proceeding.

2. Download the dedicated server pack

In the DarkGrissu project’s file list, choose the item in the “Minecraft 1.20 Server Packs” category for release 1.1.3. Save the archive where you can identify it easily. Keep the original download so you can recreate the installation if a later change goes wrong.

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3. Create a clean server directory

Make a new directory used only for this server. Do not install over another Forge world or copy files from the DAQEM Fabric pack. Extract the server-pack contents into the clean directory, preserving the archive’s folders and file names.

4. Install the matching Forge server

Run the Minecraft 1.20.1 Forge server installer and select the clean directory as its server location. Let it create the Forge libraries and launch scripts. When the installer finishes, verify that the generated files and the extracted server-pack contents are in the same directory. If the installer asks for a different Minecraft version, cancel and obtain the 1.20.1 installer instead.

5. Perform the first launch and accept the EULA

  1. Run the generated Forge server script once. The initial launch normally stops while creating configuration files and the world directory.
  2. Open the generated eula.txt, read Mojang’s terms, and change the value to eula=true only if you accept them.
  3. Run the same server script again. Forge will finish generating configuration and world files; the console should remain running rather than exit immediately.

Keep the console visible during this first start. A Java exception, missing-mod message or immediate exit gives you a specific file or version to correct before inviting anyone.

6. Set basic server controls

Stop the server cleanly before editing configuration. Set the server name, difficulty, player limit and other options in the generated configuration files according to your group’s preferences. Keep the configured network port noted; friends must use the public address and that port. For a private group, enable the whitelist and add each player’s exact Minecraft account name from the server console or its administration interface.

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7. Allow the connection through the host and router

  1. Add the Java server process to the operating system firewall’s allowed applications, or create an inbound rule for the configured Minecraft port.
  2. On a home network, forward that same port from the router to the computer’s local address. Reserve the computer’s local address if your router supports DHCP reservations so the forwarding rule does not point to a different device later.
  3. Start the server and test from outside the home network when possible. Testing only from the hosting computer can succeed even when internet traffic is blocked.
  4. Give friends the public address and configured port. Never publish your home address in a public chat; share it only with people you trust.

A managed host normally displays the connection address and handles the external port, so you skip the router-forwarding step.

8. Install the identical client pack

Every player should install The Afterlife 1.1.3 for Minecraft 1.20.1 Forge through the same launcher profile or pack export. The server and every client must use the same release, Minecraft version, loader and configuration. Do not add or remove mods on one side unless the pack’s documentation explicitly says that a mod is client-only.

9. Connect and verify

  1. Start the server and wait until Forge reports that it is ready for connections.
  2. Have one player connect first, then check the console for authentication, registry or missing-mod errors.
  3. Once the first connection works, add the remaining players and confirm that the whitelist contains each account.
  4. Travel a short distance, open inventories and use a few pack systems before a large expedition. This catches configuration and performance problems while the world is still easy to restore.

Keeping clients and server in lockstep

Forge compares mod metadata and registries during login. A release mismatch can therefore appear as a missing-mod, incompatible-mod or registry error even when the server itself starts normally. When a player cannot join, compare the pack’s displayed release number, Minecraft version, Forge version and the actual contents of the mods and configuration directories on both sides.

  • Install the exact 1.1.3 client profile rather than updating one player to a newer file.
  • Do not copy a Fabric mod or a 1.18.1 configuration into the 1.20.1 Forge server.
  • After changing server configuration, distribute any required client configuration change before reconnecting.
  • Keep a written record of the working release so a launcher update does not silently move one player to a different build.

Backups, updates and safe maintenance

Back up before every change

Stop the server cleanly, copy the entire world directory and retain a copy of the server configuration before changing mods, Forge files or generation settings. A world backup is more useful when its folder is labelled with the date and pack release. Do not overwrite your only backup with a new one.

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Test updates on a duplicate world

When a new pack release becomes available, duplicate the world and test the update there first. Start the duplicate with the intended server files, let Forge complete its data conversions, and have a player visit important bases and machines. Keep the original world untouched until the test is satisfactory.

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Control exploration load

World generation is often the heaviest activity for a modded server. Agree on a reasonable exploration pattern, lower view and simulation distances if the host struggles, and avoid sending every player in a different direction at the same time. These changes reduce peak work without removing the pack’s content.

Managed hosting options

A managed host can remove Java installation, port forwarding, routine backups and some update work, but verify the exact project and release before paying. Product pages differ in how much version and hardware information they expose.

Provider listing Advertised capability Important qualification
CreeperHost Names The Afterlife as a Minecraft 1.20.1 Forge pack and advertises automated CurseForge setup; its page lists 4,500 MB minimum RAM, 4 × 4.5 GHz CPU and 40 GB SSD. Those figures are provider guidance, not an author-published or independently tested specification.
StickyPiston Advertises a pre-installed server, Multicraft controls, world uploads, whitelist management and configuration editing for its Afterlife listing. The referenced page is for the older DAQEM project, so confirm 1.20.1 Forge support before ordering for DarkGrissu.
VeryGames Advertises one-click or hosted installation. The available page provides less version and resource detail; ask support to confirm The Afterlife 1.1.3 on Forge 1.20.1.
BoxToPlay Advertises hosted or one-click installation. Confirm the exact pack release, loader, backups and allocated resources before purchase.

Ask a host these questions in writing: Does the plan install DarkGrissu’s 1.1.3 server pack rather than DAQEM’s 1.1.2 pack? Which Java version is used? Can you upload a world backup and restore it? Can you edit the whitelist and configuration? What memory is guaranteed rather than burstable? The answers matter more than a generic “modpack supported” label.

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Troubleshooting: why friends cannot join a Forge modpack server

The server starts, but the wrong world or pack appears

Stop immediately and inspect the directory. Confirm that it contains the DarkGrissu server-pack files and Minecraft 1.20.1 Forge libraries. If you used DAQEM files, delete the mixed installation, restore a clean backup and repeat the installation with the correct server-pack entry.

No dedicated server files are visible

Return to the project’s file list and select the entry under “Minecraft 1.20 Server Packs.” Do not assume that exporting a client profile creates a complete server. If the archive contains an extra top-level folder, ensure you placed its contents—not an empty parent folder—beside the Forge server files.

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Forge exits before the server becomes ready

  • Check that the installed Java runtime is 64-bit and compatible with Minecraft 1.20.1.
  • Read the final lines of the console for a missing library, invalid mod or wrong loader.
  • Confirm that the server-pack files were extracted without being renamed or partially copied.
  • Run the generated Forge script from the server directory so relative paths resolve correctly.

The console says the EULA is not accepted

Stop the process, open the generated eula.txt, review Mojang’s terms and set eula=true only if you agree. Save the file and launch again. Editing a different copy of eula.txt has no effect, so check the path printed by the script.

Out-of-memory errors or very long saves

First reduce simultaneous exploration and lower view or simulation distance. Stop other services on the host and check whether backups or other jobs run during the save. Increase the server allocation only within the host’s available memory, leaving operating-system headroom. The 4,500 MB and 7–8 GB figures above are provider starting points, not a benchmark or guarantee.

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A player receives a missing-mod or registry error

Compare the player’s profile with the server: DarkGrissu 1.1.3, Minecraft 1.20.1, Forge and the same configuration. Remove accidental Fabric or 1.18.1 files, reinstall the profile if necessary and retry. Do not “fix” a login error by randomly deleting server mods; that can damage the world’s registry.

The server works locally, but friends time out

  1. Confirm that the server process is still running and listening on the configured port.
  2. Check the operating-system firewall rule for Java.
  3. On a home network, verify that the router forwards the port to the correct local computer.
  4. Have a friend test from outside your network; a local test cannot validate internet routing.
  5. For a managed host, check the panel’s address, port, online status and any network-protection setting.

A friend is rejected despite reaching the server

Check the whitelist entry character for character, including the player’s current Minecraft account name. Temporarily inspect the console with the whitelist enabled rather than disabling it permanently; private servers should keep access restricted.

A practical launch checklist

  • DarkGrissu project, release 1.1.3, Minecraft 1.20.1 and Forge verified.
  • Dedicated Minecraft 1.20 server-pack archive downloaded.
  • Clean directory created; no DAQEM 1.18.1 Fabric files mixed in.
  • 64-bit compatible Java installed and host headroom reserved.
  • Forge server installed, EULA accepted and first world generated.
  • Firewall and router forwarding (or managed-host address) tested externally.
  • Whitelist configured for the intended players.
  • Every client matches the server release, Minecraft version, loader and configuration.
  • World and configuration backups made before changes.

With those checks complete, the server is ready for a controlled first session. Treat the provider RAM numbers as starting guidance, keep the pack identity fixed, and make every update reversible with a backup.

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