Set up Minecraft Alpha Server - Here's how

To play in a Minecraft world with your friends, you first have to set up your own Minecraft Alpha Server or join any server. In this practical tip you will learn how to create an Alpha Server.

Your own Minecraft Alpha Server

A Minecraft server allows you to explore and create the same world with any player. As the owner of a Minecraft server, you have extensive rights and can therefore decide how your Minecraft world should be created. However, if you join another server, you usually have to follow the regulations and guidelines of the server owner there. In addition, as the owner of your own server, you have the advantage that you decide who can access your server and what access rights each individual player has.

Minecraft: Set up Alpha Server

In order for you to be able to enter your own Minecraft Alpha Server, you naturally need the computer game "Minecraft". This also applies if you want to join another server. You can buy Minecraft at any time on the official Minecraft website. Follow the instructions below to set up your own Minecraft Alpha server:

1. First of all you will get to the download subpage via the Minecraft website, where you can download the Minecraft server file under "Multiplayer Server".
2. Once you've downloaded the server file, create a folder called "Minecraft Server". Move the server file into this folder and start the server application there.
3. A window called "Minecraft Server" will appear. Enter the "stop" command in the lower input field so that the server application is ended again.
4. There are now more files in the "Minecraft Server" folder. Among other things, you will find the file "server.properties" that you can open with any text editor.
5. In addition to "server-port", the text editor specifies a specific port that you must enable in the settings of your router. How to release ports can be read in another practical tip. Also note that you enable the port for the "UDP" and "TCP" protocol.
6. In a further step you will find out your IP address. To do this, enter "cmd" in the Windows command prompt. In the new window type the command "ipconfig". Your IP address is displayed next to the term "IPv4 address". You must write this down so that you can connect to the server and your teammates can join your server later.
7. Then open the file "server.properties" again with the text editor, enter your recently noted IP address in the line next to "server-ip" and save the document.
8. Your server is now ready to start. The last thing you need to do is run the server file so that you can join the server.

• Note that the server is only active as long as the "server.exe" file is running in the background. If the server application is closed, the server is also deactivated.
• So that your teammates can join your server, they have to click on "Multiplayer" in the main menu of Minecraft and enter their IP address in the input field.

Once you have set up your own server, you should first familiarize yourself with the administrator console. In multiplayer mode, you can use the server commands to decide, for example, who can enter your server and what access rights your teammates should have.