Index

• Overview
• Prerequisites for installation
  • Required programs
  • Configuring the firewall / NAT
  • Mapping software
• Installation
  • Downloading the script
  • Configuration
  • Updating MSCS
• Getting started guide
  • Creating a new world
  • Importing an existing world
    • Renaming world folder
  • Adjusting global server properties
    • Default global server properties
  • Adjusting world properties
    • Default world properties
    • Enabling Forge, BungeeCord, and other server software
• Performing backups and other tasks
  • Scheduling backups
  • Viewing and restoring backups
  • Removing backups after X days
  • Scheduling restarts
  • Scheduling mapping
• Setting up mapping
  • Installing Overviewer (the mapping software)
  • Configuring overviewer
  • Changing the default rendering settings
• Command reference
  • Examples
• Issues
  • Troubleshooting
• License
• Disclaimer

Overview

Minecraft Server Control Script (MSCS) is a server-management script for UNIX and Linux powered Minecraft servers.

Features include:

• Run multiple Minecraft worlds.
• Start, stop, and restart single or multiple worlds.
• Create, delete, disable, and enable worlds.
• Includes support for additional server types: Forge, BungeeCord, SpigotMC, etc.
• Users automatically notified of important server events.
• LSB and systemd compatible init script, allows for seamless integration with your server's startup and shutdown sequences.
• Map worlds using the Minecraft Overviewer mapping software.
• Automatically backup worlds, remove backups older than X days, and restart worlds.
• Update the server and client software automatically.
• Send commands to a world server from the command line.

Prerequisites for installation

Ensure that you have done the following before installing MSCS:

Required Programs

We've made an attempt to utilize only features that are normally installed in most Linux and UNIX environments in this script. However, there may be a few requirements that this script has that may not already be in place:

• Java JRE - The Minecraft server software requires this. As of Minecraft 1.12, Java 8 is required.
• Perl - Most, if not all, Unix and Linux like systems have this preinstalled.
• libjson-perl - Allows the script to read JSON formatted data.
• Python - Required by the Minecraft Overviewer mapping software.
• GNU Make - Allows you to use the Makefile to simplify installation.
• GNU Wget - Allows the script to download software updates via the internet.
• rdiff-backup - Allows the script to efficiently run backups.
• rsync - Allows the script to efficiently make copies of files.
• Socat - Allows the script to communicate with the Minecraft server.
• Iptables - Although not explicitly required, a good firewall should be installed.

If you are running Debian or Ubuntu, you can make sure that these are installed by running:

sudo apt-get install default-jre perl libjson-perl python make wget rdiff-backup rsync socat iptables

Configuring the firewall / NAT

If you have a firewall installed on your computer, or a router using NAT installed in your network, you will need to route some ports to your server. Instructions on how to accomplish this are beyond the scope of this document, but here are some things you will need to know:

• The default port for the Minecraft server is: 25565.
• If you wish to run multiple world servers using this script, you may want to open a range of ports (for example 25565 - 25575).
• If you are using BungeeCord, you will most likely need to only open the default port: 25565.

See the iptables.rules file for a very basic set of rules that you can use with the Iptables firewall.

Mapping software

The script uses the Minecraft Overviewer mapping software to generate maps of your worlds. Please see Setting up mapping for installation and configuration instructions.

Installation

Downloading the script

The easiest way to download the script is to make a clone of the git repository. You must have git installed first. To install git:

sudo apt-get install git

Then:

git clone https://github.com/MinecraftServerControl/mscs.git

Note that it will be downloaded into the current directory which you are working in.

Other ways to download

• Get the latest stable release.

• Get the development version as a zip file:

  wget https://github.com/MinecraftServerControl/mscs/archive/master.zip

Configuration

Navigate to the mscs directory that you just downloaded. Configuration can be done with the included Makefile in Debian and Ubuntu like environments by running:

sudo make install

This will give the user you created in the config (by default, the user is called minecraft) access to write in the /opt/mscs folder.

If you get a permission error, please see the troubleshooting section.

Manual Configuration

If you wish to configure the script manually, please visit the wiki page.

Updating MSCS

Periodically Minecraft Server Control Script is updated to address bug fixes and add new features. The easiest way to fetch the latest update, assuming you used the easiest way to install the script, first cd into the folder where you downloaded MSCS. Then, type:

git pull

You can alternatively use one of the other methods to download the latest version. Just cd into the folder containing the MSCS download to continue.

Once you have the latest version of MSCS downloaded, type:

sudo make update

Getting started guide

So you successfully installed the script--great!

At first, you probably want to create a new world or import an existing world into the script.

Then, you might want to adjust the world properties, adjust the global server properties, and enable any other server software as needed.

Creating a new world

The command to create a new world is:

mscs create [world] [port] <ip>

Where world is the name of the world you specify, and port is the server port (by default, use 25565). ip is optional and will be used if you wish to bind a world server to a specific network interface (e.g. 127.0.0.1 to enforce local access only).

Afterwards, start the server via mscs start [world] where world is the name of the world. The world will then shut down because you have to accept the EULA.

The EULA can be found in /opt/mscs/worlds/myWorld where myWorld is the name given to the world you created.

After accepting the EULA simply start the server using the same command above, and you're all set!

Importing an existing world

You just need to create a new directory in the worlds folder for the world you wish to import. Suppose the world you wish to import is called alpha, you would create a new folder in /opt/mscs/worlds with the same name as the world, then copy the data files over to that new directory.

IMPORTANT: make sure the world that you are importing is not currently running.

If the directory containing the world alpha you wish to import looks like this:

$ ls
alpha
banned-ips.txt
banned-players.txt
crash-reports
logs
ops.txt
server.properties
white-list.txt

You can just copy your world into the worlds directory:

mkdir /opt/mscs/worlds/alpha
cp -R * /opt/mscs/worlds/alpha

After you've copied the world files, you will want to create a world entry into MSCS using the name of the world and the port that you wish the world to use:

mscs create alpha 25565

Renaming world folder

If you would like to rename the alpha folder (the one that is the parent folder of the actual world) to a different name, follow the steps below.

IMPORTANT: make sure the world that you are importing is not currently running.

In this example we want to rename the alpha folder to vanillaMC:

mkdir /opt/mscs/worlds/vanillaMC
cp -R * /opt/mscs/worlds/vanillaMC
mv /opt/mscs/worlds/vanillaMC/alpha /opt/mscs/worlds/vanillaMC/vanillaMC

After you've set up the file structure, you can now create a world entry into MSCS using the name of the world and the port that you wish the world to use:

mscs create vanillaMC 25565

Adjusting global server properties

Default values in the script can be overridden by adding certain properties to one of the mscs.defaults files. An example mscs.defaults file will be created as needed in one of three places depending on how the script is being used. When using the mscs script, the mscs.defaults file can be found at /opt/mscs/mscs.defaults. When using the msctl script in multi-user mode, the mscs.defaults file can be found at either $HOME/mscs.defaults or $HOME/.config/mscs/mscs.defaults.

For more information on the various properties, see the wiki page.

The following properties are available:

• mscs-location - Location of the mscs files.
• mscs-worlds-location - Location of world files.
• mscs-versions-url - URL to download the version_manifest.json file.
• mscs-versions-json - Location of the version_manifest.json file.
• mscs-versions-duration - Length in minutes to keep the version_manifest.json file before updating.
• mscs-lockfile-duration - Length in minutes to keep lock files before removing.
• mscs-detailed-listing - Properties to return for detailed listings.
• mscs-default-world - Default world name.
• mscs-default-port - Default Port.
• mscs-default-ip - Default IP address.
• mscs-default-version-type - Default version type (release or snapshot).
• mscs-default-client-version - Default version of the client software.
• mscs-default-client-jar - Default .jar file for the client software.
• mscs-default-client-url - Default download URL for the client software.
• mscs-default-client-location - Default location of the client .jar file.
• mscs-default-server-version - Default version of the server software.
• mscs-default-server-jar - Default .jar file for the server software.
• mscs-default-server-url - Default download URL for the server software.
• mscs-default-server-args - Default arguments for a world server.
• mscs-default-initial-memory - Default initial amount of memory for a world server.
• mscs-default-maximum-memory - Default maximum amount of memory for a world server.
• mscs-default-server-location - Default location of the server .jar file.
• mscs-default-server-command - Default command to run for a world server.
• mscs-backup-location - Location to store backup files.
• mscs-backup-log - Location of the backup log file.
• mscs-backup-duration - Length in days that backups survive.
• mscs-log-duration - Length in days that logs survive.
• mscs-enable-mirror - Enable the mirror option by default for worlds (default disabled).
• mscs-mirror-path - Default path for the mirror files.
• mscs-overviewer-bin - Location of Overviewer.
• mscs-overviewer-url - URL for Overviewer.
• mscs-maps-location - Location of Overviewer generated map files.
• mscs-maps-url - URL for accessing Overviewer generated maps.

The following variables may be used in some of the above properties:

• $JAVA - The Java virtual machine.
• $CURRENT_VERSION - The current Mojang Minecraft release version.
• $CLIENT_VERSION - The version of the client software.
• $SERVER_VERSION - The version of the server software.
• $SERVER_JAR - The .jar file to run for the server.
• $SERVER_ARGS - The arguments to the server.
• $INITIAL_MEMORY - The initial amount of memory for the server.
• $MAXIMUM_MEMORY - The maximum amount of memory for the server.
• $SERVER_LOCATION - The location of the server .jar file.

Default global server properties

Below are the default global server properties. You can add one, none, or all of the properties below to one of the mscs.defaults files and adjust it to your liking.

mscs-location=/opt/mscs
mscs-worlds-location=/opt/mscs/worlds
mscs-versions-url=https://launchermeta.mojang.com/mc/game/version_manifest.json
mscs-versions-json=/opt/mscs/version_manifest.json
mscs-versions-duration=30
mscs-lockfile-duration=1440
mscs-default-world=world
mscs-default-port=25565
mscs-default-ip=
mscs-default-version-type=release
mscs-default-client-version=$CURRENT_VERSION
mscs-default-client-jar=$CLIENT_VERSION.jar
mscs-default-client-url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/Minecraft.Download/versions/$CLIENT_VERSION/$CLIENT_VERSION.jar
mscs-default-client-location=/opt/mscs/.minecraft/versions/$CLIENT_VERSION
mscs-default-server-version=$CURRENT_VERSION
mscs-default-server-jar=minecraft_server.$SERVER_VERSION.jar
mscs-default-server-url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/Minecraft.Download/versions/$SERVER_VERSION/minecraft_server.$SERVER_VERSION.jar
mscs-default-server-args=nogui
mscs-default-initial-memory=128M
mscs-default-maximum-memory=2048M
mscs-default-server-location=/opt/mscs/server
mscs-default-server-command=$JAVA -Xms$INITIAL_MEMORY -Xmx$MAXIMUM_MEMORY -jar $SERVER_LOCATION/$SERVER_JAR $SERVER_ARGS
mscs-backup-location=/opt/mscs/backups
mscs-backup-log=/opt/mscs/backups/backup.log
mscs-backup-duration=15
mscs-log-duration=15
mscs-detailed-listing=motd server-ip server-port max-players level-type online-mode
mscs-enable-mirror=0
mscs-mirror-path=/dev/shm/mscs
mscs-overviewer-bin=/usr/bin/overviewer.py
mscs-overviewer-url=http://overviewer.org
mscs-maps-location=/opt/mscs/maps
mscs-maps-url=http://minecraft.server.com/maps

Adjusting world properties

Each world server can override the default values in a similar manner by adding certain properties to the world's mscs.properties file. The mscs.properties file can be found in every world folder (for instance, if you had a world called myWorld, the path would be /opt/mscs/worlds/myWorld/mscs.properties). This file allows you to adjust many different properties for each world you have. By default, the file only has one line in it: mscs-enabled=true.

The following properties are available:

• mscs-enabled - Enable the world server (true or false).
• mscs-version-type - Assign the version type (release or snapshot).
• mscs-client-version - Assign the version of the client software.
• mscs-client-jar - Assign the .jar file for the client software.
• mscs-client-url - Assign the download URL for the client software.
• mscs-client-location - Assign the location of the client .jar file.
• mscs-server-version - Assign the version of the server software.
• mscs-server-jar - Assign the .jar file for the server software.
• mscs-server-url - Assign the download URL for the server software.
• mscs-server-args - Assign the arguments to the server.
• mscs-initial-memory - Assign the initial amount of memory for the server.
• mscs-maximum-memory - Assign the maximum amount of memory for the server.
• mscs-server-location - Assign the location of the server .jar file.
• mscs-server-command - Assign the command to run for the server.

The following variables may be used in some of the values of the above keys:

• $JAVA - The Java virtual machine.
• $CURRENT_VERSION - The current Mojang Minecraft release version.
• $CLIENT_VERSION - The version of the client software.
• $SERVER_VERSION - The version of the server software.
• $SERVER_JAR - The .jar file to run for the server.
• $SERVER_ARGS - The arguments to the server.
• $INITIAL_MEMORY - The initial amount of memory for the server.
• $MAXIMUM_MEMORY - The maximum amount of memory for the server.
• $SERVER_LOCATION - The location of the server .jar file.

Default world properties

Below are the default properties for the world. You can add one, none, or all of the properties below to the mscs.properties file and adjust it to your liking.

mscs-enabled=true
mscs-version-type=release
mscs-client-version=$CURRENT_VERSION
mscs-client-jar=$CLIENT_VERSION.jar
mscs-client-url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/Minecraft.Download/versions/$CLIENT_VERSION/$CLIENT_VERSION.jar
mscs-client-location=/opt/mscs/.minecraft/versions/$CLIENT_VERSION
mscs-server-version=$CURRENT_VERSION
mscs-server-jar=minecraft_server.$SERVER_VERSION.jar
mscs-server-url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/Minecraft.Download/versions/$SERVER_VERSION/minecraft_server.$SERVER_VERSION.jar
mscs-server-args=nogui
mscs-initial-memory=128M
mscs-maximum-memory=2048M
mscs-server-location=/opt/mscs/server
mscs-server-command=$JAVA -Xms$INITIAL_MEMORY -Xmx$MAXIMUM_MEMORY -jar $SERVER_LOCATION/$SERVER_JAR $SERVER_ARGS

Enabling Forge, BungeeCord, and other server software

Please visit the wiki for additional information.

Performing backups and other tasks

All MSCS tasks can be automated using cron, a scheduler software that can run programs on a set interval of time. Whether it be backups, restarts, mapping, or any other mscs command, it can be scheduled using cron.

Scheduling backups

Below is an example of one way you could setup backups via cron to backup a world every 2 hours:

Edit the crontab file for the minecraft user using sudo:

sudo crontab -e -u minecraft

Page down until you get to an empty line. Then paste the following:

# Define PATH
PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin

# Run mscs backups
0 */2 * * *  mscs backup myWorld

• We define the PATH because cron doesn't do it for us.

• 0 */2 * * * is the time interval to backup. This particular expression means backup every 2 hours. You can change this to 3, 4, 5, etc to backup every X amount of hours. You can also backup according to days, minutes, seconds, the time of the day, and more. See the wiki page for more information.

• myWorld is the name of the world you wish to backup. Omitting this will backup all worlds.

Viewing and restoring backups

Once you've scheduled backups, you can view the backups created by running the mscs list-backups command, and restore a backup using the mscs restore-backup command.

Removing backups after X days

You can specify how long to keep backups by changing the mscs-backup-duration property in the mscs.defaults file (see adjusting global server properties ).

Scheduling restarts

You can schedule restarts for the server following the same method as outlined in scheduling backups. Simply change the scheduled command to:

mscs restart <world>

Where <world> is the name of the world you wish to restart (omit for all worlds).

Scheduling mapping

Once you've set up mapping, you can schedule the world(s) to be mapped periodically using the same method outlined in scheduling backups. Simply replace the command with:

mscs map <world>

Where <world> is the name of the world you wish to map (omit for all worlds).

Setting up mapping

Installing Overviewer (the mapping software)

Overviewer is the mapping software that MSCS uses. It has pretty straightforward documentation to download and install the software:

• Debian/Ubuntu
• RHEL/CentOS/Fedora

NOTE: Once you follow the install page, come back here for further instructions. Don't read the "Running the Overviewer" section, as it will differ in MSCS.

You can also download premade binaries for supported systems, or build your own binary from source if needed.

Configuring Overviewer

Overviewer currently requires a free Google API key. You can obtain one here. On the webpage, Select the blue "Get a Key" button. Then, follow the prompts. You can create a new project or use the already-made "My Project" to obtain the API key--it doesn't matter. Copy this key, you'll need it. Then, download the script found here and paste your API key into the AddString="&key=" line, so that it looks like AddString="&key=00000000000000000" where the zeroes are your API key. Once you've ran this file, Overviewer should work. You also want to run this whenever Overviewer is updated.

In the mscs.defaults file (one will be created if you haven't created one manually), you'll find various Overviewer mapping settings which you change to your liking. We've listed the map-related settings below: (see adjusting global server properties if you're confused where the file is)

• mscs-overviewer-bin: This is the location for the Overviewer binary. If you manually installed Overviewer to another location, you can enter the location here.
• mscs-overviewer-url: A clickable link for users in chat to view the overviewer website.
• mscs-maps-location: The location to store the generated maps. Change this value to your web-server folder, e.g. var/www/ (or symlink your web-server folder to this value).
• mscs-maps-url: The link to be displayed in chat to view the maps when mapping is complete.

After you've changed the settings, run:

mscs map <world>

Where <world> is the name of the world you would like to get mapped. Omit the world name to map all worlds.

If you get a Permission denied error, please see the Troubleshooting section.

Please note that in order for the map to update new changes in the world, you need to run Overviewer periodically. Please see scheduling mapping for more information.

Changing the default rendering settings

By default, we've set up MSCS to render the overworld, the nether, the end, and cave systems with Overviewer's "normal" render settings. However, Overviewer has many different render modes which you can apply to as many or as few dimensions of your world(s) as you like.

All you have to do is change the config file, which is located at /opt/mscs/worlds/myWorld/overviewer_settings.py, where myWorld is the name of your world.

To view more information on render modes and how to customize the config file, click here.

Command Reference

All commands below assume that you are running them as either the minecraft user or as root (through sudo).

Note: If the script is run as the root user, all important server processes will be started using the minecraft user instead for security purposes.

sudo mscs [option]

* start [world]

    Start the Minecraft world server.  Start all worlds by default.

* stop [world]

    Stop the Minecraft world server.  Stop all worlds by default.

* force-stop [world]

    Forcibly stop the Minecraft world server.  Forcibly stop all worlds by
    default.

* restart [world]

    Restart the Minecraft world server.  Restart all worlds by default.

* force-restart [world]

    Forcibly restart the Minecraft world server.  Forcibly restart all
    worlds by default.

* create [world] [port] [ip]

    Create a Minecraft world server.  The world name and port must be
    provided, the IP address is usually blank.

* delete [world]

    Delete a Minecraft world server.

* disable [world]

    Temporarily disable a world server.

* enable [world]

    Enable a disabled world server.

* list [option]

    Display a list of worlds.
    Options:

    * enabled

        Display a list of enabled worlds, default.

    * disabled

        Display a list of disabled worlds.

    * running

        Display a list of running worlds.

    * stopped

        Display a list of stopped worlds.

* status [world]

    Display the status of the Minecraft world server.  Display the
    status of all worlds by default.

* broadcast [command]

    Broadcast a command to all running Minecraft world servers.

* send [world] [command]

    Send a command to a Minecraft world server.

* logrotate [world]

    Rotate the server.log file.  Rotate the server.log file for all
    worlds by default.

* backup [world]

    Backup the Minecraft world.  Backup all worlds by default.

* list-backups [world]

    List the datetime of the backups for the world.

* restore-backup [world] [datetime]

    Restore a backup for a world that was taken at the datetime.

* console [world]

    Connect to the Minecraft world server's console.  Hit [Ctrl-D] to detach.

* watch [world]

    Watch the log file for the Minecraft world server.

* map [world]

    Run the Minecraft Overviewer mapping software on the Minecraft world.
    Map all worlds by default.

* update [world]

    Update the server software for the Minecraft world server.  Update
    server software for all worlds by default.

* force-update [world]

    Refresh version information prior to running update for the world server,
    regardless of how recently the version information was updated.

* query [world]

    Run a detailed Query on the Minecraft world server.

Examples

To start all of the world servers, issue the command:

sudo mscs start

To create a world named alpha on the default port 25565, issue the command:

sudo mscs create alpha 25565

To start just the world named alpha, issue the command:

sudo mscs start alpha

To send a command to a world server, issue the command:

sudo mscs send [world] [command]

ie.

sudo mscs send alpha say Hello world!

Issues

We have only tested this code in a Debian/Ubuntu environment, but there is no reason that it shouldn't work in any appropriately configured UNIX-like environment, including Apple Mac OSX and the other BSD variants, with only minor modifications. If you experience errors running this script, please post a copy of the error message and a note detailing the operating environment where the error occurs to the support thread, and we will try to work out a solution with you.

Github Issues: https://github.com/MinecraftServerControl/mscs/issues

Old support thread:  http://www.minecraftforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=129833

Troubleshooting

Permission denied when attempting to run mscs create ...

Type

chmod -R u+w /opt/mscs
chown -R minecraft:minecraft /opt/mscs

To give the minecraft user the correct permissions needed to create/modify folders.

Permission denied when attempting to run mscs map ...

Type

chmod -R u+w /opt/mscs/maps
chown -R minecraft:minecraft /opt/mscs/maps

To give the minecraft user the correct permissions needed to create/modify folders.

License

See LICENSE

Disclaimer

Minecraft is a trademark of Mojang Synergies AB, a subsidiary of Microsoft Studios. MSCS and MSC-GUI are designed to ease the use of the Mojang produced Minecraft server software on Linux and UNIX servers. MSCS and MSC-GUI are independently developed by open software enthusiasts with no support or implied warranty provided by either Mojang or Microsoft.