Setting Up a Minecraft Server on Unraid

Requirements

Although you’re more than welcome to just read this post for general knowledge, check out my recommendations for what you need to have, in order to be able to fully use the provided information.

The Minecraft game (Java edition) installed on a computer at home.
Some basic knowledge on how to edit text files in Windows.
At least one friend.

Do you have what’s needed?

Setting up a Minecraft server at home is easy, though there are a few tweaks and tips from my experience that can help you get the most out of it. Once you've set up the server, you and your friends will be able to load Minecraft on your PCs, choose a multiplayer game, and use the IP address of your Unraid server to start playing together. Whether it's for a LAN party at home or for friends connecting from other locations, having your own Minecraft server is a great way to take control of the gaming experience.

What Are Docker Apps in Unraid?

In Unraid, applications such as a Minecraft server run as Docker containers. A Docker container allows you to isolate an application from your main operating system, which provides several benefits. By running a Minecraft server in a Docker container, you ensure that the server is isolated from other parts of your Unraid setup. This setup is particularly important when running a server accessible from the internet because it prevents external players from interacting with anything else on your Unraid system. Docker’s portability and security features make it a convenient way to run servers like Minecraft without compromising the integrity of your system.

Installing the Minecraft Server on Unraid

To install the Minecraft server, head over to the Apps section in Unraid and search for “Minecraft Server.” You’ll find a few different options, but I recommend using binhex-minecraftserver from Binhex's Repository. It’s reliable and worked great for me.

Once you select and install it, you’ll arrive at the app settings page. Here are the important configurations you’ll need to adjust:

WEBUI_USER: Choose a username for the server's management console.
WEBUI_PASS: Set a password to control access to server settings. This ensures only you can make changes to the game setup.
WEBUI_CONSOLE_TITLE: Enter a name for your game. This will be the name players see when they join.
JAVA_INITIAL_HEAP_SIZE: Increase the default value to at least "2048M" to ensure smooth gameplay.
JAVA_MAX_HEAP_SIZE: Set this to "4096M" to ensure enough memory is available for the server.

Once these settings are configured, click Done to complete the installation.

Accessing and Connecting to the Minecraft Server

You and your friends can now connect to the server by opening the Minecraft game (JAVA version), going to the Multiplayer section, and entering the address: http://192.168.1.69:25565 (replace this with your Unraid server’s IP address).

To allow friends to connect from outside your home network, you’ll need to find your public IP address (simply type “What’s my IP” in Google) and configure port forwarding for port 25565 in your router settings.

Customizing Your Minecraft Server

For further customization, navigate to your appdata/binhex-minecraftserver/minecraft/ folder (You need to turn on SMB sharing for the appdata folder from the Shares section of Unraid, and it will be available to access from other computers on your home network) and locate the server.properties file. You can open this file using Notepad or Notepad++. Here are a few example customizations I recommend:

Set difficulty to peaceful for a calmer gaming experience.
Change enable-command-block to true if you want to use command blocks in the game.
Switch gamemode to creative if that’s your playstyle.
Set level-type to minecraft\:flat for a flat world.
Limit the number of players by setting max-players to your preferred value.
Give the server a name using the motd field.

For a complete list of configurable options, check out the Minecraft server documentation.

Managing the Server via WebUI

Once the Minecraft server is up and running, you can manage it using the WebUI. You can access this by clicking on the Minecraft server icon in the Docker tab of Unraid or by going directly to http://192.168.1.69:8222/ (replace the IP with your own). After logging in with your chosen username and password, you’ll gain access to the server’s console.

A useful command here is /op playername, which grants operator privileges to a player in the game (replace playername with the actual player’s name). Operators can then run server commands like changing the weather, teleporting, and more (known as "cheats").

Additional Tips

Unlike other apps on my Unraid system, I chose to disable Auto Start for the Minecraft server. You can toggle this option in the Docker tab of Unraid. Since I only need the server occasionally, I manually turn it on when needed and off when I’m done.

And that’s it! You now have a fully functional Minecraft server running on Unraid. If you’ve discovered any additional tweaks or settings that have improved your experience, feel free to share them in the comments below!

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