How to Install Modpacks on your Server
The most liberating aspect of Minecraft is the wide range of variety and freedom you get in the mods and addons. Now, these mods are mostly designed and created by the user-base. This means there’s a ton of creativity out there that is continually creating new content for the game. It’s been over a decade since Minecraft was released, and today there are thousands of mod packs out there. And most of these mods have been ingeniously designed by players of the game who make it available for others. This is one of our favorite parts of the Minecraft Community. They are alive and ever-growing!
Occasionally, you may run into a dead-end or get stuck while trying to install a modpack if you aren’t too experienced. This is more frequent when you attempt to modify a map on a server because it takes up a lot of resources. Other times, you may have trouble with your memory when the task takes up a lot of space on your server. Either way, it can be very frustrating when you can’t get the mod pack to install or work properly.
No worries! We’ve put together this insightful bit, to help you easily navigate through the installation.
1. Choose your mod and download it
The first thing you need to do is look for the kind of mod you want and download it. Sometimes this is easier said than done, because of the thousands of options that are available online. But a little browsing should be all it takes to narrow down on your choice of the mod. Other times, you can stumble on new mods when you’re browsing the lists. You’re more likely to find them through the second method because new mods are often updated daily.
Once you find the mod you want, carefully go through the requirements of the mod so that you know precisely which pack you’re downloading. For example, certain mods may require you to install other tools or software before they can work. In these cases, you save more time by knowing what tools you need to have ready before you begin the installation. Generally, mod packs usually come in zipped archives that you can download.
If you’ve selected the mod, look for the server download function on the website. You’ll need to get the version that is suited to your server. So, click on the server version on the list, and you should see the file downloading automatically. Once the files are downloaded, go ahead and unzip the files so that you can run the mudpack. When you run the mudpack, it’s not to install, but to check if there are any files corrupt or missing. If there are no error messages or windows, it means the mudpack is good to go.
2. Create a jar folder
Once the file is ready for use, you can create the jar folder. To set up the jar file, just create a new empty folder and rename it to ‘jar.’ Once this folder is created, your jar file will need to have three essential elements.
- The first file is the main .jar file. You’ll need this file for the mod pack to be functional. Any other mods will also require you to have the necessary .jar file.
- Next is the Forge .jar file. Your system will need this file to run Forge on your server properly.
- A folder which you can rename as ‘Library.’ This folder will house all the files you need to run Forge and set up the mod pack on your server. So, this folder is a crucial element in the setup process.
The good news here is that most mod packs come with these three elements already prepared. So if you’ve correctly downloaded the mod pack, you should already have them. In this case, just move these three files and folder into the jar folder.
3. Installing the mod
The actual installation starts now, and it’s arguably the most critical step (assuming you’ve downloaded the correct files). The installation process is like instructing your server on which jar file to run and how to run it. You’ll need an FTP client (usually 3rd party software) to install the mod pack correctly. Some popular FTP clients include Transmit, FileZilla, Free FTP, CyberDuck, etc. Go for whatever you’re already using, no issues here.
Open and runt he FTP client, and go to the folder where you’ve stored the files in the previous step. You should make sure that your server is not running any past versions or files while this is done. Check and close any funning files so that your mod pack can be installed without interference from other resources.
Once this is cleared, go and select all the content in the folder. Then, move it to the relevant section of your server (usually the home directory). It may take some time for the files to finish transferring, depending on the size of the mod and the data you downloaded.
To make sure that your server knows which jar to run, go to the Server Details section and find the text box. Click the text box and enter the name of the Forge .jar file for it to appear. Once done, click on the save button so that your server remembers the selection.
4. Initialize the mod pack
We’re almost done. Once the files are transferred, go to the control panel. Here, we’ll start the server and let the new mod pack begin its initialization.
When the server is started, you should see the mod pack initializing. This is because the process is automated, and it triggers when you run the server. You should see a display window/screen that shows you the progress of the continuous output. Once initialized, there are two possible responses you’ll see on your screen. If it shows ‘Start-up successful’ or ‘Start-up done,’ it means the installation is successful. Alternatively, it may display the ‘Server Console’ Checkbox.
When the console displays the ‘Done’ or ‘Successful’ message, it means the installation has been correctly done, and you’re ready to play.
Whenever you install a new mod pack, we recommend that you create and save a new world on your server. A lot of mod packs come with variations in generating worlds or spawning ores. Starting a new world allows your server to accommodate these variations from scratch. If you continue without starting a new world, you run the risk of incompatibility with the current settings. This will cause errors, and your mod pack won’t run properly. Before you restart, just add a new world on your server and click the save button.