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I would like to create a minecraft server for me and and my boyfriend to play on. Our PCs are networked and on the same LAN.

How do I set it up? Do I need any additional software? Do you have some links to walkthroughs or tutorials?

I have tried to set this up a few times but have failed every time.

EDIT: I found this link very useful for an idiot's guide to setting up a Minecraft Server

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Slap the wiki link in an answer; it deserves a vote or two. – Stuart Pegg Apr 9 '11 at 8:57

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Start by downloading Minecraft_Server.exe from the official minecraft website.

Place it in an empty folder somewhere on your computer and open it. You'll see the world being created, and when it's done, it'll tell you so. As long as that program is open and running, your server will be available for connection.

Any computer on your LAN will be able to connect to this server now. Simply open minecraft, login and head into multiplayer. Type in the LAN address (found here) of the computer where the server is running, and hit connect. If it doesn't connect on the first try, give it a couple more tries.

Troubleshooting

  • Try changing your firewall settings (XP, Vista/7). The application you're adding is Minecraft_Server.exe, the port is 25565 (or port range 25565-25565), and you want this on both TCP and UDP protocols (you may have to add a rule for each).
  • Try port forwarding on your router. If you have access to your router, open your router configuration webpage (um, what?) and find the Port Forwarding section (might be listed under Applications and Gaming). Use the same ports and protocols as above.
  • Try setting the server to offline mode. Close the server for a moment. Go into the folder where Minecraft_Server.exe is sitting, and find the server.properties file (may simply appear as server). Open this with Notepad and change online-mode from true to false. Save it, close it, and start the server again.
  • Try connecting the computers directly to one another, via ethernet cable. This one will work as a last resort, and is handy for laptops or desktops which are fairly close together. If you're picking up wireless internet or have a second ethernet port in your computer, you won't even have to sacrifice your internet connection.
  • Instead of connecting by putting in your LAN address in the server IP box, put in "localhost" (without the quotes) in the server IP box and try to connect.
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Everytime my friend tries connecting to my machine I get a message that he logged in but he is stuck at the Logging In screen. After he disconnects due to a timeout, the server throws an error and my entire internet goes down. Do you know why this is? – Rachel Apr 9 '11 at 5:10
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Minecraft adds :25565 on the end by default. So long as you don't change the port, adding it explicitly is redundant. – Keaanu Apr 9 '11 at 6:30
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Technical note, if you're connecting 2 computers together directly (without a hub switch or router) you need a crossover cable rather than a standard ethernet cable. – Kurley Apr 9 '11 at 8:15
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Good troubleshooting section. +1 – Stuart Pegg Apr 9 '11 at 8:58
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@Kurley Not necessarily. Many modern network cards will detect a direct ethernet connection over a "straight" (non-crossover) cable and make the necessary pinout crossover internally. – SevenSidedDie Sep 19 '11 at 23:59
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up vote 8 down vote

I found this wiki link very useful for setting up a server

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up vote 0 down vote

It is also possible to set one up Hamachi

The benefits of this is that,

  • No need to open ports,
  • Closed server so no people will come on and grief without being on your hamachi
  • It's free and easy to get setup and running.

Cons are

  • Can be limited to number of people on it.
  • Higher encryption so can be slower.
  • Requires other people to download and install hamchi
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