No More Lag: Build Your Own High-Performance Minecraft Server on VPSPioneer

Nothing kills the mood of a gaming session faster than “lag.” You are about to land the final blow on the Ender Dragon, or place the last block of your mega-base, and suddenly—rubber-banding. The screen freezes, and seconds later, you are dead.

If you are renting a “slot-based” server or trying to host a game on your home Wi-Fi, this is a familiar pain. Shared game hosting providers often cram hundreds of customers onto a single machine, leading to poor performance and restricted control.

It’s time to level up.

By hosting your own Minecraft (or Palworld, CS2, Valheim) server on a VPSPioneer VPS, you gain dedicated resources, enterprise-grade connection speeds, and total freedom to install whatever mods you want.

In this guide, we will walk you through setting up a blazing-fast Minecraft Java Edition server on a VPS.

Why a VPS is the Best Weapon for Gaming

Why choose a Virtual Private Server (VPS) over standard “Minecraft Hosting” sites?

Dedicated Resources: On a VPSPioneer VPS, your RAM and CPU power are reserved for you. No more sharing performance with 50 other laggy servers.
NVMe Speed = Fast Chunk Loading: Minecraft relies heavily on disk speed to load the world as you fly around. Our NVMe SSDs ensure chunks load instantly.
Low Ping (Latency): Our data centers are connected to major internet backbones. This means lower ping for you and your friends, resulting in smoother PvP and movement.
Total Control: Want to install a specific Modpack? Want to switch from Minecraft to Palworld next month? With a VPS, you own the OS. You make the rules.

The Hardware: Choosing Your Plan

Minecraft is CPU and RAM hungry.

For a vanilla server (5-10 friends): A VPSPioneer plan with 4GB RAM is ideal.
For Modded (Feed The Beast, etc.) or 20+ players: We recommend 8GB RAM or higher.

👉 Check out our High-Performance VPS Plans

Step-by-Step Guide: Installing a Minecraft Server on Linux

We will use Ubuntu 22.04, the industry standard for servers. Don’t worry if you’ve never used the terminal; just follow these commands.

Prerequisites

A VPSPioneer VPS.
SSH Access (PuTTY or Terminal).

Step 1: Update Your System

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -yStep 2: Install Java (OpenJDK)
Minecraft requires Java to run. For modern versions of Minecraft (1.20+), you need Java 17 or higher. We will install the latest available version.

sudo apt install openjdk-21-jre-headless -y

Verify the installation:

java -version

Step 3: Create a Folder for Your Server

Keep your files organized.

mkdir minecraft-server
cd minecraft-server

Step 4: Download the Server File

You need the official server.jar. You can get the link from the Minecraft website or use the command below for the latest version (Example for 1.20.4, check for newer versions):

wget https://piston-data.mojang.com/v1/objects/8dd1a28015f51b1803213892b50b7b4fc76e594d/server.jar

Step 5: The EULA Agreement

You must agree to Mojang’s End User License Agreement to run the server.

Run the server once to generate the files (it will fail, this is normal):

java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar server.jar nogui

Edit the eula.txt file:

nano eula.txt

Change eula=false to eula=true.

Save and exit (Ctrl+O, Enter, Ctrl+X).

Step 6: Keep it Running with ‘Screen’

If you just run the server and close your SSH window, the server will stop. We use a tool called screen to keep it running in the background.

sudo apt install screen -y

Start your server in a screen session:

screen -S minecraft java -Xmx4G -Xms4G -jar server.jar nogui

(Note: Change -Xmx4G to match your VPS RAM amount, leaving a little bit for the OS. If you have a 4GB VPS, allocate 3G or 3500M).

Success! Your server is now generating the world. Friends can connect using your VPS IP Address (e.g., 192.168.1.50).

To exit the screen without stopping the server: Press Ctrl+A, then D.
To resume the screen later: Type screen -r.

Going Beyond: Palworld, CS2, and More

The beauty of a VPSPioneer server is versatility. Bored of Minecraft?

You can stop the Minecraft server and install a Palworld dedicated server using SteamCMD, or host a Counter-Strike 2 match. You aren’t locked into one game. You are renting a high-performance computer, not just a “slot.”

Why VPSPioneer for Gaming?

DDoS Protection: Gaming attracts trolls. Our infrastructure includes basic protection to keep your server online even if someone tries to flood it.
Root Access: Want to optimize your Linux kernel for gaming? Want to install a custom firewall? You have full root access.
Scalability: Did your server go viral? Upgrade your RAM and CPU instantly from your client panel without losing your world data.

👉 Launch Your Game Server on VPSPioneer Today

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How much RAM do I really need? A: For a basic Vanilla Minecraft server with 5 players, 2GB is the minimum. However, for a lag-free experience with extensive world exploration or plugins, 4GB is the “sweet spot.” If you plan to run heavy modpacks (like “All The Mods”), aim for 8GB+.

Q: Can I join from my Xbox or PS5 (Bedrock Edition)? A: The guide above is for “Java Edition” (PC). However, you can install a plugin called GeyserMC on your VPSPioneer server that allows Bedrock (Console/Mobile) players to join your Java server! This is a huge advantage of self-hosting.

Q: Is it hard to manage? A: It requires learning a few commands, but it is a valuable skill. If you prefer a graphical interface, you can install free panels like Pterodactyl or Crafty Controller on your VPSPioneer VPS to manage your games with a nice UI.

Q: Why is my server lagging? A: Lag can be network-related or hardware-related.

Network: You are too far from the data center. Choose a VPSPioneer location closest to you.
Hardware: You might have too many entities (mobs/items) or not enough RAM allocated. Check your server logs and consider upgrading your VPS plan.