Installing Minecraft Mods

Introduction

This guide will help you install mods on your Minecraft server hosted at VeryCloud. Whether you're a beginner or expert, you'll find all the information needed to customize your gaming experience.

Prerequisites and Important Information

Before You Begin

• ✅ Your VeryCloud Minecraft server must be active
• ✅ You must have access to the VeryCloud control panel
• ✅ A backup of your world is recommended
• ✅ Check mod compatibility with your Minecraft version

⚠️ Warning ⚠️

• Always backup your world before installing mods
• Check compatibility between mods and server version
• Server-side mods require players to have the same mods installed
• Some mods may affect server performance

Supported Server Types

Vanilla Servers with Mods

• Forge: Most popular for large mod packs
• Fabric: Lighter and faster, ideal for simple mods
• Quilt: Modern alternative to Fabric

Plugin-based Servers

• Paper/Spigot: Uses plugins (.jar) instead of mods
• Purpur: Based on Paper with additional optimizations

Accessing Your VeryCloud Server

Via Control Panel

1. Panel Login
   • Go to panel.verycloud.fr
   • Log in with your VeryCloud credentials
   • Select your Minecraft server
2. File Manager
   • Click on "File Manager"
   • You'll see your server structure

Via FTP/SFTP (Alternative Method)

Server: your-server.verycloud.fr
Port: 22 (SFTP) or 21 (FTP)
Username: provided in your panel
Password: provided in your panel

Recommended FTP Clients:

• FileZilla (Free)
• WinSCP (Windows)
• Cyberduck (Mac/Windows)

Installing Forge

Step 1: Stop the Server

1. In your VeryCloud panel, click "Stop Server"
2. Wait for the status to change to "Stopped"

Step 2: Download Forge

1. Visit files.minecraftforge.net
2. Select your Minecraft version
3. Download the "Installer" version (not MDK)

Step 3: Installation on VeryCloud

Method 1: Via Panel (Recommended)

1. In the File Manager, delete the old server file (e.g., server.jar)
2. Upload the downloaded Forge file
3. Rename it to server.jar
4. Restart the server

Method 2: Manual Installation

1. Upload the Forge installer file
2. Connect via SSH (if available):

   java -jar forge-installer.jar --installServer
   

3. Modify the startup script to use the generated Forge JAR

Step 4: Verification

1. Start your server
2. Check the logs to ensure Forge loads correctly
3. A mods folder should appear automatically

Installing Fabric

Step 1: Download Fabric

1. Visit fabricmc.net
2. Download the universal installer
3. Or download the server JAR directly

Step 2: Installation

Direct Method (Recommended for VeryCloud)

1. Download the server jar from fabricmc.net/use/server
2. In your VeryCloud panel:
   • Delete the old server.jar
   • Upload the Fabric JAR
   • Rename it to server.jar

Step 3: Install Fabric API

Most Fabric mods require Fabric API:

1. Download Fabric API
2. Place the file in the mods folder

Installing Mods

Where to Find Mods

Official and Safe Sites:

• CurseForge
• Modrinth
• Official mod creator websites

Installation Procedure

1. Create Mods Folder

If the mods folder doesn't exist:

1. In the VeryCloud File Manager
2. Create a new folder named mods

2. Download and Install

1. Download the mod from an official site
2. Check compatibility:
   • Minecraft version
   • Loader (Forge/Fabric)
   • Required dependencies
3. Upload the .jar file to the mods folder
4. Restart the server

Example Installation: JEI (Just Enough Items)

1. Go to CurseForge
2. Search for "JEI"
3. Select the version for Minecraft 1.19.2 + Forge
4. Download the .jar file
5. Upload to /mods/
6. Restart the server

File Structure

your-server/
├── server.jar (Forge/Fabric)
├── mods/
│   ├── jei-1.19.2-forge.jar
│   ├── journeymap-server.jar
│   └── waystones-forge.jar
├── config/
│   ├── jei/
│   └── waystones/
└── world/

Configuration and Optimization

Configuration Files

Mods create configuration files in the config/ folder:

1. Access the config folder via the file manager
2. Modify files according to your needs
3. Restart the server to apply changes

Performance Optimization

Recommended Optimization Mods

For Forge:

• OptiFine (graphics improvement)
• AI Improvements (mob AI)
• FoamFix (memory optimization)

For Fabric:

• Sodium (optimized rendering)
• Lithium (general optimization)
• Phosphor (lighting optimization)

Server Configuration

Modify server.properties to optimize:

# Recommended optimizations for VeryCloud servers
max-tick-time=60000
spawn-protection=16
view-distance=8
simulation-distance=8

Memory Allocation

According to your VeryCloud plan:

• Starter Plan: -Xmx2G -Xms2G
• Gaming Plan: -Xmx4G -Xms4G
• Pro Plan: -Xmx8G -Xms8G

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Server Won't Start

Possible causes:

• Mod incompatible with Minecraft version
• Conflict between mods
• Insufficient memory

Solutions:

1. Check logs in the VeryCloud panel
2. Remove the last installed mod
3. Verify version compatibility

Crash on Connection

1. Verify players have the same client-side mods
2. Check crash reports in /crash-reports/
3. Check logs to identify the problematic mod

Degraded Performance

1. Reduce the number of active mods
2. Install optimization mods
3. Adjust settings in server.properties
4. Contact VeryCloud support for upgrade

Debug Commands

In the server console:

/forge tps        # Display TPS (Forge)
/fabric-api       # Fabric API info
/debug start      # Start profiling
/debug stop       # Stop profiling

Important Logs

Files to check when troubleshooting:

• latest.log: Main server log
• crash-reports/: Crash reports
• debug/: Debug information

Recommended Mods

Essential Server Mods

Management and Administration

Gameplay and Content

Optimization

Popular Mod Packs

For Beginners

• All the Mods 8 (Forge)
• Better MC (Forge)

Technical

• FTB Industrial Foregoing (Forge)
• Create Above and Beyond (Forge)

Adventure

• RLCraft (Forge)
• MC Eternal (Forge)

Advanced Configuration

Custom Startup Scripts

Create a custom start.sh file:

#!/bin/bash
java -Xmx4G -Xms4G \
     -XX:+UseG1GC \
     -XX:+UnlockExperimentalVMOptions \
     -XX:MaxGCPauseMillis=100 \
     -XX:+DisableExplicitGC \
     -XX:TargetSurvivorRatio=90 \
     -XX:G1NewSizePercent=50 \
     -XX:G1MaxNewSizePercent=80 \
     -XX:G1MixedGCLiveThresholdPercent=35 \
     -XX:+AlwaysPreTouch \
     -XX:+ParallelRefProcEnabled \
     -jar server.jar nogui

Automation with Cron

For automatic backups:

# Daily backup at 2 AM
0 2 * * * /home/minecraft/backup.sh

Monitoring and Alerts

Monitor your server with scripts:

#!/bin/bash
# check-server.sh
if ! pgrep -f "server.jar" > /dev/null; then
    echo "Server stopped, restarting..."
    cd /home/minecraft/
    ./start.sh
fi

Security and Best Practices

Server Security

1. Use a whitelist:

   whitelist=true
   

2. Configure permissions with LuckPerms
3. Limit resources:

   max-players=20
   spawn-protection=16
   

Regular Backups

VeryCloud panel offers automatic backups:

1. Enable daily backups
2. Test restoration regularly
3. Keep multiple backup points

Mod Updates

1. Check changelogs before updating
2. Test on a development server
3. Backup before any update

VeryCloud Support

Available Resources

• 💬 Community Discord: Join our Discord server
• 🎫 Support Tickets: Via your client area manager.verycloud.fr

Before Contacting Support

Prepare this information:

1. Minecraft version and loader (Forge/Fabric)
2. List of installed mods
3. Complete error messages
4. Log files (latest.log, crash reports)
5. Steps to reproduce the problem

Server Upgrades

If your mods require more resources:

1. Check metrics in your panel
2. Analyze RAM/CPU usage
3. Contact support for upgrade
4. Choose the plan suitable for your mods

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I install mods on a Paper/Spigot server? A: No, Paper/Spigot uses plugins. You need Forge or Fabric for mods.

Q: Do players need to have the same mods? A: Yes, for server-side mods. Client-side cosmetic mods are optional.

Q: How many mods can I install? A: It depends on your VeryCloud plan and mod complexity. Start small and add progressively.

Q: How do I update a mod? A: Remove the old version from the mods/ folder and add the new one.

Q: What if my server crashes? A: Check crash reports and logs, remove the last installed mod, and contact support if necessary.

Glossary

• Loader: Forge, Fabric, or Quilt
• Client-side: Mod installed on player side
• Server-side: Mod installed on server side
• Core mod: Mod modifying Minecraft's core
• Library: Dependency required by other mods

Advanced Features

Multi-World Support

Configure different worlds with different mod sets:

# In server.properties
level-name=world1
# Create different world folders with specific configs

Resource Pack Integration

Automatically distribute resource packs:

resource-pack=https://example.com/resourcepack.zip
resource-pack-sha1=hash-of-the-pack
require-resource-pack=true

Performance Monitoring

Monitor your server performance:

# Check TPS (Ticks Per Second)
# Ideal: 20 TPS
# Good: 18-20 TPS  
# Poor: <15 TPS

# Memory usage monitoring
free -h
top -p $(pgrep java)

Backup Strategies

Implement comprehensive backup strategies:

#!/bin/bash
# comprehensive-backup.sh
DATE=$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)
BACKUP_DIR="/backups/minecraft_$DATE"

# Create backup directory
mkdir -p "$BACKUP_DIR"

# Backup world
cp -r /minecraft/world "$BACKUP_DIR/"

# Backup server configuration
cp /minecraft/server.properties "$BACKUP_DIR/"
cp -r /minecraft/config "$BACKUP_DIR/"

# Backup installed mods list
ls -la /minecraft/mods/ > "$BACKUP_DIR/mods_list.txt"

echo "Backup completed: $BACKUP_DIR"

Load Balancing for Large Servers

For high-traffic servers, consider:

1. BungeeCord/Velocity: Connect multiple servers
2. Distributed worlds: Separate dimensions on different servers
3. Plugin-based solutions: For specific game modes

Security Hardening

Additional security measures:

# Firewall configuration
ufw allow 25565/tcp  # Minecraft port
ufw allow 22/tcp     # SSH
ufw enable

# Fail2ban configuration for SSH
# Edit /etc/fail2ban/jail.local
[sshd]
enabled = true
port = ssh
filter = sshd
logpath = /var/log/auth.log
maxretry = 3
bantime = 3600

Conclusion

Congratulations! You now have all the knowledge needed to install and manage mods on your VeryCloud Minecraft server.

Key Points to Remember

✅ Always backup before installing mods ✅ Check version compatibility ✅ Start small and add progressively ✅ Monitor server performance ✅ Use VeryCloud support when needed

Next Steps

1. Choose your loader (Forge or Fabric)
2. Install some essential mods
3. Test server stability
4. Invite your friends to join the adventure!