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Ultimate Minecraft 1.21 Server Optimization Guide: Boost Performance for 50+ Players
Are you struggling with lag on your Minecraft server? Do you want to host 50+ players simultaneously without performance issues? This comprehensive optimization guide will help you achieve peak performance for your Minecraft 1.21 server running on Java 21 with 10GB RAM and multiple plugins.
Server Type: Paper/Purpur (Java Edition) | Minecraft Version: 1.21 | RAM Allocation: 10GB (8-9GB for Java) | Player Capacity: 50+ players | Java Version: Java 21
Step 1: Choosing the Optimal Server Software
The foundation of a high-performance Minecraft server starts with selecting the right server software. For maximum optimization, consider these options:
โข Paper - Highly optimized fork of Spigot, ideal for performance-focused serversDownload Paper
โข Purpur - Based on Paper with additional customization optionsDownload Purpur
Both options provide significant performance improvements over vanilla Minecraft or standard Spigot, with Paper focusing on core performance and Purpur offering additional customization for specific server needs.
Step 2: Optimizing RAM Allocation & Java Flags
Proper memory allocation and Java Virtual Machine (JVM) flags are crucial for server performance. When working with 10GB of total RAM:
โข Allocate 8-9GB to Javaโข Reserve 1GB for your operating systemโข Use the appropriate garbage collector for your hardware
G1GC Optimized Start Script (Recommended for Most Servers)
The Garbage-First Garbage Collector (G1GC) provides the best balance of speed and stability for most Minecraft servers:
Code:
java -Xms8G -Xmx9G -XX:+UseG1GC -XX:+ParallelRefProcEnabled -XX:MaxGCPauseMillis=50 -XX:+UnlockExperimentalVMOptions -XX:+DisableExplicitGC -XX:+AlwaysPreTouch -jar paper.jar nogui ZGC Optimized Start Script (For High-End CPUs)
The Z Garbage Collector (ZGC) can offer better performance on modern, high-end CPUs:
Code:
java -Xms8G -Xmx9G -XX:+UseZGC -jar paper.jar nogui
Step 3: Configuring Server Files for Maximum Performance
Proper configuration of your server files is essential for handling a large player base with minimal lag.
Optimizing spigot.yml
Edit your /home/minecraft/spigot.yml file with these optimized settings:
Code:
entity-tracking-range:players: 48animals: 32monsters: 32misc: 16other: 16
world-settings:default:mob-spawn-range: 4save-structure-info: falsemerge-radius:item: 4.0exp: 6.0view-distance: 6simulation-distance: 4These settings reduce the distance at which entities are tracked and optimize how items and experience orbs merge, significantly reducing server load.
Optimizing paper.yml
Edit your /home/minecraft/paper.yml file with these performance-focused settings:
Code:
settings:enable-player-collisions: falsemax-joins-per-tick: 5use-alternate-keepalive: trueplayer-auto-save-rate: -1
timings:enabled: false
chunk-system:worker-threads: 6 # Adjust based on CPU cores Optimizing purpur.yml (If Using Purpur)
If you've chosen Purpur as your server software, edit /home/minecraft/purpur.yml:
Code:
performance:allow-unsafe-drops: truedisable-chest-cat-detection: truereduce-collision-checks: trueallow-duplicate-uuids: falseitem-despawn-rate: 400monster-despawn-rate: 400
Step 4: Fine-Tuning server.properties
The server.properties file contains several key settings that can drastically impact performance:
Code:
view-distance=6simulation-distance=4network-compression-threshold=512max-tick-time=1000use-native-transport=truesync-chunk-writes=falseSetting: network-compression-threshold=512โข Function: Packets smaller than 512 bytes won't be compressedโข Performance Impact: Reduces CPU load while maintaining reasonable bandwidth usage
Setting: use-native-transport=trueโข Function: Uses optimized Linux networkingโข Performance Impact: Improves CPU efficiency for network operations
Setting: sync-chunk-writes=falseโข Function: Disables synchronous chunk savingโข Performance Impact: Prevents main thread blocking during world saves
Step 5: Pre-generating Chunks to Prevent Exploration Lag
One of the biggest causes of server lag is when players explore new areas, forcing the server to generate chunks on the fly. Pre-generating chunks solves this problem:
- Install the Chunky plugin
- Run the following commands:
Code:
/chunky radius 5000/chunky start - Wait for the pre-generation process to complete
This process can take several hours depending on your server's processing power and the radius specified, but it will dramatically improve performance when players explore your world.
Step 6: Database Optimization (For MySQL/MariaDB Users)
If you're using plugins that rely on databases (like LuckPerms, CoreProtect, etc.), optimize your database configuration:
โข Use MariaDB instead of MySQL (faster performance)โข Edit your my.cnf file with these optimizations:
Code:
innodb_flush_log_at_trx_commit = 2sync_binlog = 0These settings improve database write performance while maintaining reasonable data safety.
Step 7: Entity & World Optimization
Entities are one of the biggest performance drains on Minecraft servers. Optimizing entity spawning and behavior is crucial:
Limiting Entity Spawning in bukkit.yml
Edit your bukkit.yml file to control entity spawn limits:
Code:
spawn-limits:monsters: 40animals: 15water-animals: 5ambient: 2 Reducing Hopper Lag
Hoppers are notorious for causing TPS drops. Add these settings to reduce hopper-related lag:
Code:
hopper-amount: 2hopper-check: 16
Disabling Unused Dimensions
If your server doesn't use certain dimensions, disable them to save resources:
Code:
allow-nether: false
Step 8: Monitoring and Analyzing Performance
Regular monitoring is essential to maintain optimal performance:
โข Use Spark plugin for detailed performance analysis:
Code:
/spark profilerโข Monitor TPS (Ticks Per Second):
Code:
/tpsโข Analyze timings (though Spark is preferred by developers):
Code:
/timings on/timings paste
Final Optimization Checklist
Follow these best practices to maintain optimal server performance:
โข Check /tps regularly (aim for 20.0 TPS)โข Remove unnecessary pluginsโข Use /spark profiler to identify lag sourcesโข Schedule daily server restarts to prevent memory leaksโข Encourage players to use client-side optimization mods like Sodiumโข Monitor player count and adjust settings as needed
Troubleshooting Common Performance Issues
If you notice your server's RAM usage steadily increasing over time:โข Identify problematic plugins using Sparkโข Set up automatic server restarts every 12-24 hoursโข Consider adjusting garbage collection parameters
For sudden performance drops:โข Check for redstone contraptions or entity farmsโข Look for chunk loaders or other intensive mechanicsโข Use /spark tps to identify problematic areas
If players experience lag when exploring:โข Ensure chunks are pre-generatedโข Consider lowering view-distance furtherโข Use Paper's no-tick-view-distance feature
Conclusion: Balanced Performance for Your Minecraft Community
By implementing these optimizations, your Minecraft 1.21 server should be capable of handling 50+ players with minimal lag, even with numerous plugins installed. Remember that server optimization is an ongoing process - continue monitoring performance and making adjustments as your server grows.
Have you implemented these optimizations on your server? What improvements did you notice? Share your experiences in the comments below!
Credit: This guide is adapted from information shared by ConnerPVP from Spiced Network
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