Mindustry / UPDATED April 29, 2026

How to Set Up a Mindustry Dedicated Server

Run a Mindustry dedicated server using the server JAR from GitHub or itch.io. Covers Java 11 requirement, download, launch command, and hosting your first map with the host console command.

Mindustrysetupdedicated serverJavaJARserver.jar

Mindustry Dedicated Server Setup

Mindustry's dedicated server is a headless Java application — no GUI, runs entirely in the terminal. It's separate from the game client and available for free.

Step 1 — Install Java 11

The Mindustry server requires Java 11. Check your version:

java -version

If you see 11.x.x or higher, you're set. To install on Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y openjdk-11-jdk

On CentOS/RHEL:

sudo yum install java-11-openjdk -y

Step 2 — Download the Server JAR

GitHub Releases (recommended):

Go to github.com/Anuken/Mindustry/releases
Find the latest release (e.g. v157.x)
Download server-release.jar

Via command line:

mkdir ~/mindustry-server && cd ~/mindustry-server
wget https://github.com/Anuken/Mindustry/releases/latest/download/server-release.jar

The server JAR is approximately 15 MB.

Step 3 — Start the Server

java -jar server-release.jar

You'll see output like:

[INFO] Server loaded. Type 'help' for help.

The config/ directory is created automatically on first run — this is where maps, mods, and configuration are stored.

Step 4 — Host a Map

The server starts but doesn't automatically begin hosting. From the server console:

host Serpulo [survival]

Replace Serpulo with any map name. The optional [mode] parameter sets the game mode:

Mode	Description
`survival`	Build defenses, survive enemy waves (default)
`attack`	Destroy the enemy core while defending yours
`pvp`	Player vs player — destroy opposing teams' cores
`sandbox`	No enemies, unlimited resources, manual waves

To see available maps:

maps

Step 5 — Check Server Status

Once hosting, players can join by your server's IP on port 6567.

From the server console:

status    # Server info + player count
players   # List connected players

Step 6 — Keeping the Server Running

For temporary sessions, wrap the launch in screen:

screen -S mindustry java -jar server-release.jar

Detach: Ctrl+A then D
Reattach: screen -r mindustry

For persistent hosting with auto-restart on crash, set up a systemd service (see the systemd article).

Directory Structure

After first launch, your server directory looks like:

mindustry-server/
├── server-release.jar
└── config/
    ├── maps/        ← custom .msav map files
    ├── mods/        ← plugins (.jar/.js) and content mods (.zip)
    └── settings.bin ← server config (auto-managed)

Minimum Hardware

Resource	Minimum	Recommended
CPU	1 core @ 1.5 GHz	2+ GHz
RAM	512 MB	1–2 GB
Storage	2 GB	5 GB
Port	6567 TCP+UDP	—