Windows 11 Fast Startup: Pros, Cons, and How to Toggle It

Background / Overview​

Step 1 — Decide Edition & Hosting Model​

Choose Java or Bedrock​

• Java Edition is best for: community servers with plugins, heavy modpacks, and admin control. Java servers use TCP and the familiar server.jar ecosystem.
• Bedrock Edition is best for: cross‑platform play (Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, Windows, mobile) and lightweight dedicated servers; Bedrock uses UDP and a different binary.

Pick a hosting model​

• Self‑host (home PC or spare machine): free hardware cost but dependent on your residential ISP upload bandwidth, NAT / port forwarding, and uptime. Good for small friend groups or testing.
• VPS / Cloud (DigitalOcean, AWS, Hetzner, etc.): reliable public IP and scalable resources; you pay for uptime and bandwidth.
• Game‑hosting providers (managed Minecraft hosts): easiest for non‑admins — one‑click installs, automated backups, DDoS mitigation, and panels to change Java versions. These range from budget shared game hosts to premium bare‑metal providers.

Step 2 — Install the Right Runtime and Server Software​

Java Edition — Java version and server jar​

• Vanilla: official server.jar (best for pure, unmodified play).
• Paper (PaperMC): compatibility with Spigot plugins, improved performance and optimizations — the community recommends Paper for small public servers. Use Paper for better TPS and plugin support.

• Place server.jar in a dedicated folder.
• Run once to generate files:
• java -jar server.jar nogui
• Edit eula.txt -> set eula=true
• Re‑launch with the proper memory allocation and flags (see Step 4).

Bedrock Edition — Dedicated server binary​

Step 3 — Configure Networking: Ports, Port Forwarding, and DNS​

Know the ports​

• Java Edition default port: TCP 25565. This is the handshake port for Java clients and the common public port used by most providers.
• Bedrock Edition default port: UDP 19132 (IPv4) and 19133 (IPv6). Confirm and expose UDP when forwarding.

Local IP vs public IP​

Port forwarding and firewall rules​

• On your router: forward TCP/UDP to your server’s local IP and the correct port(s). Router UIs differ — the AllAboutCookies port‑forwarding primer explains the concept and the security tradeoffs of opening ports on a home network.
• Windows Firewall / iptables: allow the Minecraft server port through the host firewall.
• If using a VPS or managed host: ensure the provider’s network/firewall or security groups permit the port.

Dynamic DNS and VPN alternatives​

• If you don’t have a static public IP, use dynamic DNS (DuckDNS, No‑IP, etc.) so players can connect to a domain name even when your public IP changes.
• VPN services and mesh nets (e.g., NordVPN Meshnet) can also create private network tunnels for friends to join without exposing your public IP directly — useful for privacy and bypassing complex router setups. However, VPN tunneling can add latency and may complicate NAT handling.

Security note​

Step 4 — Start Scripts, JVM Flags, and Performance Tuning​

Memory allocation and Paper recommendations​

• 1–5 players, vanilla: 1–3 GB
• 5–20 players, Paper/Spigot: 3–8 GB
• Large servers or modpacks: 8–32+ GB (depends heavily on mods and plugins)

Aikar’s JVM flags and starting the server​

• Example start command (modify Xms/Xmx as appropriate):
• java -Xms2G -Xmx6G -jar paper.jar --nogui
• For large, public servers, adopt Aikar’s full recommended flags from PaperMC docs to improve GC behavior and TPS. These flags are widely used by the hosting community and recommended on PaperMC’s site.

Disk and CPU considerations​

• Use NVMe or SSD storage for fast chunk reads/writes and to reduce world save lag.
• Minecraft is typically single‑thread sensitive for many tasks; choose CPUs with strong single‑core performance for best results. Hosting guides agree that single‑thread CPU speed often matters more than many cores.

Step 5 — Admin Tools, Plugins, Backups, and Operational Policies​

Admin basics​

• Operator (OP) commands: /op, /kick, /ban, /whitelist, and server.properties editing let you control who joins and what’s allowed.
• Whitelisting is essential for a small, private server — it prevents unknown players from joining and reduces griefing risk.

Plugins and mods​

• For Java Edition, use Paper for plugins (Bukkit/Spigot APIs). Avoid installing untrusted plugins — they run with server permissions and can be vectors for exploits.
• For modded servers, choose Forge or Fabric modloader variants and check version compatibility carefully. Modded setups typically increase memory and CPU needs significantly.

Backups and automated snapshots​

• Schedule automated backups of world folders and config files. Keep offsite copies (cloud or separate VPS) in case the host disk fails or a bad plugin corrupts the world.
• Test backups by restoring them to a secondary VM or locally to validate integrity.

Monitoring and DDoS protection​

• Use server panels or external monitoring to track CPU, memory, disk I/O, and player count.
• For public servers, consider hosts that offer DDoS mitigation. Open ingress on default ports makes public game servers common targets for DDoS attacks.

Step 6 — Security, Updates, and Community Management​

Keep software updated​

• Run the server version that matches your clients (or coordinate a planned upgrade).
• Apply security updates to the OS and the Java runtime. Mojang’s official notes show the bundled Java distribution for recent releases and list minimum Java versions — verify your Java version against your server version before upgrading.

Harden the host​

• Run the server under a non‑privileged account.
• Firewall: permit only the necessary ports, and restrict SSH/RDP to specific IPs or use keys and VPN access for admin connections.
• Limit plugin sources and audit plugin permissions.

Rules, moderation, and EULA compliance​

• Draft and enforce server rules; use plugins that log admin actions and player reports.
• For monetization, follow Mojang’s EULA and community guidelines — review the EULA before accepting donations or selling cosmetic perks.

Six Simple Steps — Recap (Quick checklist)​

• Choose edition and hosting model (Java vs Bedrock; self‑host vs VPS vs managed host).
• Install required runtime and server software (Java 21 for recent Java builds; BDS for Bedrock).
• Configure network: local static IP, port forwarding (25565 TCP for Java; 19132 UDP for Bedrock), firewall rules, or use a managed host to avoid NAT headaches.
• Launch with appropriate JVM flags and RAM; use Paper + Aikar’s flags for best performance.
• Install plugins/mods carefully, set up automated backups, and monitor resources.
• Harden, update, and manage community expectations — whitelist for private play and use DDoS‑protected hosts for public servers.

Common Pitfalls and Practical Risks​

• Wrong Java version: Running an older Java than required will produce crashes or incompatibilities. Confirm Java 21 for current 1.20/1.21 servers before launching. If your host panel can change Java versions, use it.
• Port forwarding mistakes: Forwarding the wrong protocol (TCP vs UDP) or forwarding to a dynamic local IP will cause intermittent failures. Set DHCP reservation or static IP on the server host.
• Under‑provisioned RAM/CPU: Low RAM or weak single‑core CPU leads to server lag and unstable TPS. Paper’s recommendations and community calculators help avoid guesswork.
• Plugin/Mod compatibility: Always match plugin/mod versions to the server version. Use a testing environment before deploying to production.
• Security and privacy: Sharing your public IP widely exposes your home network to scanning and potential abuse — consider managed hosts or VPN alternatives when appropriate.

Advanced Tips (Optional)​

• Use a reverse proxy & SRV records for Java: If you want a friendly domain name without a port, add an SRV DNS record pointing to your server host and port. Note Bedrock doesn’t support SRV in the same way — Bedrock players typically need the port included unless you get a dedicated IP.
• Consider Docker for repeatable deployments: Official and community images exist for both Java and Bedrock dedicated servers — docker images simplify upgrades and backups. When using Docker, expose ports carefully (append /udp for Bedrock).
• Use Git or a config backup tool to version your server.properties and plugin configs for easy rollbacks.
• If you run a network of servers, use proxy software (BungeeCord, Waterfall, Velocity) — these expose the network on TCP 25565 and forward internally; they add complexity and attack surface, so use them only when necessary.

What the AllAboutCookies “How To Host a Minecraft Server in 2025” material adds​

Final assessment and recommended setup for most readers​

• Use Java Edition if you want plugins and mods; install Java 21 and PaperMC, allocate 2–6 GB depending on player count, and use Aikar flags for JVM tuning. Verify with Paper’s documentation and the official Minecraft notes.
• If you need cross‑platform players (mobile/console), run a Bedrock Dedicated Server on a VPS or managed host and expose UDP 19132. Avoid running console‑accessible Bedrock on fragile home networks unless you’re comfortable with network configuration.
• For public communities, prefer managed hosts with DDoS protection and automated backups. For private friend groups, self‑hosting or inexpensive VPS plans are usually sufficient.