To host a Roguelike Adventures and Dungeons (RAD) server, download the official server pack for the exact RAD release, extract it into its own folder, accept the Minecraft EULA, configure server.properties, assign the recommended 4 GB of RAM, and run the pack’s included Forge launch script. Players must use the same RAD generation and release as the server. If friends connect over the internet, you must also allow the server through the host firewall and forward its Minecraft port through your router.
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The current CurseForge project listing identifies the original RAD pack as a Forge modpack for Minecraft 1.12.2, with R.A.D. – 1.56 listed as the latest release and RAD-Serverpack-1.56 as its matching server file. Project listings can change, so confirm the release and filename when you download them.
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RAD is a large exploration-focused Forge pack rather than a small collection of client-only mods. Its content includes dungeons, structures, quests, leveling, loot and several dimensions, including Twilight Forest, Aether, The Betweenlands, Tropicraft, Cavern and The Beneath. A server therefore needs a Java runtime, disk space for generated chunks, and enough CPU, memory and storage performance to handle exploration by several players.
- A 64-bit operating system and a 64-bit Java runtime compatible with the exact RAD release.
- The official RAD server pack from the project’s CurseForge files. Use the server pack instead of collecting individual mods from mirrors.
- A dedicated directory where the server can write Forge files, configuration, logs and world data.
- At least the project’s recommended 4 GB of allocated RAM as a starting point. This is a recommendation, not a guarantee of a particular tick rate or player count.
- Administrative access to the computer, plus firewall and router access if people outside your local network will join.
- A backup destination with enough space for the world and configuration files.
The official material does not establish a universal CPU, storage-size or player-count minimum. Treat those as capacity decisions: more simultaneous exploration, more generated dimensions and longer-running worlds increase the load and the size of backups.
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Choose the correct RAD generation first
Original RAD and its successors are separate server families. The original project is a Minecraft 1.12.2 Forge pack. RAD2 is a different line documented for Minecraft 1.16.5, 64-bit Java 8 and Forge 36.2.39 in its managed-host guidance. RAD3 is another generation. Do not combine a RAD2 server folder with an original RAD client, or substitute the Java and Forge files from one generation into another.
| Pack line | Minecraft version | Loader/runtime information established by the project material | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original RAD | 1.12.2 | Forge; use a compatible 64-bit Java runtime for the selected release | Download the server pack whose release exactly matches the client profile. |
| RAD2 | 1.16.5 | 64-bit Java 8; Forge 36.2.39 is documented for one RAD2 configuration | Follow the RAD2 files and instructions, not the original RAD procedure by assumption. |
| RAD3 | Not established here | Different generation and requirements | Use only the server pack and documentation supplied for that release. |
For the original pack, the current project listing names R.A.D. – 1.56 and RAD-Serverpack-1.56. Verify the project page immediately before downloading because a newer file or a renamed server archive may appear.
Download and unpack the official server pack
- Open the official RAD project on CurseForge. Select the release you intend to run and locate its matching server-pack file. A client profile and a server pack are not interchangeable downloads.
- Create a dedicated folder. Use a path such as
C:MinecraftRAD-Serveron Windows or/srv/minecraft/rad-serveron Linux. Avoid putting the world inside a temporary Downloads folder or a directory synchronized by consumer backup software while the server is running. - Extract the entire archive. Preserve the directory structure, scripts, libraries, Forge files and configuration files supplied by the pack. Do not delete a file merely because it appears unused.
- Record the release. Keep the downloaded archive and note its version in your server documentation. This makes a rollback possible if an update damages a world or introduces a mod mismatch.
The server pack is the authoritative bundle for that release. Installing individual mods from random mirrors can produce the wrong versions, missing dependencies or altered configurations, and makes it difficult to reproduce the server for another administrator.
Accept the EULA and configure the first run
- Open the extracted server directory and find
eula.txt. Read the Minecraft EULA and change the value only if you agree to it, for example fromeula=falsetoeula=true. - Open
server.propertiesin a plain-text editor. Set the world name, difficulty, whitelist behavior, view distance and other options before inviting players. - Choose a distinctive
level-nameif you want the world stored under a specific folder. If you change it later, the server will use a different world directory rather than rename the existing one. - Enable the whitelist when the server is private. Add players from the server console with the whitelist command supplied by Minecraft, then check that their names appear before opening the port publicly.
- Keep administrative settings private. Never expose a remote console, file panel or operating-system service directly to the internet just to make Minecraft connectivity work.
On the first successful launch, Forge and the pack create additional files and generate the world. Let that process finish before stopping the server. A window that appears idle while libraries or dimensions are being prepared may still be working; inspect the console and log rather than killing it repeatedly.
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Set memory and launch the Forge server
The RAD project page recommends allocating 4 GB of RAM. Set that value in the launch script or in the JVM arguments supplied with the server pack. Do not edit a client launcher profile and assume it changes the dedicated server.
- Open the included Windows or Linux launch script in a text editor.
- Find the JVM memory arguments, commonly expressed as an initial heap such as
-Xmsand a maximum heap such as-Xmx. Set the maximum to 4 GB using the syntax already present in the script, rather than adding a second conflicting argument. - Save a copy of the original script before editing. If the pack is updated, compare the new script with your copy instead of blindly replacing it.
- On Windows, run the supplied
.batscript. On Linux, run the supplied shell script and ensure it has execute permission; the exact filenames come from the release you downloaded. - Wait for the console to report that the server has finished loading before connecting. The first start can take substantially longer because Forge creates libraries, configuration and world data.
RAD2 documentation uses LaunchServer.bat and LaunchServer.sh for its own installation sequence. Those names and Java requirements can differ between RAD generations, so use the files included with the exact release rather than copying scripts between packs.
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How to judge whether 4 GB is enough
Watch the Java process over several play sessions instead of increasing memory pre-emptively. Check heap usage, garbage-collection pauses, CPU load and disk activity while players explore new chunks and dimensions. If the heap repeatedly reaches its limit and pauses become long, investigate view distance, chunk generation and other causes before simply assigning all available system memory. Leave the operating system and other services room to run.
Make the server reachable to players
Players on the same local network
Test locally first. From another computer on the same network, connect to the host’s private IP address and the configured Minecraft port. This separates a mod or Java problem from an internet-routing problem.
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Players outside your home network
- Allow the Java server process or the configured Minecraft port through the host operating system’s firewall.
- If the host is behind a router, create a port-forwarding rule from the router’s external Minecraft port to the server computer’s private IP address and the same internal port. Minecraft commonly uses
25565, but use the value inserver.propertiesif you changed it. - Give the server computer a stable local address, such as a DHCP reservation, so the forwarding rule does not point to a different device after a reboot.
- Have a player outside your network test the connection using your public address. Testing from inside the same network may fail on routers that do not support hairpin connections even when the external rule is correct.
- Keep the whitelist enabled and expose only the Minecraft port. Router menus vary by vendor; there is no single universal sequence for every model.
If a remote player times out, check the server console first, then the host firewall, the router’s forwarding destination, the configured port and whether your internet provider places the connection behind carrier-grade NAT. A successful local connection does not prove that the server is reachable from the internet.
Make every client match the server
Every player should install the same modpack generation and release as the server, including the same loader family and pack configuration. The least error-prone method is to distribute the exact CurseForge profile or tell players to install the same official project release you used for the server.
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- Registry-sync errors: compare the complete pack release on both sides before changing individual files.
- Missing-mod errors: confirm that the player installed the server’s generation, not RAD2 or RAD3, and that the loader is Forge.
- Different behavior after a configuration edit: compare the relevant configuration files and restore the server-pack defaults if necessary.
- Unexpected disconnects after an update: stop updating one side at a time. Roll both server and clients back to the known-good release, then plan a coordinated upgrade.
Do not solve a mismatch by copying the server’s entire mods folder over a player’s installation without checking the release. A clean profile based on the exact official version is easier to diagnose and preserve.
Backups, updates and safe maintenance
Back up before the first public session
Stop the server cleanly with the console’s stop command, then copy the world directory and the server’s configuration, scripts and properties to a separate device or storage location. A backup made while region files are being written may be incomplete. Keep at least one copy that is not permanently attached to the server machine.
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Use a simple backup rotation
- Keep a recent backup for routine mistakes.
- Keep an older backup from before major exploration or dimension changes.
- Label each archive with the RAD release and date.
- Periodically test that an archive can actually be opened and restored to a separate directory.
Update as a coordinated change
- Read the release notes and confirm that the new server pack targets the same RAD generation.
- Back up the world and configuration while the server is stopped.
- Install the new server pack in a separate directory rather than overwriting the only working copy.
- Apply documented configuration changes, then start the new directory with a test copy of the world when possible.
- Give every player the matching client release before switching the public server.
Never assume that a newer pack can safely open an older world or that downgrading will be harmless. Keep the old directory until the new installation has been played and backed up successfully.
Improve performance without guessing
RAD’s exploration and dimension content means that generating fresh terrain is often more demanding than standing in an already-loaded base. Pre-generate a safe area before an event, keep view distance conservative, and avoid sending several players into unexplored dimensions simultaneously when the machine is near its limits.
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- Watch CPU utilization during chunk generation and disk activity while new regions are saved.
- Reduce view distance if players are loading more terrain than the machine can process comfortably.
- Schedule backups for quiet periods and retain enough free disk space for world growth.
- Investigate a single overloaded dimension or mod through logs before removing content from the pack.
The 4 GB project recommendation is a starting allocation. It does not specify a guaranteed number of players, a guaranteed tick rate or a universal hardware configuration.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Self-hosting versus managed hosting
Self-hosting is appropriate when you control a machine that can remain online and are comfortable maintaining Java, Forge, networking and backups. Managed hosting is attractive when you prefer a control panel and provider-operated uptime, storage and support.
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| Decision factor | Self-hosted machine | Managed Minecraft host |
|---|---|---|
| Control | Direct access to scripts, JVM flags, logs, files and backups. | Control-panel access varies; some low-level settings may be restricted. |
| Networking | You handle firewall rules, port forwarding and public reachability. | The provider normally supplies a public endpoint, so home-router work is reduced. |
| Availability | Depends on your electricity, internet connection and maintenance. | The plan is designed for persistent hosting, subject to the provider’s terms. |
| Backups | You design, store and test them yourself. | Backups may be automated, but check retention, restore access and whether they cost extra. |
| Performance | You choose the CPU, storage and memory and can tune the JVM directly. | Check whether RAM is guaranteed or burstable and how CPU resources are shared. |
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| Cost | No separate hosting bill, but you pay in hardware, electricity, connectivity and your time. | Recurring monthly cost; plans, regions, RAM and pricing can change. |
CurseForge documents a hosted-server workflow for compatible modpacks: choose the modpack, plan, region and server details, then complete payment. That guide describes the service as powered by Shockbyte. Confirm current plans, available regions, memory, player-slot limits and pricing before committing; terms are not permanent.
A practical troubleshooting checklist
The launch script closes immediately
- Run it from a terminal so the error remains visible.
- Verify that a 64-bit Java runtime is installed and that the script points to the intended executable.
- Check that the script, Forge files and libraries were extracted completely.
- Use the Java and Forge requirements for this RAD generation, not a script copied from RAD2 or RAD3.
The server stops during startup
- Read the final lines of the console and the latest log for a missing library, invalid configuration or Java error.
- Restore the original configuration from the server pack if you changed several files at once.
- Confirm that the assigned heap is available and that the operating system has free memory.
- Test a fresh server directory with a copy of the world only after preserving the original installation.
Players get a mod or registry mismatch
Compare the exact project release, Minecraft version, Forge loader and configuration on the server and each client. Reinstalling the correct official profile is safer than replacing one jar at a time.
Players cannot connect from outside
Confirm that the server is running and listening on the port in server.properties, then check the host firewall and router forwarding rule. Verify that the forwarding target still has the same private IP. If local connections work but every external test times out, investigate upstream NAT or an internet-provider restriction.
The world lags when players explore
Check CPU, heap, garbage collection and disk activity during the lag. Reduce view distance, stagger exploration and pre-generate a safe area. Increasing RAM alone will not fix a CPU or storage bottleneck, and the official 4 GB recommendation is not a performance guarantee.
Quick Recap
Recommended first-session procedure
- Confirm the exact RAD release and download its official server pack.
- Install a compatible 64-bit Java runtime and create a new server directory.
- Extract the archive without changing its folder structure.
- Accept the EULA, configure the world and enable the whitelist.
- Set the launch script to the recommended 4 GB allocation.
- Start the server and wait for Forge and world generation to finish.
- Connect locally with one matching client and verify that the world saves correctly.
- Stop the server cleanly and make the first backup.
- Configure firewall and router access, then test from an external network.
- Give players the same official pack release and keep a rollback copy before future updates.
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