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How to Host a Soulrend Soulslike RPG Minecraft Server (Forge 1.20.1 Guide)

Set up a Soulrend server correctly with the official CurseForge pack, matching Forge 1.20.1 clients, publisher-backed memory targets, network configuration, backups and version-safe updates.
Length11 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Host Soulrend from its official CurseForge server pack, running Forge for Minecraft 1.20.1, and require every player to use the identical Soulrend release. The reliable process is to download the server-pack ZIP for the release your group selected, extract it into a clean server directory, accept the EULA on first launch, configure access and world settings, then expose the configured port through your firewall or managed host. Apotheotic Studios lists a one-button installer through Kinetic Hosting; self-hosting on a VPS or dedicated computer gives you more control.

What a Soulrend server needs

Soulrend is a Minecraft Java Edition modpack built for Forge 1.20.1. A functioning multiplayer installation has two sides: the server files and a client profile on every player’s computer. Both sides must use the same Minecraft version, Forge family, Soulrend release, and mod/config set. A client that is merely “close” to the server version can still fail during the handshake, often with a missing dependency or registry-mismatch message.

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Component Required choice Why it matters
Minecraft edition Java Edition The published pack is a Java/Forge modpack, not a Bedrock world.
Minecraft version 1.20.1 Forge and the pack’s mods are built against this version.
Server source Official Soulrend server pack from CurseForge The pack contains the server-side files and configuration intended by the publisher.
Client source The same Soulrend release through CurseForge or another compatible launcher Players need the matching mods, configs and Forge profile.
Current release noted by CurseForge v8.5, released October 9, 2026 Release numbers and server ZIPs can change; check the files page immediately before deployment.

Memory and hardware guidance

Apotheotic Studios’ published guidance, shown on its CurseForge material in 2026, is:

Use case Allocated server memory Qualification
Minimum starting point 6 GB Publisher guidance, not an independent benchmark. Leave additional system memory for the operating system, Java overhead and other services.
Recommended target 10 GB, about 65% of total system RAM Publisher guidance for a more comfortable setup; the remaining memory should stay available to the host system and background tasks.

The same publisher examples pair a Ryzen 5 5600X with an RTX 2060 or GTX 1660 Ti as a minimum client configuration, and a Ryzen 7 7800X3D with an RTX 4060 as a recommended client configuration. Those examples describe player hardware, not a measured server benchmark. Server demand changes with player count, simultaneous exploration, new-chunk generation, view distance and any other processes sharing the machine.

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Choose where to run the server

Self-hosting on a VPS or dedicated computer

A VPS, spare desktop or dedicated machine lets you choose the Java runtime, filesystem layout, backup schedule and firewall policy. It is the best fit when someone in the group is comfortable with operating-system updates, port forwarding and reading logs. A dedicated machine also avoids competing with a player’s game for CPU, memory and disk access.

  • Reserve a separate directory for Soulrend instead of mixing it with another Minecraft instance.
  • Use a supported 64-bit Java runtime for a Forge/Minecraft 1.20.1 server and verify it with java -version.
  • Choose fast, reliable storage; world generation and exploration create frequent reads and writes.
  • Keep the operating system, Java process and backup jobs in mind when sizing memory.

Managed hosting

A managed host handles the machine, networking panel and often automated backups. Confirm the exact Soulrend release and Forge 1.20.1 support before paying: “modpack support” is not proof that every CurseForge pack can be installed.

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Provider Published Soulrend or Forge capability What to verify before ordering
Kinetic Hosting Apotheotic Studios says, “Kinetic Hosting partnered with Apotheotic Studios to offer quick and easy server hosting for Soulrend,” with a one-button Soulrend installer. Current price, region, CPU allocation, backup controls, uptime terms and the Soulrend release currently offered are not established by that statement.
Modrinth Hosting Advertises integrated modpack installation and Forge support, with displayed 4 GB, 6 GB and 8 GB plans. Ask whether the current CurseForge Soulrend server pack imports directly and whether the selected plan provides enough memory for your group.
DedicatedMinecraft.host Its Soulrend page claims automatic installation from the CurseForge library with optimized Forge settings for 1.20.1. Check the control panel’s actual pack version, included backups, CPU share and restore procedure.
GHOSTCAP Its landing page lists Soulrend-compatible plans beginning at 16 GB RAM and $16.99 per month. Prices, availability, geographic location and the installed pack version are volatile; confirm them at checkout.

Compare hosts by allocated memory, CPU share, one-click installation, backup and restore controls, geographic latency, support for the exact Forge version, update policy and total monthly cost. A one-button installer is convenient, but you still need a way to change server.properties, inspect latest.log and restore a world after a failed update.

Select the release and obtain the official server pack

CurseForge currently lists Soulrend v8.5, dated October 9, 2026. Treat that as a point-in-time listing rather than a permanent version: the publisher can replace it with a newer release. Have the group agree on one release first, then download the server-pack file associated with that release. Do not download a random client ZIP and try to turn it into a server.

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  • EXPLORE AND CRAFT — Discover biomes, resources, and mobs, then craft your way through a sandbox world filled with surprises.
  • SURVIVE THE ADVENTURE — Face mysterious foes, travel across exciting landscapes, and venture into perilous dimensions.
  • PLAY TOGETHER — Play cross-platform with friends in Bedrock Edition on console, mobile, and PC, or join community servers in Java Edition on PC, Mac, and Linux. Online console multiplayer requires a platform-specific subscription (sold separately).
  1. Open the Soulrend files listing in CurseForge and identify the release your players will install.
  2. Choose that release’s server-pack channel or server ZIP, not an unrelated add-on or an older archive.
  3. Record the release number in your setup notes so you can verify it when players connect.
  4. Save the ZIP unchanged. If a download is interrupted or the archive appears incomplete, download it again rather than copying individual mods from a client installation.

The server pack is the authoritative installation source. Manually assembling a server from selected client mods can omit libraries, data files or configuration that Soulrend expects.

Install Soulrend on a self-hosted machine

1. Prepare a clean server directory

Create a directory used only for this instance, such as a folder named for the release. Give the account that will run Minecraft ownership of the directory, and avoid placing it inside a cloud-synchronized folder. Synchronization tools can lock region files while the server is writing them.

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2. Install and verify 64-bit Java

Install a supported 64-bit Java runtime for Forge/Minecraft 1.20.1 from a maintained distribution appropriate to your operating system. Open a terminal or command prompt and run java -version. If the command is missing or reports a 32-bit runtime, correct that before unpacking Soulrend. Do not assume that the Java bundled with a launcher is available to a standalone server process.

3. Extract the server ZIP

Extract the matching official archive directly into the dedicated directory. Keep the directory structure intact. Do not rename or move libraries, configuration folders or scripts merely to make them resemble instructions for an older release.

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  • SURVIVAL ADVENTURES — Face mysterious foes, travel across varied landscapes, and venture into perilous dimensions.
  • PLAY TOGETHER — Play solo or join friends in local split-screen and cross-platform play across console, mobile, and PC. Online multiplayer supports up to 8 players.
  • COMMUNITY PLAY — Connect with players on community servers, or subscribe to Realms Plus (sold separately) to play with up to 10 friends on a private server.

4. Inspect the supplied launch files

List the extracted files and read any included README or launch script. Script names and arguments can change between Soulrend releases, so use the files shipped with your archive rather than inventing a filename or copying a command from an old guide. Confirm that the script points to the Forge server files included in this pack and that its memory settings fit the machine.

5. Start once and accept the EULA

Run the supplied launch script or documented command from inside the server directory. The first launch normally creates runtime files and stops when the Minecraft EULA has not been accepted. Read the EULA, then open the generated eula.txt and change the acceptance setting as required. Start the server again with the same supplied script. Wait for the console to report that the server is ready before attempting a connection.

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6. Configure the world and access settings

Stop the server cleanly before editing configuration. In server.properties, review at least:

  • Difficulty: choose the level appropriate for your group’s intended challenge.
  • View distance: lower it if exploration causes pauses or excessive memory pressure; raise it only after observing stable tick performance.
  • Whitelist: enable it for a private group and add each player’s exact Java account name.
  • Server port: retain the configured value or change it deliberately, then use that same value in firewall and router rules.

Change one setting at a time and keep a copy of the previous file. Some modpack behavior is controlled by files under the pack’s configuration directories as well as by server.properties; edit those only when the release documentation calls for it.

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7. Open network access

For players outside your home network, allow the configured server port through the machine’s firewall and, for a home connection, forward that port from the router to the server computer. A managed host usually supplies an address and port in its panel instead. Test from a different network, such as a phone hotspot, because a local test can succeed even when internet routing is blocked.

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8. Perform a first connection test

Join from one client before inviting the entire group. Watch the server console while the player connects, loads into the world and travels far enough to generate terrain. Check for repeated errors, long pauses or a rapidly growing memory footprint. Only after that test should you distribute the address and whitelist the remaining players.

Set up every player’s client

  1. Install the Soulrend release selected by the group through CurseForge or another launcher that can reproduce its Forge profile.
  2. Confirm that the launcher shows Minecraft 1.20.1 and Forge for that version.
  3. Use the same Soulrend release number recorded for the server. Do not let the launcher silently update one player while the server remains on an older release.
  4. Launch once in single-player if necessary so the profile creates its local files, then close the game.
  5. Enter the server address and configured port. Keep the whitelist name identical to the Java account name being used.

Players do not need to copy a subset of the server’s files into their client. The launcher should install the client profile, while the server continues to use the official server pack. If a player has previously installed another Soulrend release, create a clean profile or remove the old profile’s files rather than mixing versions.

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Keep performance stable as the group grows

Memory allocation is only one part of server capacity. New terrain generation, long-distance travel, high view distance, boss encounters and several players loading different regions at once can create short CPU and disk spikes. Monitor the console for tick delays and observe memory use while the group performs the activities that matter to you, especially initial exploration.

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  • Generate or explore important areas gradually instead of sending everyone in different directions immediately after a fresh launch.
  • Stop unrelated services, scheduled scans and heavy backup jobs during peak play.
  • Increase the server’s allocated memory only within the publisher’s guidance and only when monitoring shows that memory pressure is the cause.
  • Leave headroom for the operating system; assigning nearly all physical RAM to Java can make the entire machine unstable.

The published memory figures are guidance, not a guaranteed player-count limit. A small group on a quiet, pre-explored world can behave differently from the same number of players generating new terrain continuously.

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Backups and safe updates

Make a restorable backup

Stop the server cleanly before copying the world. Back up the world directory, server.properties, whitelist and operator files, and the pack’s configuration directories. Keep at least one backup off the server machine and label it with the Soulrend release and date. A backup that was never tested is only an assumption, so periodically restore a copy to a separate directory.

Test a new Soulrend release

  1. Announce a maintenance window and stop the live server.
  2. Copy the entire world and configuration set to a test directory.
  3. Download the new release’s matching server pack and install it in a separate directory.
  4. Use the copied world for a test launch. Check the console, enter the world and inspect important areas.
  5. Have at least one client update to the same release and connect to the test instance.
  6. If the test succeeds, make a fresh live backup, install the new server pack and update every player profile.

Never combine an older server ZIP with a newer client profile. If the update fails, restore the previous directory and world backup instead of deleting files from the live installation until it starts.

Troubleshoot common failures

Symptom Likely cause Action
The server stops immediately Unsupported Java, an incomplete extraction or an incorrect launch command. Run java -version, re-download the official server ZIP, re-extract it into a clean directory and use the supplied script or documented command.
The server repeatedly asks for EULA acceptance The file was not saved, the process cannot write to the directory or the server is being started from a different directory. Stop the process, confirm eula.txt contains the accepted setting, check directory permissions and launch from the pack directory.
A player cannot join because of missing mods or dependencies Client and server releases, Minecraft versions or Forge profiles differ. Compare the recorded release number and launcher profile on both sides. Reinstall the matching client profile and use the corresponding server pack.
“Registry mismatch” or similar handshake error Different mod files or configuration data are being loaded. Do not copy individual files at random. Reinstall the exact client release and verify that the server was not assembled from a partial client installation.
The server pauses while players explore World generation, view distance, memory pressure or competing processes are creating spikes. Check the console and latest.log, lower view distance, stop competing jobs and adjust memory within the publisher’s guidance.
Local players connect but internet players cannot Firewall or router forwarding is missing, or the wrong port is being shared. Verify the configured port, create the host firewall rule, forward the same port to the server machine and test from an external network.
An update corrupts or changes the world unexpectedly The world was updated without a tested backup or the server and clients were mixed across releases. Stop the server, restore the pre-update backup, test the new pack on a copy and update all clients together.

When a symptom is unclear, inspect the server console and latest.log for the first named Java exception, missing dependency or registry entry. The earliest specific error is usually more useful than the final shutdown message.

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Deployment checklist

  • Java Edition, Minecraft 1.20.1 and Forge are confirmed on server and clients.
  • Every machine uses one agreed Soulrend release.
  • The official server-pack ZIP for that release was extracted intact.
  • The server starts with its supplied script or documented command and has an accepted EULA.
  • Difficulty, view distance, whitelist and port were reviewed in server.properties.
  • The configured port is reachable from outside the local network when internet play is required.
  • Backups include the world and configuration files, and at least one restore has been tested.
  • Players have the matching client profile and know the correct address and port.

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