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How to Make a BungeeCord Server for Minecraft

A complete BungeeCord setup guide covering the proxy, backend configuration, forwarding, firewall security, plugins, testing, and troubleshooting.
Length10 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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A BungeeCord network is a proxy in front of two or more Minecraft servers. Players connect to the proxy’s public address, and BungeeCord routes them to backend Spigot or Paper servers such as a lobby, survival world, or minigame. BungeeCord does not host a Minecraft world itself.

To build one, install Java, place the BungeeCord JAR in its own directory, run it once to generate files, register every backend in config.yml, enable proxy forwarding on the backends, and prevent players from reaching those backends directly. The forwarding and firewall steps are security requirements, not optional finishing touches.

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How the BungeeCord architecture works

BungeeCord is a standalone proxy application that connects Minecraft servers together. It accepts the player’s connection on one public listener, authenticates the player, and passes the connection to a selected backend server. The backend is where the world, entities, inventories, plugins, and gameplay actually run.

  • Proxy: the BungeeCord process exposed to players. It owns the public hostname and listener port, commonly 25565.
  • Backend servers: separate Spigot or Paper instances. Each has its own directory, world, port, logs, plugins, and resource usage.
  • Routing configuration: the servers map in config.yml gives each backend a name and address. The listener’s priority list determines the first server used when a player connects.

A player therefore connects to one address but can move between several independent servers. If the proxy is stopped, the network address is unavailable even when a backend world is still running. If a backend is stopped, only that server is unavailable; the proxy can continue serving other entries.

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What you need before installing

Requirement Purpose Practical note
Java 8 or newer Runs the BungeeCord JAR and the backend servers The SpigotMC installation guidance uses Java 8 or newer; check the requirements of the exact builds you download.
BungeeCord JAR Runs the proxy process Download a current build from the project’s official distribution source and keep the filename consistent with your launch command.
Dedicated proxy directory Stores BungeeCord.jar, config.yml, logs, and proxy plugins Do not place the proxy JAR inside a backend world directory.
At least two backend instances Provides destinations between which the proxy can route players Each backend needs a unique port and a separate server directory.
Network controls Keeps players from bypassing the proxy Use loopback binding on one machine, or firewall rules, IP allowlists, or a private VPN across machines.

The installation guide gives a rough memory guideline of 512 MB for every 500 players. That is not a capacity guarantee: plugins, view distance, redstone activity, world generation, and the workload of each backend can change memory requirements substantially. Treat it as a starting point and monitor the actual processes.

Install Java and the BungeeCord proxy

1. Create a directory only for the proxy

Make a directory such as bungeecord for the proxy. Keep backend directories alongside it rather than inside it, for example:

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minecraft-network/
├── bungeecord/
├── lobby/
└── survival/

This separation keeps proxy logs and plugins distinct from backend logs, worlds, and plugins. It also makes independent backups and upgrades much less error-prone.

2. Verify Java

Run the Java version command in the account that will run the server:

java -version

Confirm that Java is available on the system path and that the version satisfies the BungeeCord build you intend to use. If the command is not found, install a supported Java runtime before continuing.

3. Download the JAR into the proxy directory

Place the downloaded file in the dedicated proxy directory and name it BungeeCord.jar, or change the startup command to match its actual filename. Avoid running it from a temporary download folder because all generated configuration and log files will be written relative to the working directory.

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4. Run it once to generate the initial files

From inside the proxy directory, start the process with the documented example command:

java -Xms512M -Xmx512M -jar BungeeCord.jar

The first run creates the proxy files, including config.yml. Let initialization finish, then stop the process cleanly from its console before editing the configuration. A clean stop reduces the chance of incomplete writes and makes it clear which files belong to this proxy.

5. Use a persistent process on Linux

An SSH session ending should not terminate the proxy. Start it inside tmux or screen, detach from that session, and reconnect to it later when you need to inspect the console. A minimal shell launcher can be:

#!/bin/sh
cd /path/to/minecraft-network/bungeecord
exec java -Xms512M -Xmx512M -jar BungeeCord.jar

On Windows, a basic batch file in the same directory is:

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@echo off
java -Xms512M -Xmx512M -jar BungeeCord.jar
pause

The memory values are examples, not a promise that the proxy or network will support a particular player count. Increase them only when the machine has sufficient memory and monitoring shows a need.

Prepare the backend Minecraft servers

Give every backend its own port

Create and configure each Spigot or Paper server independently. For example, a lobby can use port 25566 and a survival server can use 25567, while the proxy listens publicly on 25565. No two processes on the same host can use the same address and port combination.

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In each backend’s server.properties, set a distinct server-port. When all processes run on one machine, bind the backend to loopback:

online-mode=false
server-port=25566
server-ip=127.0.0.1

Use the corresponding port in the other backend directory. For servers on separate machines, use private network addresses where possible and protect the ports with firewall rules or a private VPN instead of exposing them to the public internet.

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Enable BungeeCord forwarding in Spigot

In every Spigot or Paper backend, open spigot.yml and set the BungeeCord setting under settings:

settings:
bungeecord: true

The backend is deliberately placed in offline mode in this documented forwarding model because the proxy is the authentication boundary. That setting is safe only when direct access to the backend is blocked. Leaving an offline backend publicly reachable allows a direct connection to impersonate another player.

Configure config.yml

Open the proxy’s generated config.yml only after stopping BungeeCord. The following compact configuration demonstrates one public listener and two backend entries:

listeners:
- query_port: 25577
motd: 'Minecraft network'
tab_list: GLOBAL_PING
query_enabled: false
proxy_protocol: false
forced_hosts: {}
ping_passthrough: false
priorities:
- lobby
bind_local_address: true
host: 0.0.0.0:25565
max_players: 100
tab_size: 60
force_default_server: false
servers:
lobby:
motd: 'Lobby'
address: 127.0.0.1:25566
restricted: false
survival:
motd: 'Survival'
address: 127.0.0.1:25567
restricted: false
ip_forward: true
online_mode: true

Keep the indentation exactly as YAML requires. A tab character or misplaced space can prevent the proxy from starting.

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Listener settings

  • host is the address and port players use. 0.0.0.0:25565 listens on all network interfaces on port 25565. If your host uses another public port, replace it and open only that port in the firewall.
  • motd is the text shown in the server list.
  • priorities is an ordered list of backend names. The first reachable entry is the normal initial destination and fallback choice.
  • force_default_server controls whether returning players are forced back to the first priority rather than returning to their previous server. Choose the behavior deliberately; it is not required for basic routing.
  • max_players controls the player count advertised by the proxy. It does not create capacity in the backends.
  • query_enabled, proxy_protocol, and other optional listener features should remain disabled unless another component specifically requires them.

Backend entries

Every key beneath servers is the name used by commands and by the priority list. Use simple lowercase names without spaces, such as lobby and survival. Each entry needs:

  • motd: the description shown for that backend by proxy status features.
  • address: the backend host and port. Use 127.0.0.1 for a same-machine layout or a protected private address for a separate machine.
  • restricted: set to true only when access should require the corresponding BungeeCord permission; use false for a normal public destination.

The name in priorities must match the backend key exactly. If the priority list says Lobby but the registered key is lobby, the proxy cannot resolve that destination.

Forwarding and authentication settings

Set ip_forward: true so the proxy can pass the player’s original identity and address to the backend. Keep the proxy’s online_mode: true so the proxy performs authentication with the Minecraft account service. Together with bungeecord: true on every backend, this lets the backend receive the correct UUID and player IP instead of treating every connection as the proxy itself.

Stop players bypassing the proxy

Forwarding settings alone do not secure a network. The backend ports must not accept arbitrary public connections.

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One machine: bind backends to loopback

Set each backend’s server-ip to 127.0.0.1 and use the loopback address in config.yml. A player on the internet can reach the proxy’s public listener but cannot route directly to a process that is listening only on the local interface.

Separate machines: restrict the source network

When a backend runs on another host, bind it to a private interface where available and allow its port only from the proxy’s private address. A firewall allowlist, host firewall, or VPN can enforce this. Do not assume that an obscure port number is protection; a publicly exposed offline backend remains vulnerable to direct impersonation.

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Verify the boundary

After setup, attempt a direct connection to each backend address from a network that should not have access. It should fail, while a connection through the proxy should succeed. Recheck firewall rules whenever you move a server, change a provider, or add a new backend.

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Install plugins in the correct place

BungeeCord plugins belong in the proxy’s plugins directory beside config.yml. Bukkit, Spigot, and Paper plugins belong in the plugins directory of the specific backend that runs them. A plugin built for one environment is not automatically compatible with the other.

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Paper and other backend servers can communicate with BungeeCord through plugin messages. This enables features such as sending a player to another server, but it also means connected servers should be treated as trusted components. A compromised or poorly configured backend may be able to send messages through the proxy, so install only plugins you understand and keep the proxy and backends under the same security policy.

Start the network in a predictable order

  1. Start each backend and confirm that it reaches its normal ready state on its assigned port.
  2. Start BungeeCord from its dedicated directory and watch the console for configuration or connection errors.
  3. Connect a Minecraft client to the proxy’s public address and listener port, not to a backend port.
  4. Confirm that the first priority backend appears and that the player can load its world.
  5. Use the server-switch command, commonly /server survival, or the network’s own selector to move to another registered name.
  6. Stop one backend and verify that the proxy reports it unavailable while other destinations remain usable. Restart it and confirm that it becomes reachable again.

Do not publish the network address until both normal routing and the direct-backend rejection test pass.

Validation checklist

  • The proxy starts without YAML, Java, or bind errors.
  • The public listener is reachable on the intended hostname and port.
  • The priority backend is listed under servers and appears after connection.
  • Switching uses the exact lowercase names registered in the configuration.
  • The backend sees the player’s real UUID and IP rather than the proxy’s identity.
  • A direct connection to every backend port is blocked from untrusted networks.
  • Stopping one backend does not prevent access to the others.
  • Proxy plugins and backend plugins are installed in their respective directories.
  • Logs and configuration files are backed up separately for the proxy and each backend.

Common problems and fixes

Symptom Likely cause Fix
Connection refused on the public address The proxy is stopped, listening on another port, or blocked by a firewall. Check the startup console, confirm the listener’s host value, and open only the intended proxy port.
The proxy starts but cannot connect to a server The backend is stopped, the address or port is wrong, or a local firewall blocks it. Compare the backend’s server-port with its address entry and confirm that the backend is actually listening.
A player is rejected with a forwarding or UUID-related error The proxy and backend disagree about forwarding. Check that the proxy has ip_forward: true and that every Spigot backend has bungeecord: true; reconnect after changing either setting.
The backend reports the proxy’s IP for every player Forwarding is disabled or the player reached the backend through a different route. Use the proxy address for client connections and remove public reachability to the backend port.
The first server is missing or the switch command fails The name in priorities or the command does not exactly match a key under servers. Compare spelling and capitalization, then reload by stopping and starting the proxy cleanly.
Configuration changes appear to do nothing The wrong config.yml was edited, or the proxy was still running when it was changed. Stop the process, edit the file in the proxy directory, verify indentation, and start it again.
Players can connect directly to a backend The backend is bound to a public interface or its firewall rule allows untrusted sources. Bind to loopback on a single host, or allow the backend port only from the proxy’s private address or VPN.

Operating and expanding the network

Adding a server is repetitive: create an isolated backend directory, assign a free port, configure its forwarding setting, add a lowercase entry under servers, and place its name in the desired priority or routing logic. Do not reuse a world directory or port from another instance.

Back up the proxy’s config.yml and plugin directory separately from each backend’s worlds and configuration. This lets you restore routing without overwriting a world, or restore one world without replacing the entire network.

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When changing Java, BungeeCord, Paper, or plugins, upgrade one component at a time and test the connection path again. A proxy can be online while a backend is incompatible, so a successful proxy startup is not proof that every destination works.

Final setup standard

A correctly built BungeeCord network has one authenticated public entry point, separate backend processes with unique ports, matching forwarding settings, and a network policy that blocks direct backend access. Once those conditions are in place, the proxy can provide seamless movement between lobby, survival, and other Minecraft servers without pretending to be a world server itself.

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