Host a Society Sunlit Cobblemon Server

This guide walks you through setting up a Society Sunlit Cobblemon server, a custom Minecraft modpack that blends the Cobblemon mod with the Society and Sunlit mods for a more immersive, social, and visually enhanced experience. By the end, you’ll have a server running on your own hardware or a VPS, with the right settings for your friends or community.

What You’ll Need

• A copy of Minecraft Java Edition (any account).
• The Society Sunlit Cobblemon modpack files (download from a modpack launcher like CurseForge or Modrinth, or manually from the official source).
• Java 17 or newer (64-bit) installed on the machine that will run the server.
• At least 4 GB of RAM dedicated to the server, though 6-8 GB is recommended for larger groups.
• A computer or VPS with a stable internet connection and a public IP (or port forwarding capability) if you want others to join from outside your local network.
• Optional: A hosting service account (e.g., a VPS from a provider like AWS, DigitalOcean, or a dedicated Minecraft hosting company) if you don’t want to host on your own PC.

Step-by-Step

1. Install Java. Download and install the latest Java 17 (or newer) from a trusted source like Adoptium. Verify by opening a terminal/command prompt and typing java -version.
2. Download the modpack. If using a launcher like CurseForge, search for “Society Sunlit Cobblemon” and install it. If you’re downloading manually, get the zip file and extract it to a folder on your server machine.
3. Set up the server folder. Create a new folder (e.g., society-sunlit-server). Inside, you’ll need the server files. If you have the modpack zip, copy the mods, config, scripts, and kubejs folders (if present) from the zip into this folder. Also, download the Forge or NeoForge server installer for the version specified by the modpack (usually 1.20.1 or 1.21.x).
4. Run the Forge installer. Place the installer jar in your server folder. Run it with java -jar forge--installer.jar --installServer (replace with the actual filename). This will generate the server files, including server.jar or run.bat.
5. Accept the EULA. Start the server once (via the run script or java -jar server.jar nogui) to generate the eula.txt file, then stop it. Open eula.txt and change eula=false to eula=true.
6. Configure server.properties. Open server.properties in a text editor. Set server-port=25565 (or another port if you prefer). Adjust max-players, view-distance (e.g., 8-10), and motd as desired. Also, set online-mode=true unless you have a cracked server setup.
7. Allocate RAM. Edit the startup script (e.g., run.bat for Windows or run.sh for Linux). Change the -Xmx and -Xms values to at least 4G (e.g., -Xmx6G -Xms6G). Save the file.
8. Start the server. Run the startup script. Watch the console for any errors. The first start may take several minutes to download dependencies and generate the world. Once you see “Done” in the console, the server is running.
9. Port forwarding (if needed). If hosting on your home network, log into your router and forward the server port (default 25565) to your computer’s local IP address. You’ll also need your public IP (find it by searching “what’s my IP” in a browser) to share with friends.
10. Test the connection. From the same machine, open Minecraft, add a server with localhost as the address, and join. If that works, try your public IP (you may need to test from a different network to bypass NAT loopback).

Common Mistakes

• Wrong Java version. Using Java 8 or 11 instead of 17+ will cause the server to fail to start.
• Not accepting the EULA. The server will shut down immediately if eula.txt is not set to true.
• Insufficient RAM. If you allocate less than 4GB, the server may crash or lag heavily, especially with many mods.
• Port forwarding misconfiguration. Forwarding the wrong port or using the wrong local IP will prevent external connections.
• Missing mod files. If you forgot to copy the mods folder from the modpack, the server will run as vanilla and clients won’t be able to connect.
• Firewall blocking. Windows Firewall or your VPS firewall may block the port. Ensure you allow Java and the server port through.

Tips

• Use a VPS for 24/7 hosting. If you want the server always online, a VPS with at least 8GB RAM is a good choice. You can set up the server there using the same steps, but with a Linux environment.
• Back up regularly. Copy the world folder (world) and config files to a safe location every few days to avoid losing progress.
• Install a server panel. Tools like Pterodactyl or AMP make managing the server easier, especially if you’re not comfortable with command line.
• Adjust view-distance. Lowering view-distance to 6-8 can reduce lag on weaker hardware.
• Use a whitelist. Add white-list=true in server.properties and then use whitelist add <player> in the console to control who can join.

Troubleshooting

• Server crashes on startup. Check the console for a specific error. Common fixes: update Java, increase RAM, or delete the config folder and let the server regenerate it (make a backup first).
• Can’t connect from another device. First, verify the server is running (console shows “Done”). Then, check your firewall and port forwarding. Try connecting via localhost on the server machine to rule out server issues.
• Mods not loading. Ensure the mods folder is in the same directory as the server jar and that the mod versions match the modpack. Also, check that you’re using the correct Forge version.
• Lag or low TPS. Reduce view-distance, allocate more RAM, or consider upgrading your hardware. Also, check for any performance mods in the pack that might have config options.
• Server says “You are not whitelisted”. If you enabled the whitelist, you need to add yourself via the console command whitelist add YourUsername.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I host this on a free server hosting service? Most free services don’t support modded servers or have too little RAM. It’s better to use a paid VPS or your own PC.
• Do I need a powerful PC to host? The server needs at least 4GB of RAM and a decent CPU. A modern mid-range processor is fine for up to 10 players.
• Can I play on the same machine I’m hosting from? Yes, but it will use more RAM and may cause lag. It’s recommended to have at least 8GB of total RAM.
• How do I update the modpack? Download the new modpack files and replace the mods and config folders with the new ones. Back up your world first.
• Is it possible to run this on a Mac? Yes, the steps are the same. Use the run.sh script and ensure you have Java 17 installed.
• Why does my server show as “Outdated Client”? The client and server must have the exact same modpack version. Reinstall the modpack on your client to match the server.

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