The single most important choice on a Minecraft server is which software it runs — that's what decides whether you can add plugins, mods, both, or neither. On Falix that choice lives in one place: the Version Changer. Learn this one screen and everything else about running a server gets easier. This guide is the full catalogue: every option, and when to reach for it.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| You need | A Minecraft Java/Bedrock server (no server yet? start with the quickstart) |
| Time | A few minutes; longer if the world regenerates |
| Plan | Any |
Where it lives
Open the Version Changer from your Console page. It lists every supported server software, grouped into families, plus a Custom JAR option and a Browse Modpacks button.
What happens when you pick one
This is the part that saves you hours. When you choose a software and version, the panel:
- downloads the correct
server.jarfor you, - switches to the Java runtime that version needs,
- and configures it to run.
No downloading jars from forums, no uploading, no editing startup commands. The file that actually runs is always server.jar, and the Version Changer is what swaps it. (Because switching software changes the jar, expect a restart — your world and configs stay put.)
🎯 Good to know: Not sure which family? Want plugins → Plugin Servers (Purpur or PaperSpigot). Want mods → a Mod Loader (match your mods). Want both → a Hybrid. Want Bedrock players in a Java world → Geyser. Just Mojang → Vanilla.
Vanilla — the pure base game
Mojang's own server, with nothing added. Truest to single-player, but no plugins, no mods, and no performance tuning.
| Option | When to pick it |
|---|---|
| Vanilla | You want the game exactly as Mojang ships it, and you'll never add plugins or mods. |
| Vanilla Snapshots (Experimental) | You want to try Mojang's newest snapshot features early — expect rough edges and don't trust important worlds to it. |
Plugin Servers — the Bukkit family
Run plugins (server-side add-ons from the Plugins page) with normal, unmodified clients. This is the family most servers want. Everything here descends from CraftBukkit and shares the same plugins.
| Option | When to pick it |
|---|---|
| CraftBukkit | The original plugin server; everything below descends from it. Historical — pick only to match a very old setup. |
| Spigot | The classic CraftBukkit successor: huge plugin compatibility, fewer performance tools than the modern forks. |
| PaperSpigot (Recommended) | The modern standard — Spigot-compatible, much faster, and what most plugins test against. A safe default. |
| Purpur (Recommended) | Paper plus a pile of extra gameplay and config knobs. A great default if you like to tinker. |
| Pufferfish | A Paper fork tuned squarely for performance; a good pick for busier servers. |
| Leaf | A newer performance-focused Paper-family fork; the bleeding-edge option of the group. |
Mod Loaders — for mods
Run mods (from the Mods page) that change the game itself. Every player needs the same loader and matching mods to join. Pick whichever loader your mods are built for — a mod's download page always says.
| Option | When to pick it |
|---|---|
| Forge | The oldest, biggest mod ecosystem; heavier and slower to update after a new Minecraft release. |
| Fabric | Lightweight and fast-updating; most mods also need the Fabric API library mod installed. |
| Quilt | A community Fabric fork; runs most Fabric mods plus its own. |
| NeoForge | The modern continuation of Forge — most new "Forge" mods for recent versions actually target this. |
Hybrids — plugins and mods together
Run Bukkit plugins and mods on the same server. Powerful, but they chase two moving targets, so they're less stable than a pure plugin or mod server. Reach for one only when you genuinely need both.
| Option | When to pick it |
|---|---|
| Mohist | A Forge + Bukkit-plugin hybrid. |
| Arclight | A Forge/NeoForge + Bukkit-plugin hybrid; generally the more actively maintained hybrid today. |
| Sponge | Uses its own plugin API (Sponge plugins, not Bukkit) with Forge-mod support in its Forge flavor. Pick it when you specifically want the Sponge ecosystem. |
Proxies — link several servers
A proxy sits in front of several backend servers so players hop between them without disconnecting. It has no world of its own. This is a network setup, not a first server — it needs multiple servers and per-server config.
| Option | When to pick it |
|---|---|
| Velocity | The modern, recommended proxy for new networks. |
| BungeeCord | The original proxy; still everywhere, older design. |
| Waterfall | Paper's BungeeCord fork — discontinued upstream (its maintainers point users to Velocity). It still works, but pick Velocity for anything new. |
Bedrock — native phone/console/Windows servers
A server for Bedrock Edition players (phones, consoles, the Windows app). Java players can't join these. See Bedrock and crossplay for the join details.
| Option | When to pick it |
|---|---|
| Vanilla - Bedrock | The official Bedrock dedicated server — the default choice for a Bedrock-only server. |
| Vanilla Preview - Bedrock | Beta/preview builds of the official server — newest features, less stable. |
| PocketMine | A PHP-based Bedrock server with its own large plugin ecosystem. |
| Nukkit | A Java-based Bedrock server; aging but familiar. |
| CloudBurst | The Nukkit-lineage successor project. |
Geyser — Java and Bedrock in one world (crossplay)
Geyser runs a Java server that also accepts Bedrock players on an extra UDP port. Falix ships it preconfigured on several bases, so you pick the base you want — a plugin server or even a modded one — and get crossplay on top. Full setup in Bedrock and crossplay.
| Option | When to pick it |
|---|---|
| Geyser - Bedrock Bridge | Purpur base — the default pick for a plugin-friendly crossplay server. |
| Geyser PaperSpigot | Crossplay on a PaperSpigot base. |
| Geyser Spigot | Crossplay on a Spigot base. |
| Geyser Pufferfish | Crossplay on a performance-tuned Pufferfish base. |
| Geyser Fabric | Crossplay on a Fabric modded server. |
| Geyser NeoForge | Crossplay on a NeoForge modded server. |
Custom JAR — for anything else
Running something that isn't in the list — a niche fork or a specific build? Choose Custom JAR and supply your own server.jar. Everything else about the server works the same.
Version and Java, paired
Every Minecraft version has a Java version it expects, and newer Minecraft is strict about it. For example, Minecraft 26.1 and up require Java 25 — start on an older Java and the server refuses to boot, printing a clear console message telling you exactly that.
🎯 Good to know: The Version Changer sets the matching Java for you automatically, so you rarely touch it.
If you ever need to change it by hand — a specific mod wants a specific build — the Java version picker is on the Settings page under the Environment tab (Java 8 through 25). It also picks a Java flavor: Standard (HotSpot) is the default and the right call for almost everyone; OpenJ9 typically uses less memory but some mods misbehave on it; GraalVM is a performance-oriented option that can speed up heavy servers.
Two properties you must never edit
Whatever software you run, leave server-ip and server-port alone in server.properties. The panel manages those two so your server stays reachable at its allocated address; changing them breaks connectivity. Everything else in server.properties is fair game — edit it on the Properties page (see Customize your server).
Next steps
- Install plugins
- Mods and modpacks
- Bedrock and crossplay
- For the full software matrix, see the Knowledge Base: server software.