Playing Minecraft with friends is a different experience than playing alone. Shared bases, group expeditions, PvP, economies, land claims — a good SMP server brings all of this together. Getting one running on Apex Hosting takes about ten minutes once you know the steps. This guide walks you through setting up a Minecraft SMP server from scratch, including choosing the right server software, installing plugins, and configuring permissions.
Before diving in, check how much RAM your server needs — SMP servers with active plugins typically run well on 2-4GB for small groups, with more RAM needed as your player count grows.
What Is a Minecraft SMP Server?
SMP stands for survival multiplayer. It is the standard way players experience Minecraft together on a shared world. Unlike a LAN session where only nearby players can join, a dedicated SMP server stays online around the clock. Players can log in and out on their own schedule, and the world persists even when no one is connected.
Most SMP servers run on Paper or Spigot, which unlock plugin support. Plugins are what make SMP feel distinct from vanilla Minecraft. Economy systems, land claims, player homes, custom chat formats — all of these come from plugins. Without them, you have standard survival on a shared server. With them, you have a community.
Getting Started with an SMP Server
If you do not have a server yet, choose a hosting plan that fits the number of players you expect. For a small group of friends (up to ten players with a moderate plugin load), 2-4GB of RAM is a solid starting point.
If you have been trying to play without a dedicated server using LAN or VPN tools, a hosted server removes the connection limitations and the need to keep a host machine running.
Setting Up Your SMP Server
Paper is the recommended server software for SMP in 2026. It is faster than vanilla Spigot, actively maintained, and fully compatible with Bukkit plugins. Spigot also works if you prefer it. To set up Paper or Spigot:
- Head towards your Apex server panel, then login with your account credentials.
- Open the dropdown menu in “
Game File” and proceed to type “Spigot” or “Paper”. - Choose your desired version for it.
- Confirm changes by pressing “
Change Version” in the following prompt. - Proceed with the additional prompts accordingly, then click “
Restart Now” to load everything.
Once the server restarts with Paper or Spigot loaded, you are ready to install plugins.
Installing Plugins
Plugins are what turn a bare survival server into a proper SMP experience. Homes, land protection, economy, chat formatting — each of these requires a plugin. Apex provides two installation methods.
Using the Plugin List
- Head towards your Apex server panel and click “
Plugin List” in the left sidebar. - Once there, you may change the Source from Bukkit to Spigot.
- Use the Category section to narrow the results through specific types of plugins.
- Click “
Install” next to the plugin you want to add. - Restart the server to load the plugin.
Using FTP File Access
- Head towards your Apex server panel, then press “
FTP File Access” in the top left corner. - Login with your password and locate the
pluginsdirectory. - Press “
Upload” in the top left and drag your plugin .jar file into the respective area. - Wait until the upload reaches
100%. - Return to the main panel and “
Restart” the server.
The Plugin List method is quicker for common plugins. Use FTP when you need a specific version or a plugin not available in the built-in list.
Popular SMP Plugins
These plugins cover the core needs of any SMP server. Install them in order, since EssentialsX depends on Vault for its economy features.
| Plugin | Purpose |
|---|---|
| EssentialsX | Homes, warps, kits, player management, in-game economy commands |
| Vault | Economy and permission bridge that other plugins (including EssentialsX) rely on |
| GriefPrevention | Land claim system that lets players protect their builds from griefers |
| LuckPerms | Permissions management, custom ranks, prefixes and suffixes |
| LifeSteal SMP | Players lose hearts on each death; eliminated when all hearts are lost |
The LifeSteal plugin is optional. It suits servers that want a hardcore-style challenge where dying has real consequences. If your group wants standard survival without elimination mechanics, skip it and focus on EssentialsX, Vault, GriefPrevention, and LuckPerms first.
Setting Up Permissions
Permissions control what commands each player can run. Without a permissions setup, all players default to the same access level. LuckPerms is the most reliable option for this on Paper or Spigot servers. To install LuckPerms:
- Navigate to the LuckPerms page on SpigotMC and download the jar file.
- Head towards your Apex server panel and click “
FTP File Access“. - Login with your password, then enter the
pluginsdirectory. - Click “
Upload” and drag the LuckPerms jar file into the upload area. - Wait for the upload to complete, then “
Restart” the server. - Use
/lp group default permission set <permission> truein-game to assign permissions.
Once LuckPerms is running, you can create groups (member, moderator, admin), assign permissions to each group, and then assign players to groups. The LuckPerms web editor makes this easier if you prefer a browser interface over in-game commands.
SMP Server FAQ
How Much RAM Does an SMP Server Need?
For a small group (up to 10 players) with standard plugins, 2-4GB is usually enough. Larger servers with 20+ players or heavy plugin loads benefit from 6-8GB or more. Use the RAM calculator to find the right amount for your setup.
What Is the Difference Between Paper and Spigot?
Paper is a fork of Spigot with performance improvements, bug fixes, and a faster tick rate. Both support Bukkit plugins. For a new SMP server in 2026, Paper is the better choice.
Do All Players Need to Install Anything?
No. SMP servers running on Paper or Spigot with standard plugins require no client-side installs. Players join through the Minecraft multiplayer menu using your server IP.
Can I Run EssentialsX Without Vault?
EssentialsX includes economy commands, but those commands only function when Vault is installed. Install Vault first, then EssentialsX, then restart the server.
Conclusion
A working Minecraft SMP server needs three things: the right server software (Paper), a solid base of plugins (EssentialsX, Vault, GriefPrevention, LuckPerms), and a permissions setup that controls player access. Once those are in place, you have a server your group can actually play on long-term. For help with any part of the setup, contact Apex Hosting support.
For a broader look at what Minecraft server hosting includes with Apex, visit the Minecraft hosting page.
