How to Install and Configure Spigot on Ubuntu 24.04

Spigot on Ubuntu 24.04 – A High-Performance Minecraft Server Platform

Spigot is a high-performance, open-source Minecraft server implementation built on top of CraftBukkit. It provides significant performance optimizations, extensive plugin support, and better resource handling compared to vanilla Minecraft servers. Designed primarily for multiplayer environments, Spigot powers thousands of Minecraft communities worldwide.

Running Spigot on Ubuntu 24.04 “Noble Numbat” provides a stable, secure, and efficient environment—perfect for hosting public or private Minecraft servers with full root control and system tuning options.

What is Spigot?

Spigot is a server software fork of Bukkit, and part of the SpigotMC project. It’s written in Java and acts as a drop-in replacement for Mojang’s official Minecraft server (vanilla), offering:

Lower CPU and RAM usage with asynchronous and optimized operations
High plugin compatibility (via Bukkit, Spigot API, or Paper)
Robust admin tools and world management
Developer flexibility with powerful event hooks and APIs
Modular performance tuning, ideal for large player counts

Ubuntu 24.04: A Great Host for Spigot

Ubuntu 24.04 offers a modern server OS with a long-term support cycle (until 2029), updated toolchains, and a focus on performance and security. Key benefits for Minecraft hosting include:

Feature	Benefit for Spigot
OpenJDK 21	Compatible with Spigot and Minecraft 1.20+
Systemd v253	Robust service management for auto-start, logging
Linux Kernel 6.8+	Improved I/O and TCP stack performance
AppArmor / UFW	Secure Spigot from outside threats
Minimal install base	Less overhead = more RAM for Minecraft

Spigot’s Java-based runtime fits naturally into Ubuntu’s system architecture, allowing smooth integration with monitoring tools, security layers, and automation systems.

Spigot Server Architecture Overview

Java Virtual Machine (JVM): The runtime that executes the Spigot .jar file
Spigot Server Core: Optimized CraftBukkit base with extended APIs
Plugins (optional): Modular .jar files in the /plugins directory
World Data: Stored in /world, /world_nether, and /world_the_end
Configuration: Server properties, Spigot config (spigot.yml), and plugin-specific files

Spigot supports multi-threaded optimizations, asynchronous chunk loading, and network tuning to handle more players with less lag.

Use Cases for Spigot on Ubuntu 24.04

Multiplayer Survival or Creative Servers
Custom Minigame Networks
Educational or School Servers
Plugin Development / Testing
Community Hubs with Custom Features

Why Use Spigot Instead of Vanilla Minecraft?

Feature	Vanilla Minecraft	Spigot
Performance	Basic	Optimized
Plugin Support	None	Extensive (Bukkit/Spigot API)
Admin Tools	Minimal	Advanced (timings, events)
Configuration Depth	Low	High
Customization	Very limited	Extensive (permissions, events, custom blocks)

Spigot gives server owners the control they need to scale and manage larger or more complex worlds, events, and communities.

Benefits of Running Spigot on Ubuntu 24.04 VPS

✅ Full Root Access: Tune JVM flags, allocate RAM, and manage server restarts via systemd
✅ Security Layers: Limit SSH and port access with UFW or fail2ban
✅ Better Performance: SSD-backed VPS options like Shape.Host significantly reduce world lag
✅ Automation Friendly: Use Bash scripts, Ansible, or CRON for updates and backups
✅ Plugin Ecosystem: Use Spigot as a base for PaperMC or Purpur if needed

Key Configuration and Optimization Areas

JVM Flags: Use G1GC and optimized memory settings (e.g., -Xms2G -Xmx4G) for smooth performance
View Distance: Reduce view-distance in server.properties for less CPU usage
Entity Tracking: Tweak spigot.yml and bukkit.yml to optimize entity handling
Auto-Restarts: Use systemd to restart the server automatically on crash
Backups: Use rsync or snapshot tools to automate world folder backups

Security Tips

Use non-root users to run Spigot processes
Run Spigot in a screen or tmux session to prevent terminal loss
Use UFW to restrict traffic to only Minecraft and SSH ports
Keep Java and plugins updated to avoid exploits
Monitor logs with tools like Logwatch or Fail2Ban

Hosting on Shape.Host with Ubuntu 24.04

Shape.Host Cloud VPS is ideal for hosting Spigot servers on Ubuntu 24.04:

High-performance VPS plans with SSD storage and scalable RAM
Full root access to install Java, configure ports, and automate tasks
Option to run multiple instances or modded forks (e.g., Paper, BungeeCord)
One-click snapshot and restore features for world backups

Spigot on Ubuntu 24.04 is a rock-solid combination for Minecraft server hosting. Ubuntu’s stable, secure LTS platform complements Spigot’s optimized engine, offering better control, customization, and performance than a vanilla server.

Whether you’re managing a small server for friends or running a professional Minecraft network with 100+ players, Spigot on Ubuntu gives you the flexibility and reliability needed to succeed—especially when deployed on trusted infrastructure like Shape.Host VPS.

Step 1: Set Up a Server Instance on Shape.Host

To host a Minecraft server with Spigot, you’ll first need a robust VPS. Shape.Host offers scalable infrastructure perfect for this.

Go to https://shape.host and log in.

Click “Create” → “Instance.”

Choose the following:

Region: Select a nearby data center.

Shape.host instance form with the data center location selector highlighted.

OS: Select Ubuntu 24.04 (64-bit).

Resources: At minimum, use 2 vCPUs, 4 GB RAM, 40 GB SSD.

Shape.host instance form with the operating system image selector highlighted.

Click Create Instance.

Shape.host instance form with the Create Instance button highlighted.

Once deployed, copy your IP address from the instance page.

Shape.host Resources dashboard with the server IP address highlighted.

Step 2: Connect to Your Server via SSH

From Linux/macOS:

ssh root@your_server_ip

From Windows (via PuTTY):

Enter the server IP under “Host Name”
Click Open, then log in as root

Step 3: Install Required Packages

Update your package index and install Java 17, Git, and cURL:

apt update
apt install git openjdk-17-jdk curl

Spigot requires Java 17, which is compatible with recent Minecraft versions.

Terminal showing APT package management commands and output.

Step 4: Download and Build Spigot

Step 4.1 – Create a Directory for the Build Process

mkdir /opt/spigot
cd /opt/spigot

Step 4.2 – Download BuildTools.jar

curl -o BuildTools.jar https://hub.spigotmc.org/jenkins/job/BuildTools/lastSuccessfulBuild/artifact/target/BuildTools.jar

Terminal showing Spigot server build output.

Step 4.3 – Build Spigot for a Specific Version

java -jar BuildTools.jar --rev 1.20.4

This step downloads and compiles Spigot from source. It may take several minutes and will generate spigot-1.20.4.jar.

Step 5: Set Up the Spigot Server

Step 5.1 – Create the Server Directory

mkdir /opt/spigot-server

Step 5.2 – Move the Built JAR File

cp spigot-1.20.4.jar /opt/spigot-server/spigot.jar
cd /opt/spigot-server

Step 5.3 – Accept the Minecraft EULA

echo "eula=true" > eula.txt

Terminal showing echo commands or output during Accept the Minecraft EULA.

Step 5.4 – Start the Server

java -Xms1G -Xmx2G -jar spigot.jar nogui

-Xms1G sets the initial memory to 1GB
-Xmx2G sets the max memory to 2GB
Adjust these values based on your available system resources.

On first launch, the server will generate config files such as server.properties.

Terminal showing Minecraft server configuration or startup messages.

Step 6: Configure Your Server

Open the main configuration file:

nano server.properties

Make changes like:

motd=Welcome to my server
max-players=20
online-mode=true

⚠️ online-mode=false allows cracked clients to connect, which is not recommended for security and legal reasons.

Step 7: Create a systemd Service

This will allow the server to start at boot and be managed as a service.

Step 7.1 – Create the Service File

nano /etc/systemd/system/spigot.service

Paste:

[Unit]
Description=Spigot Minecraft Server
After=network.target

[Service]
WorkingDirectory=/opt/spigot-server
ExecStart=/usr/bin/java -Xms1G -Xmx2G -jar spigot.jar nogui
Restart=on-failure
User=root

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Adjust the User= directive to a non-root user for production environments.

Step 7.2 – Reload systemd and Enable the Service

systemctl daemon-reexec
systemctl enable spigot
systemctl start spigot

Terminal showing systemd service management commands or output.

Step 8: Connect to Your Server

Open Minecraft and connect using your server’s IP address. Example:

your_server_ip:25565

The default port for Minecraft is 25565, so you may need to open this port in your VPS firewall if necessary.

ufw allow 25565

You’ve now installed and configured a Spigot Minecraft server on Ubuntu 24.04. This setup is ideal for running plugins and managing a custom multiplayer environment. Using systemd ensures your server auto-starts and is easy to control.

Ready to build your Minecraft world?
Host it on Shape.Host Cloud VPS for reliable performance and 24/7 uptime.
Get started at https://shape.host