Introduction
Running a Minecraft server for a small friend group doesn't require the same settings as a 100-player network. Here's how to optimize for 2-10 players.
server.properties Recommendations
These settings provide a good balance of performance and gameplay experience:
max-players=10
view-distance=12
simulation-distance=8
spawn-protection=0
max-tick-time=60000
network-compression-threshold=256
What These Settings Do
- view-distance=12: Players can see chunks up to 12 chunks away
- simulation-distance=8: Mobs and redstone only active within 8 chunks
- spawn-protection=0: Removes spawn point protection (useful for small groups)
- max-tick-time=60000: Gives server more time before watchdog timeout
JVM Arguments for 4GB RAM
If your server has 4GB of RAM available, use these optimized JVM flags:
-Xms3G -Xmx3G -XX:+UseG1GC -XX:+ParallelRefProcEnabled -XX:MaxGCPauseMillis=200
Memory Tip
Set Xms and Xmx to the same value. This prevents the JVM from constantly resizing the heap. Leave ~1GB for the OS.
Paper-Specific Optimizations
If you're using Paper server (recommended), you get additional performance benefits:
- Anti-xray built-in
- Better chunk loading algorithms
- Mob spawning optimizations
- Async chunk loading
View Distance vs Simulation Distance
Understanding the difference is key to server optimization:
- View distance: How far players can see (affects client rendering)
- Simulation distance: How far mobs/redstone work (affects server performance)
For small groups, 12/8 is a good balance. Players see a decent area, but the server doesn't simulate chunks nobody is interacting with.
Additional Performance Tips
- Limit entity count in farms (use entity cramming)
- Avoid excessive redstone clocks
- Clear dropped items periodically
- Use mob switches if you have large farms
Conclusion
Small servers don't need aggressive optimization. Focus on view distance and memory allocation for the best experience. The settings above should give you smooth gameplay for your friend group.
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