Sandbox · Lightweight
Host a Minetest or Luanti Server on Your Own Hardware
Host Minetest on your own Windows 10/11 or Linux computer. Swarm Hosts gives you a browser control panel to start, stop, monitor, and back up your server.
- Guided settings
- Backups
Available in Early Access
Hardware and runtime
What Minetest needs
Minimum requirements are a starting point. World size, player count, content, and game settings can require more resources.
- CPU
- 1+ cores
- Memory
- 1 GiB minimum
- Player traffic
- UDP
- Backup coverage
- 1 saved data location
Swarm Hosts assigns the player UDP port automatically. Share the endpoint on the Swarm Server page rather than the default container port.
- Game in the UI: Minetest
- Protocol: UDP
- Typical internal game port: 30000/udp
- Managed default version: 5.6.1 stable
- Older managed version: 5.6.1 stable (legacy config)
- Persistent data: /var/lib/minetest
- World path: /var/lib/minetest/worlds/<WORLDNAME>
- Mods path: /var/lib/minetest/mods
Technical overview
Minetest runs over UDP and stores persistent data in /var/lib/minetest. The current managed runtime is Minetest 5.6.1. Luanti is the project's newer name; choosing Minetest in Swarm Hosts does not install a newer Luanti release.
Launch workflow
From host to running server
Minecraft Java remains the recommended first-server path for new users, while Minetest/Luanti is the lightweight public alternative.
- Open Launch.
- Choose Minetest.
- Select a Swarm Host or Swarm Zone.
- Set the server name, CPU limit, and memory limit.
- Review Server name, Description, Max players, Announce to public server list, Game ID, and the password and gameplay settings.
- Choose Launch Minetest and confirm the launch review.
Networking
How players connect
Players connect using the player hostname or IP and assigned UDP port shown on the Swarm Server page:
text <PLAYERHOSTNAMEORIP>:<ASSIGNEDPORT>
Use the host port shown on the Swarm Server detail page, not the container's default 30000.
Managed shared relay when the game, host, and current relay path support it.
Game management tools
Manage your Minetest server
Available tools depend on the game, server status, and your permissions. The game guide explains any setup needed for Server Actions.
- start, stop, and restart the Swarm Server
- inspect live and historical server logs
- edit minetest.conf through File Manager
- upload or replace trusted mods
- create a backup before world or configuration changes; and
- restore persistent game data from an available backup.
Mods & Content status
Mods and custom content
Luanti/Minetest mods are usually file-based. Track the manifest here, then upload or manage the actual files through the file manager.
Minetest has no managed Mods & Content page. Use Files & Backups → File Manager to upload compatible mod files under mods/ and manage worlds under worlds/. The current launch form does not offer world or mod ZIP uploads. For an existing world already on the Swarm Host, use Inspect Folder below.
Upload only content you trust, keep an original copy of the world, and create a platform backup before replacing an existing mod set. A changed mod set can alter or prevent an existing world from loading, so restart and review the logs before inviting players back.
Inspect and import an existing host folder
- Stop the Swarm Server and let any queued action finish.
- Inspect the host folder and review the detected layout, game, storage, file count, and size.
- Select Replace the configured Minetest world and keep the server stopped.
- Choose Import inspected world.
- Preserved means replacement did not complete. A stale-source refusal can happen before a recovery backup is created. Correct the source and inspect it again.
- Restored means replacement failed after it began and the previous world was put back. Review the local recovery backup and logs before retrying.
- Recovery required means the target needs manual attention. Leave the Swarm Server stopped, avoid further data changes, and look for an Available recovery backup under Backups. Contact support before retrying or starting the server; if no Available backup is shown, tell support that too.
Know before launch
Before you launch
- Host on Windows 10/11 or Linux with Docker Desktop in Linux-container mode on Windows, or Docker Engine or rootful Podman on Linux.
- Managed shared relay when the game, host, and current relay path support it.
Windows 10/11 + Linux
Ready to host Minetest?
Connect the Windows or Linux computer you already own, then follow the game-specific launch path.