Server Management Best Practices: The Complete Guide - Gaming Hosting 101 (Part 5)

Welcome to the final part of Gaming Hosting 101! You’ve learned about hosting, compared types, chosen your plan, and set up your server. Now let’s master the ongoing work that makes servers successful.

Series Progress:

What is Game Server Hosting? ✓
Types of Game Server Hosting ✓
Choosing the Right Hosting Plan ✓
Setting Up Your First Server ✓
Server Management Best Practices ← You are here (Final Part!)

This guide covers everything you need for long-term server success.

Daily Maintenance Tasks
Weekly Maintenance
Monthly Maintenance
Performance Optimization
Backup Strategies
Security Best Practices
Community Management
Staff Management
Handling Growth
Monetization Ethics
Troubleshooting Playbook
Long-Term Sustainability

Daily Maintenance Tasks

Morning Routine (5-10 minutes)

1. Check Server Status

Quick Check:

✓ Server is online (control panel)
✓ Players can connect
✓ No console errors

Where to Check:

Control panel status indicator
Join server yourself briefly
Scroll through console for red errors

Red Flags:

Status shows “Offline” but should be online
Console flooded with errors
High RAM usage (>90%)
No players online when usually active

2. Review Overnight Activity

Check Logs For:

Player count peaks
Staff activity
Any griefing/rule violations
Server crashes or errors
Unusual activity patterns

Where to Look:

Minecraft:

/coreprotect lookup time:12h

FiveM:

txAdmin → Logs → Last 24 hours
Look for warnings/errors

Discord/Community:

Player reports
Staff reports
Community feedback

3. Quick Performance Check

Minecraft - Check TPS:

/spark tps

Ideal Results:

TPS: 19.8-20.0  ✅
MSPT: <40       ✅
CPU: <70%       ✅
RAM: <80%       ✅

Concerning Results:

TPS: <18        ⚠️ Need optimization
MSPT: >50       ⚠️ Server struggling
CPU: >85%       ⚠️ Near limit
RAM: >90%       🚨 Upgrade needed

4. Player Engagement

Greet Active Players:

"Good morning everyone! 👋"
"How's everyone doing today?"
"Need any help with anything?"

Why This Matters:

Shows owner is active
Builds community
Catches issues early
Encourages retention

Best Times:

Morning (check overnight activity)
Evening (peak hours approaching)
Before bed (set for overnight)

Evening Routine (10-15 minutes)

1. Peak Hour Monitoring

Most servers peak between 7-10 PM local time.

What to Monitor:

Player count (record peak)
Performance during load
RAM/CPU usage under stress
Player feedback/complaints

Use Monitoring Tools:

Minecraft:

/spark profiler --timeout 300
# Runs 5-minute profiler during peak

Check After Peak:

Review profiler results
Identify performance bottlenecks
Plan optimizations

2. Address Daily Issues

Common End-of-Day Tasks:

Player Reports:

Check Discord for reports
Review in-game complaints
Address grief/harassment
Ban rule violators

Technical Issues:

Fix bugs discovered today
Apply minor config changes
Update broken plugins
Clean up test items

Staff Management:

Thank staff for help today
Address staff concerns
Review staff actions
Plan tomorrow’s focus

3. Quick Backup Check

Verify:

Today’s backup completed
Backup size is normal (not 0 bytes)
Recent backups accessible
Backup location has space

Quick Test:

Control Panel → Backups → Today's backup
Check file size: Should be similar to yesterday

If Backup Failed:

Create manual backup immediately
Investigate why auto-backup failed
Fix backup system before tomorrow

Daily Checklist

Use This Every Day:

Morning (5-10 min):
□ Server online and accessible
□ Console shows no major errors
□ Review overnight activity
□ Check TPS/performance
□ Greet active players

Evening (10-15 min):
□ Monitor peak hour performance
□ Address player reports
□ Handle technical issues
□ Verify backup completed
□ Thank staff for their work

Total Daily Time: 15-25 minutes

Weekly Maintenance

Sunday Deep Dive (30-60 minutes)

Pick a consistent day each week - Sunday morning works well.

1. Full Performance Audit

Comprehensive Check:

Step 1: Resource Usage Review

Check last 7 days:
□ Average RAM usage
□ Peak RAM usage
□ Average CPU usage
□ Peak CPU usage
□ Disk space used/available

Where to Check:

Control panel analytics (if available)
Provider billing dashboard
Monitoring tools (Grafana, etc.)

Step 2: Performance Testing

Minecraft:

/spark profiler --timeout 600
# 10-minute deep profiler

/timings report
# Generates timing report

Analysis:

Which plugins use most CPU?
Which are causing lag spikes?
Any memory leaks?
Optimization opportunities?

2. Plugin/Mod Updates

Weekly Update Process:

Step 1: Check for Updates

Visit plugin/mod pages
Check changelogs
Note major changes

Step 2: Backup First

ALWAYS backup before updates!
□ Create manual backup
□ Download backup to PC
□ Verify backup works

Step 3: Update in Test Environment (If Possible)

Test on local server first
Or update on low-traffic day
Monitor for 30 minutes after

Step 4: Update Production

Stop server
Replace old plugin with new
Start server
Monitor console
Test functionality

Step 5: Verify Everything Works

Check plugin loads correctly
Test main features
Ask players to report issues
Monitor for 1-2 hours

3. Database Maintenance

For Servers with Databases (FiveM, etc.):

Tasks:

Optimize Tables:

OPTIMIZE TABLE users;
OPTIMIZE TABLE vehicles;
OPTIMIZE TABLE inventory;
# Optimize all major tables

Clean Old Data:

-- Delete logs older than 30 days
DELETE FROM logs WHERE timestamp < DATE_SUB(NOW(), INTERVAL 30 DAY);

-- Delete inactive players (6+ months)
DELETE FROM users WHERE last_login < DATE_SUB(NOW(), INTERVAL 180 DAY);

Backup Database:

mysqldump -u username -p database_name > backup_$(date +%Y%m%d).sql

Check Size:

SELECT 
    table_schema AS 'Database',
    SUM(data_length + index_length) / 1024 / 1024 AS 'Size (MB)'
FROM information_schema.TABLES
GROUP BY table_schema;

4. World Maintenance

Minecraft World Cleanup:

Entity Cleanup:

/minecraft:kill @e[type=item]        # Remove dropped items
/minecraft:kill @e[type=arrow]       # Remove arrows
/minecraft:kill @e[type=experience_orb]  # Remove XP orbs

Region File Check:

Use MCASelector
Identify corrupted chunks
Delete corrupted regions
Regenerate chunks

Trim Unused Chunks:

Use WorldBorder plugin
Set world border
Trim chunks outside border
Saves disk space

5. Log Review

Analyze Last Week:

Player Statistics:

□ Unique players joined
□ Average online count
□ Peak player count
□ New player retention
□ Returning player count

Technical Issues:

□ Server crashes (count)
□ Plugin errors
□ Performance issues
□ Connection problems

Community Health:

□ Rule violations
□ Staff actions taken
□ Player complaints
□ Positive feedback

Action Items:

Address recurring issues
Plan improvements
Schedule major changes

Weekly Checklist

□ Full performance audit (30 min)
□ Plugin/mod updates (15-30 min)
□ Database maintenance (15 min)
□ World cleanup (10 min)
□ Log analysis (10 min)
□ Backup verification (5 min)
□ Plan next week's tasks

Total Weekly Time: 1-2 hours

Monthly Maintenance

First of Month Tasks (1-2 hours)

1. Comprehensive Security Audit

Review Access:

Who Has Admin Access?

Minecraft:
/op list

FiveM:
Check txAdmin users

Control Panel:
Review user accounts

Remove Inactive Staff:

Haven’t logged in 30+ days
No longer active in community
Remove permissions
Document reasons

Review Permissions:

□ Staff have appropriate levels
□ No excessive permissions
□ Test permissions work correctly
□ Update permission groups if needed

2. Financial Review

Calculate Costs:

Monthly Expenses:

Hosting:           $XX.XX
Domain (if any):   $X.XX
Plugins (premium): $X.XX
Other services:    $X.XX
─────────────────────────
Total:             $XX.XX

Monthly Income (If Monetized):

Donations:         $XX.XX
Rank purchases:    $XX.XX
Other:             $X.XX
─────────────────────────
Total:             $XX.XX

Net: Income - Expenses = $XX.XX

Questions to Ask:

Can we afford current hosting?
Need to upgrade/downgrade?
Monetization working?
Costs sustainable long-term?

3. Backup Strategy Review

Test Backups:

Monthly Backup Test:

Download latest backup
Restore to test server or local
Verify world loads
Check data integrity
Test major features work

If Backup Fails:

Investigate immediately
Fix backup system
Create working backup
Document issue

Verify Backup Retention:

How many backups stored?
□ Daily: 7 days worth
□ Weekly: 4 weeks worth
□ Monthly: 3 months worth

Storage Check:

Backups taking too much space?
Need to delete old backups?
Backup location secure?

4. Player Analytics Deep Dive

Monthly Metrics:

Growth Metrics:

□ New players this month
□ Active players (played 5+ times)
□ Retention rate (% who return)
□ Churn rate (% who stopped)
□ Average session length

Engagement Metrics:

□ Peak concurrent players
□ Average online count
□ Most popular play times
□ Discord activity
□ Community engagement

Tools to Use:

Plan Plugin (Minecraft)
Google Analytics (Website)
Discord analytics (Server Insights)

Insights:

What’s working?
What needs improvement?
When are peak times?
How to improve retention?

5. Major Updates & Changes

Plan Quarterly Changes:

Things to Consider Monthly:

Should We Update Version?

New Minecraft version available?
Plugins compatible?
Breaking changes?
Player interest?

Should We Add Features?

Player requests
Competitive analysis
Resource requirements
Implementation time

Should We Remove Features?

Unused plugins
Unpopular game modes
Resource hogs
Outdated content

Major Project Planning:

Spawn redesign?
New game mode?
Server merge?
Marketing campaign?

Monthly Checklist

□ Security audit (30 min)
□ Financial review (15 min)
□ Backup testing (20 min)
□ Player analytics (20 min)
□ Update planning (20 min)
□ Staff performance review (15 min)
□ Community feedback collection (10 min)

Total Monthly Time: 2-3 hours

Performance Optimization

Identifying Performance Issues

Symptoms of Poor Performance:

Player-Side:

Rubber-banding (teleporting back)
Block lag (blocks reappear)
Delayed actions
Choppy movement
Slow chunk loading

Server-Side:

Low TPS (<19.5)
High MSPT (>50)
RAM usage >90%
CPU usage >90%
Console spam/errors

Minecraft Optimization Guide

1. Server Software Optimization

Software Tier List:

Software	Performance	Features	Plugins
Vanilla	⭐⭐ Poor	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ All	❌ None
Spigot	⭐⭐⭐ Good	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Most	✅ Bukkit
Paper	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Most	✅ Bukkit
Purpur	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Extra	✅ Bukkit

Recommendation: Use Paper or Purpur

Why Paper?

30-50% better performance
Active development
Plugin compatibility
Configuration options

2. Configuration Optimization

server.properties:

# View Distance (Most Important)
view-distance=8          # Default 10, lower = better perf
simulation-distance=6    # Default 10, affects mob AI

# Network
network-compression-threshold=256  # Compress packets

# Spawning
spawn-monsters=true
spawn-animals=true
max-entity-cramming=24   # Prevent mob farms from lagging

spigot.yml:

# Mob spawning
mob-spawn-range: 6       # Reduce from 8
entity-activation-range:
  animals: 24            # Reduce from 32
  monsters: 28           # Reduce from 32
  raiders: 40            # Reduce from 48
  misc: 12               # Reduce from 16

# Tick rates
arrow-despawn-rate: 300  # Arrows despawn faster
item-despawn-rate: 3000  # Items despawn faster

paper.yml:

# Anti-Xray
anti-xray:
  enabled: true
  engine-mode: 1

# Performance
max-auto-save-chunks-per-tick: 8
optimize-explosions: true
treasure-maps-enabled: false  # Reduces lag
disable-chest-cat-detection: true

3. Plugin Optimization

Identify Resource-Heavy Plugins:

/spark profiler --timeout 300

# After 5 minutes:
/spark profiler --stop

Results Show:

Top CPU Users:
1. DynmapPlugin - 45%      🚨 REMOVE OR CONFIGURE
2. ChestShop - 12%         ⚠️ Optimize settings
3. WorldEdit - 8%          ✅ Normal
4. Essentials - 5%         ✅ Normal

Action Plan:

High Usage (>20%):

Remove if not essential
Check for alternatives
Optimize configuration
Update to latest version

Medium Usage (10-20%):

Optimize settings
Reduce update frequency
Limit scope (e.g., Dynmap render distance)

Low Usage (<10%):

Normal, no action needed

4. World Optimization

Reduce Entity Count:

Find Entity Hotspots:

/minecraft:execute as @e[type=!player] run say hi
# Count entity messages

/spark entitylist
# Shows entity counts by type

Common Culprits:

Item frames (thousands in spawn)
Armor stands (decorations)
Minecarts (old systems)
Dropped items
Mobs in farms

Solutions:

# Remove excess entities
/minecraft:kill @e[type=item]
/minecraft:kill @e[type=arrow]

# Limit spawning
/gamerule maxEntityCramming 24

# Clear old chunks
Use MCASelector to delete unused areas

FiveM Optimization Guide

1. Resource Optimization

Identify Heavy Resources:

txAdmin Dashboard:

Resources tab
Sort by CPU/RAM usage
Disable top 3-5 heavy resources
Test performance

Common Heavy Resources:

High-quality vehicle packs
MLOs (Map Loaded Objects)
Legacy scripts (old ESX)
Poorly optimized customs

2. Server Configuration

server.cfg Optimization:

# OneSync settings
set onesync on
set onesync_enableInfinity 1
set onesync_enableBeyond 1
set onesync_population true

# Performance
sv_maxclients 48        # Don't overload
sv_scriptHookAllowed 0  # Security + performance

# Network
sv_connectionTimeout 120
sv_enforceGameBuild 2802  # Latest build

# Entity culling
set entity_lockdown_mode relaxed

3. Database Optimization

Optimize for FiveM:

Index Important Columns:

CREATE INDEX idx_identifier ON users(identifier);
CREATE INDEX idx_license ON users(license);
CREATE INDEX idx_last_login ON users(last_login);

Clean Old Data:

-- Delete old logs
DELETE FROM user_logs WHERE timestamp < DATE_SUB(NOW(), INTERVAL 30 DAY);

-- Clear old sessions
DELETE FROM user_sessions WHERE ended < DATE_SUB(NOW(), INTERVAL 7 DAY);

Rust Optimization Guide

server.cfg Settings:

# Performance
server.worldsize 4000       # Don't go too large
server.maxplayers 100       # Match your hardware
server.saveinterval 600     # 10 minutes

# AI optimization
ai.think 5                  # AI think interval
ai.move 10                  # AI move interval

# Network
server.netbuffering 0       # Reduce rubber-banding

Backup Strategies

The 3-2-1 Backup Rule

Best Practice:

3 copies of data
2 different storage types
1 off-site copy

Example:

Original: Server (production)
Copy 1: Server backup folder (same machine)
Copy 2: Download to your PC (different machine)
Copy 3: Cloud storage (off-site) - Google Drive, Dropbox

Automated Backup Schedule

Recommended Frequency:

Backup Type	Frequency	Retention	Storage
Quick	Every 6 hours	2 days	Server
Daily	3 AM	7 days	Server
Weekly	Sunday 3 AM	4 weeks	Server + PC
Monthly	1st of month	3 months	PC + Cloud

Setting Up Automated Backups

Method 1: Control Panel (Easiest)

Most Panels Have Built-in Backups:

Go to Backups section
Enable automatic backups
Set schedule (daily at 3 AM)
Set retention (7 days)
Enable compression
Save settings

Method 2: Plugin-Based (Minecraft)

Use Backup Plugin:

Popular Options:

DriveBackupV2 - Backup to Google Drive
SimpleBackup - Local backups
AutoBackup - Scheduled backups

Example Setup (DriveBackupV2):

# config.yml
backup-schedule:
  interval: 6h
  method: incremental
  
retention:
  daily: 7
  weekly: 4
  monthly: 3

upload:
  google-drive:
    enabled: true
    folder-id: your_folder_id

Method 3: System-Level (VPS)

Cron Job Backup Script:

#!/bin/bash
# /home/minecraft/backup.sh

DATE=$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)
BACKUP_DIR="/home/minecraft/backups"
SERVER_DIR="/home/minecraft/server"

# Stop server
screen -S minecraft -X stuff "say Backup starting in 30 seconds...$(printf \\r)"
sleep 30
screen -S minecraft -X stuff "save-all$(printf \\r)"
screen -S minecraft -X stuff "save-off$(printf \\r)"

# Create backup
tar -czf $BACKUP_DIR/backup_$DATE.tar.gz -C $SERVER_DIR world world_nether world_the_end

# Resume server
screen -S minecraft -X stuff "save-on$(printf \\r)"
screen -S minecraft -X stuff "say Backup complete!$(printf \\r)"

# Delete backups older than 7 days
find $BACKUP_DIR -name "backup_*.tar.gz" -mtime +7 -delete

# Upload to remote (optional)
rclone copy $BACKUP_DIR/backup_$DATE.tar.gz remote:backups/

Set Up Cron:

crontab -e

# Add line:
0 3 * * * /home/minecraft/backup.sh

Backup Verification

Monthly Backup Test:

Process:

Download latest backup
Extract/restore to test location
Start test server
Verify world loads
Check player data
Test important features
Document results

If Test Fails:

Backup is corrupted
Try previous backup
Investigate corruption cause
Fix backup system
Create new working backup

What to Backup

Essential Files:

Minecraft:

✓ world/
✓ world_nether/
✓ world_the_end/
✓ plugins/
✓ server.properties
✓ bukkit.yml, spigot.yml, paper.yml
✓ ops.json, whitelist.json
✓ banned-players.json, banned-ips.json

FiveM:

✓ resources/ (all custom resources)
✓ server.cfg
✓ database (MySQL dump)
✓ txData/

Rust:

✓ server/ (entire folder)
✓ oxide/config/
✓ oxide/data/

Don’t Backup:

✗ logs/ (too large)
✗ cache/
✗ temp/
✗ server.jar (can re-download)

Security Best Practices

Access Control

1. Strong Passwords

Requirements:

Minimum 12 characters
Mix of upper/lowercase
Numbers and symbols
No dictionary words
Unique per service

Bad Passwords:

❌ password123
❌ minecraft2024
❌ admin
❌ 12345678

Good Passwords:

✅ mK9$pL2#nQ7*wF3
✅ Tr!angle-Blue47-Happy
✅ Correct$Horse*Battery*Staple99

Use Password Manager:

1Password
Bitwarden
LastPass
Dashlane

2. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Enable 2FA On:

Control panel login
Email account
Discord admin account
PayPal/payment processors
Domain registrar

Recommended Apps:

Google Authenticator
Authy
Microsoft Authenticator

3. Permission Hierarchy

Proper Staff Structure:

Owner (You)
  ↓
Co-Owner (Trusted friend)
  ↓
Admin (Long-term trusted staff)
  ↓
Moderator (Active staff)
  ↓
Helper (New staff, trial period)
  ↓
Player

Principle of Least Privilege:

Give minimum permissions needed
Don’t make everyone admin
Review permissions regularly
Remove access when staff leave

Server Security

1. Keep Software Updated

Update Priority:

Software	Update Frequency	Priority
Server Core	Within 1-2 days	🔴 Critical
Security Plugins	Same day	🔴 Critical
Major Plugins	Within 1 week	🟡 High
Minor Plugins	Within 2 weeks	🟢 Medium
Cosmetic Plugins	Monthly	⚪ Low

Why Updates Matter:

Security vulnerabilities patched
Bug fixes
Performance improvements
New features

2. Firewall Configuration

For VPS Users:

Basic UFW Setup:

# Install UFW
sudo apt install ufw

# Default policies
sudo ufw default deny incoming
sudo ufw default allow outgoing

# Allow SSH (IMPORTANT - don't lock yourself out!)
sudo ufw allow 22/tcp

# Allow game ports
sudo ufw allow 25565/tcp  # Minecraft
sudo ufw allow 30120/tcp  # FiveM
sudo ufw allow 28015/tcp  # Rust

# Enable firewall
sudo ufw enable

Verify Rules:

sudo ufw status verbose

3. DDoS Protection

Layers of Protection:

Layer 1: Provider Protection

Most hosts include basic DDoS protection
Verify this is enabled
Know the capacity (Gbps)

Layer 2: Cloudflare (If Using Domain)

Free tier includes DDoS protection
Proxy your domain through Cloudflare
Enable “Under Attack” mode if targeted

Layer 3: TCPShield (Minecraft)

Free DDoS protection for Minecraft
Easy setup (change A record)
Protects against common attacks

Layer 4: Application-Level

Connection limiting
Rate limiting
IP banning

4. Plugin/Mod Security

Before Installing:

Verify Source:

✅ Official SpigotMC
✅ Official Bukkit
✅ GitHub (reputable devs)
❌ Random file-sharing sites
❌ Cracked/nulled plugins
❌ Unknown developers

Check Reviews:

Recent reviews (last 3 months)
Look for security concerns
Check update frequency
Verify active development

Scan for Malware:

Upload to VirusTotal.com
Scan with antivirus
Review code (if possible)

Player Account Security

1. Enforce Authentication

Minecraft - Paid Accounts Only:

# server.properties
online-mode=true  # NEVER set to false

Why Online Mode Matters:

Prevents account spoofing
Verifies real Minecraft accounts
Enables real UUID tracking
Required for good security

Offline Mode = Security Nightmare:

Anyone can log in as anyone
No real account verification
Encourages cracked clients
Staff impersonation possible

2. IP-Based Protection

Limit Login Attempts:

Use AuthMe Plugin (If Necessary):

# Only for offline-mode servers (not recommended)
security:
  maxLoginTries: 3
  timeoutSeconds: 300

Monitor Suspicious Activity:

Multiple accounts from same IP
Rapid account switching
VPN/proxy usage (if problematic)

Community Management

Building a Positive Community

1. Clear Rules & Enforcement

Essential Rules:

1. Be Respectful
   - No harassment, bullying, or hate speech
   - Treat others how you want to be treated
   
2. No Cheating
   - No hacking, exploiting, or x-ray
   - No unfair advantages
   
3. No Griefing
   - Don't destroy others' builds
   - Ask permission before modifying
   
4. Appropriate Language
   - Keep chat family-friendly
   - No excessive swearing
   
5. Follow Staff Instructions
   - Staff decisions are final
   - Appeal through proper channels

Display Rules:

At spawn (signs or holograms)
On website
In Discord
/rules command

2. Consistent Enforcement

Punishment Guidelines:

Offense	1st Time	2nd Time	3rd Time
Minor (Language)	Warning	1-day ban	7-day ban
Medium (Grief)	7-day ban	30-day ban	Permanent
Major (Hacking)	30-day ban	Permanent	Permanent
Severe (DDOS Threat)	Permanent	Permanent	Permanent

Key Principles:

Be consistent (same punishment for same offense)
Document everything (use CoreProtect)
Give benefit of doubt when appropriate
Allow appeals
Explain why punishment was given

3. Staff Training

Train Staff On:

Technical Skills:

How to use moderation commands
How to check logs
How to investigate grief
How to handle hackers

Soft Skills:

Conflict resolution
Professional communication
When to escalate
Bias awareness

Staff Guidelines:

✓ Be professional in public chat
✓ Handle situations calmly
✓ Document all actions
✓ Ask for help when unsure
✓ Never abuse permissions

4. Player Engagement

Regular Events:

Examples:

Weekly building contests
PvP tournaments
Treasure hunts
Holiday events
Community projects

Benefits:

Keeps players engaged
Builds community bonds
Creates memories
Encourages return visits

Event Planning:

3 Weeks Before:
□ Choose event type
□ Plan details
□ Create prizes

2 Weeks Before:
□ Announce event
□ Start sign-ups
□ Build event area

1 Week Before:
□ Remind players
□ Finalize details
□ Prepare staff

Event Day:
□ Set up 1 hour early
□ Welcome participants
□ Run smoothly
□ Take screenshots

After Event:
□ Announce winners
□ Distribute prizes
□ Thank participants
□ Post recap

5. Communication Channels

Discord Server (Recommended):

Essential Channels:

📢 #announcements    (Read-only, server updates)
💬 #general          (Main chat)
🎮 #minecraft        (Game-specific)
❓ #support          (Help requests)
📋 #rules            (Server rules)
🎨 #builds           (Player builds showcase)

Staff Channels:

🛡️ #staff-chat      (Staff coordination)
📊 #reports          (Player reports)
📝 #staff-logs       (Action logs)

Why Discord?

Stay connected when not playing
Organize events
Share builds/screenshots
Community building
Support outside game

Handling Difficult Situations

1. Drama/Conflict Resolution

Process:

Listen to both sides
Investigate (check logs)
Determine truth
Decide action
Communicate clearly
Follow up later

Example:

Player A: "Player B stole my diamonds!"
Player B: "No I didn't!"

Step 1: Listen to both stories
Step 2: /co lookup u:PlayerB t:30m
Step 3: Logs show B took from A's chest
Step 4: Return items, warn Player B
Step 5: Message both with resolution
Step 6: Check on Player A next day

2. Toxic Players

Red Flags:

Constant rule violations
Arguments with many players
Disrespecting staff
Encouraging others to break rules
Creating drama

When to Ban:

Multiple warnings ignored
Severe violations
Negatively affecting community
Staff/player harassment

“But They Donate/Popular!”

Rules apply to everyone equally
Toxic whales hurt more than help
Community > one person
Make the hard decision

3. Staff Conflicts

When Staff Disagree:

Process:

Private discussion (not public)
Listen to both perspectives
Review facts/evidence
Make decision as owner
Communicate outcome
Move forward

Preventing Conflicts:

Clear staff hierarchy
Defined responsibilities
Open communication
Regular staff meetings
Appreciation culture

Staff Management

Recruiting Staff

When to Recruit:

You’re overwhelmed with work
Peak hours have no staff coverage
Server growing rapidly
Planning expansion

Don’t Recruit When:

You want friends to have power
You’re lonely
You need someone to do everything
You haven’t defined the role

Application Process:

Staff Application Template:

=== Staff Application ===

In-Game Name:
Age:
Timezone:
Available Hours:

Previous Experience:
- Describe any prior staff roles

Why Do You Want to Be Staff?:
- Minimum 100 words

How Would You Handle [Scenario]:
- Player griefing
- Staff abuse report
- Hacker in-game

What Can You Contribute?:

References:
- Two current players who can vouch for you

Evaluation Criteria:

Maturity level
Time on server (2+ months recommended)
No recent punishments
Positive reputation
Available during needed times
Communication skills

Training New Staff

Week 1: Shadowing

Watch experienced staff
Learn commands
Understand procedures
No independent actions

Week 2: Supervised Actions

Handle situations with oversight
Senior staff reviews decisions
Learning from mistakes
Build confidence

Week 3-4: Independence

Handle situations alone
Report actions to seniors
Ask questions when unsure
Full staff member

Ongoing:

Weekly staff meetings
Continued training
Feedback sessions
Performance reviews

Staff Retention

Why Staff Leave:

Burnout (overworked)
Lack of appreciation
Drama/conflict
Life circumstances
Loss of interest

How to Retain:

1. Appreciate Publicly

"Big thanks to @Moderator for helping 
20+ players today! You're awesome! 🌟"

2. Rotate Responsibilities

Don’t overload one person
Share the work
Prevent burnout

3. Staff Perks

Special Discord role
Cosmetic in-game perks
Early feature access
Colored name tags

4. Listen to Feedback

Regular 1-on-1 chats
Anonymous feedback option
Act on suggestions
Show you value input

5. Work-Life Balance

Don’t expect 24/7 availability
Allow vacations
Respect real life priorities
Flexible scheduling

Handling Growth

Scaling Your Infrastructure

Performance Indicators to Monitor:

⚠️ Time to Upgrade When:
□ RAM usage consistently >80%
□ TPS regularly <19.5
□ Player complaints about lag
□ Peak player count near max slots
□ Server crashes during peak

Upgrade Path:

Phase 1: Small Server (5-20 players)

Shared hosting: 2-4GB RAM
Cost: $5-10/mo
Basic features
Learning phase

Phase 2: Growing Server (20-50 players)

Shared hosting: 4-6GB RAM
Or budget VPS: 4GB RAM
Cost: $10-20/mo
More plugins/features
Community forming

Phase 3: Medium Server (50-100 players)

VPS: 8GB RAM
Cost: $30-50/mo
Advanced features
Staff team
Active community

Phase 4: Large Server (100-300 players)

Dedicated server or high-end VPS
Cost: $80-150/mo
Full feature set
Multiple game modes
Revenue stream

Phase 5: Network (300+ players)

Multiple dedicated servers
Cost: $200-500+/mo
BungeeCord network
Large staff team
Professional operation

Managing Increased Player Load

Database Optimization:

-- Add indexes to frequently queried columns
CREATE INDEX idx_player_uuid ON player_data(uuid);
CREATE INDEX idx_last_seen ON player_data(last_seen);

-- Partition large tables
ALTER TABLE player_logs PARTITION BY RANGE (YEAR(timestamp));

Caching Strategies:

Cache frequently accessed data
Use Redis for session data
Implement player data cache
Reduce database queries

Load Balancing:

Split game modes to different servers
Use BungeeCord/Velocity proxy
Distribute player load
Dedicated world servers

Monetization Ethics

Ethical Monetization

EULA Compliance (Minecraft):

What’s Allowed:

✅ Server-wide perks (faster mob spawns)
✅ Cosmetic items (particle effects, pets)
✅ Ranks with non-gameplay advantages
✅ Access to cosmetic commands
✅ Priority queue during full server

What’s NOT Allowed:

❌ Pay-to-win items (enchanted gear)
❌ Gameplay advantages (flight in survival)
❌ Access to game-affecting commands
❌ Kits with better items
❌ Extra inventory space

Gray Area:

⚠️ Extra /sethome slots (okay if limited)
⚠️ Access to economy commands (context-dependent)
⚠️ Resource pack requirement (allowed)

Donation Tiers

Example Structure:

Tier 1: Supporter ($5)

✓ Supporter rank & tag
✓ Colored chat
✓ Custom join/leave messages
✓ Access to /nick command
✓ Priority support

Tier 2: VIP ($15)

✓ Everything in Supporter
✓ Exclusive cosmetic pets
✓ Particle effects
✓ +2 additional /sethome slots
✓ Exclusive Discord role

Tier 3: MVP ($30)

✓ Everything in VIP
✓ Exclusive cosmetic gadgets
✓ Custom prefix
✓ +5 total /sethome slots
✓ Early access to new features

Important:

Clearly state what’s included
No pay-to-win
Reasonable pricing
Value for money
Support server costs

Transparency

Be Open About:

Where money goes
Server costs
Profit (if any)
Goal amounts
Financial struggles (if applicable)

Monthly Financial Update Example:

📊 June Financial Report

Income:
Donations: $285
Rank purchases: $160
Total: $445

Expenses:
Dedicated server: $120
Domain: $15
Plugins: $25
Total: $160

Surplus: $285

Surplus will fund:
- Server upgrades
- Event prizes
- Plugin development
- 3-month emergency fund

Troubleshooting Playbook

Quick Diagnostic Tree

Server Issue?
│
├─ Won't Start
│  ├─ Check RAM allocation
│  ├─ Check port availability
│  └─ Check plugin conflicts
│
├─ Lag/Performance
│  ├─ Check TPS
│  ├─ Profile plugins
│  └─ Check entity count
│
├─ Connection Issues
│  ├─ Verify server running
│  ├─ Check IP/port
│  └─ Verify whitelist
│
└─ Crashes
   ├─ Check crash logs
   ├─ Update plugins
   └─ Increase RAM

Common Issues & Solutions

Issue: “Server is full” but max-players not reached

Causes:

Whitelist enabled
Slot reservation for staff
Plugin limiting joins

Solutions:

/whitelist off
Check config: reserved-slots
Check plugin configs

Issue: “Flying is not enabled on this server”

Causes:

Player in survival mode
Allow-flight=false
Anti-cheat plugin

Solutions:

# server.properties
allow-flight=true  # If using fly plugins

Issue: Chat messages delayed

Causes:

Chat plugin lag
TPS issues
Network latency

Solutions:

Disable chat plugin temporarily
Check TPS
Update chat plugin

Long-Term Sustainability

Preventing Burnout

Warning Signs:

Dreading logging in
Snapping at players
Ignoring maintenance
Letting issues pile up
No longer having fun

Solutions:

1. Take Breaks

Schedule days off
Don’t check Discord
Play other games
Recharge batteries

2. Delegate Responsibilities

Trust your staff
Don’t micromanage
Share the workload
Empower others

3. Set Boundaries

Define offline hours
Not available 24/7
Say no sometimes
Protect personal time

4. Remember Why You Started

Fun with friends
Build community
Creative outlet
Learning experience

Exit Strategy

When to Close:

No longer sustainable financially
Not enjoying it anymore
Can’t provide quality experience
Life priorities changed

How to Close Gracefully:

1. Give Notice (30+ days)

"After 2 great years, the server will
be closing on [DATE]. Thank you all!"

2. Provide World Download

Let players download their builds
Share final world save
Transfer to someone else?

3. Thank Everyone

Thank players
Thank staff
Thank supporters
Share memories

4. Document Everything

Save backups
Screenshot memories
Write post-mortem
Share lessons learned

Your Long-Term Checklist

Daily (15-25 minutes)

□ Check server status
□ Review overnight activity
□ Quick performance check
□ Player engagement
□ Address immediate issues
□ Verify backup completed

Weekly (1-2 hours)

□ Performance audit
□ Plugin/mod updates
□ Database maintenance
□ World cleanup
□ Log analysis
□ Backup verification

Monthly (2-3 hours)

□ Security audit
□ Financial review
□ Backup testing
□ Player analytics
□ Update planning
□ Staff review

Quarterly (3-4 hours)

□ Major updates evaluation
□ Long-term planning
□ Community survey
□ Infrastructure assessment
□ Goal review & setting

Conclusion: The Journey Ahead

You’ve completed Gaming Hosting 101! You now have:

✅ Understanding of game server hosting ✅ Knowledge of different hosting types ✅ Skills to choose the right plan ✅ Ability to set up your first server ✅ Best practices for long-term management

What Makes a Great Server Owner?

Not Just Technical Skills:

Dedication to community
Consistency in management
Willingness to learn
Patience with players
Adaptability to change
Passion for the game

You Don’t Need to Be Perfect:

Make mistakes & learn
Ask for help
Grow with your server
Celebrate small wins
Enjoy the journey

Final Words

Remember:

Every large server started small
Every experienced admin was once a beginner
Your community will appreciate your effort
It’s okay to make mistakes
Have fun - that’s the point!

Your server is more than just a game server:

It’s a community
It’s friendships forming
It’s memories being made
It’s your creation

Make it something you’re proud of.

Resources & Community

Continue Learning

Communities:

Mamba Host Discord
r/admincraft (Minecraft)
r/FiveM (FiveM)
r/playrustadmin (Rust)
SpigotMC Forums
PaperMC Discord

Tools:

Spark Profiler
MCASelector
Plan Analytics
FileZilla (FTP)
Notepad++ (Editing)

Learning:

YouTube tutorials
Plugin documentation
Provider knowledge bases
Community guides

Need Help?

You’re Not Alone:

Thousands of server owners started where you are
Communities are friendly and helpful
Provider support teams available
We’re here to help you succeed

Contact Us:

Thank You!

Thank you for reading the complete Gaming Hosting 101 series!

The Series:

What is Game Server Hosting?
Types of Game Server Hosting
Choosing the Right Hosting Plan
Setting Up Your First Server
Server Management Best Practices (You just finished!)

Share this series with anyone starting their server hosting journey!

Now go build something amazing. 🚀

Your server community is waiting for you!

Series Progress: ██████████████ 5 of 5 COMPLETE! 🎉

Last updated: October 24, 2025 Part of Gaming Hosting 101 Series Series completed! Thank you for reading!

Server Management Best Practices: The Complete Guide - Gaming Hosting 101 (Part 5)

Table of Contents

Daily Maintenance Tasks

Morning Routine (5-10 minutes)

Evening Routine (10-15 minutes)

Daily Checklist

Weekly Maintenance

Sunday Deep Dive (30-60 minutes)

Weekly Checklist

Monthly Maintenance

First of Month Tasks (1-2 hours)

Monthly Checklist

Performance Optimization

Identifying Performance Issues

Minecraft Optimization Guide

FiveM Optimization Guide

Rust Optimization Guide

Backup Strategies

The 3-2-1 Backup Rule

Automated Backup Schedule

Setting Up Automated Backups

Backup Verification

What to Backup

Security Best Practices

Access Control

Server Security

Player Account Security

Community Management

Building a Positive Community

Handling Difficult Situations

Staff Management

Recruiting Staff

Training New Staff

Staff Retention

Handling Growth

Scaling Your Infrastructure

Managing Increased Player Load

Monetization Ethics

Ethical Monetization

Donation Tiers

Transparency

Troubleshooting Playbook

Quick Diagnostic Tree

Common Issues & Solutions

Long-Term Sustainability

Preventing Burnout

Exit Strategy

Your Long-Term Checklist

Daily (15-25 minutes)

Weekly (1-2 hours)

Monthly (2-3 hours)

Quarterly (3-4 hours)

Conclusion: The Journey Ahead

What Makes a Great Server Owner?

Final Words

Resources & Community

Continue Learning

Need Help?

Thank You!

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