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To run a dedicated Caveopolis 2 server, use the Caveopolis_2_server_pack_0.12.1.zip release, install the NeoForge server for Minecraft 26.1.2, copy the server-pack files into that installation, launch once, accept the EULA, and launch again. Minecraft 26.1 requires Java 25, and the default network port is 25565.

The current Caveopolis 2 release is version 0.12.1, released September 28, 2026. It is a quest-focused pack with custom recipes and progression, so the server and every client must use the same pack release, Minecraft version, and NeoForge profile.

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What you need before installing Caveopolis 2

A successful installation depends on matching four parts: the Minecraft version, Java runtime, NeoForge build, and Caveopolis 2 files. Mixing versions is the most common reason a modded server stops during startup or rejects players.

Current Caveopolis 2 release

Item Current value Why it matters
Modpack Caveopolis 2 The server and clients must run the same project.
Pack version 0.12.1 Use this version’s dedicated server pack rather than an older Caveopolis package.
Minecraft 26.1.2 NeoForge and Java must target this game version.
Mod loader NeoForge Do not substitute a Forge, Fabric, or unrelated NeoForge profile.
Server download Caveopolis_2_server_pack_0.12.1.zip This is the server-specific archive. A client profile or client ZIP is not a replacement.
Release date September 28, 2026 Useful when checking that an installer or mirror is not serving an older release.

The project page recorded 20,256 total downloads on September 28, 2026. That figure is a page snapshot, not a capacity or performance guarantee. The client ZIP listed there is 17.7 MB; its size does not identify it as the dedicated server pack.

Java 25 is required

Minecraft Java Edition 26.1 requires Java 25. NeoForged’s 26.1 migration guidance also documents the move from JDK 21 to JDK 25. Install a 64-bit Java 25 runtime or JDK on the machine that will host the server, then verify it from a terminal:

java -version

The output should identify major version 25. If the command reports 21, 17, or another release, install Java 25 and make sure the server process uses that executable rather than an older Java found earlier in the system path.

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Server-directory prerequisites

  • A clean, writable folder dedicated to this server. Avoid placing it inside a client installation or a folder shared by several modpacks.
  • Permission to run Java and to create files in the server folder.
  • Enough disk space for the pack, generated world, logs, backups, and future updates. The published client ZIP size is not a reliable estimate of the final world or server size.
  • Firewall and, for internet play, router access so TCP traffic can reach the host.
  • A backup location outside the live world directory.

Download the correct Caveopolis 2 server pack

Open the Caveopolis 2 project’s Files page and select the server-pack download for version 0.12.1. The filename is Caveopolis_2_server_pack_0.12.1.zip. Keep the archive intact until you have created the server directory.

Do not use a client-only download

A client profile is designed to be imported into a launcher and can contain files that are unnecessary or unsuitable for a dedicated server. The 17.7 MB client ZIP listed for Caveopolis 2 is an example of why filenames and release type matter: it is not the server-pack archive. Do not rename a client ZIP and expect it to become a server installation.

Verify the release before extracting

  1. Confirm that the archive name contains server_pack and 0.12.1.
  2. Confirm that the release targets Minecraft 26.1.2 and NeoForge.
  3. Download from the project’s official Files page or another source you can verify. NeoForged recommends obtaining mods from trustworthy distribution sources.
  4. Extract into a temporary location first if your operating system displays nested folders. You want the pack’s files to end up directly in the game folder, not buried one level deeper than the launch scripts.

Install the matching NeoForge server

Use the NeoForge installer for the Minecraft 26.1.2 line. The installer must be run with Java 25. Create or open the clean server directory, place the installer there, and run NeoForge’s server installation command:

java -jar /path/to/neoforge-installer.jar --installServer

Replace /path/to/neoforge-installer.jar with the real path to your downloaded installer. On Windows, you can use a quoted path if it contains spaces, for example:

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java -jar "C:pathtoneoforge-installer.jar" --installServer

The installer creates the NeoForge server files and launch scripts in the selected directory. If it reports an incompatible Java version, stop and correct Java before copying modpack files; bypassing that check commonly produces a later, less obvious startup failure.

Keep the installation isolated

Do not install NeoForge into an existing vanilla world folder or another modpack’s directory. A separate folder makes it possible to back up the world, replace a failed update, and identify which files belong to Caveopolis 2.

Copy the Caveopolis 2 server-pack files

NeoForged’s documented workflow uses a separate server-pack instance whose contents are moved into the server folder. After NeoForge has created the server installation:

  1. Extract Caveopolis_2_server_pack_0.12.1.zip.
  2. Select everything inside the extracted server-pack instance, including configuration folders, mods, scripts, and any supplied launch or data files.
  3. Copy those contents into the folder where you ran --installServer.
  4. When your file manager asks whether to merge folders, merge them into the NeoForge installation. Do not create a second folder such as server/Caveopolis_2_server_pack_0.12.1/server unless the pack’s own instructions explicitly require it.
  5. Inspect the final folder and make sure the launch script and pack directories are at the level from which you intend to run the server.

A server pack may already remove client-only mods. If it has not, remove client-only components rather than loading them on a dedicated server. Client rendering, menu, and visual-only mods can cause a server to fail before it creates a world.

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Start the server and accept the EULA

First launch

On Unix-like systems, open a terminal in the server folder and run:

./run.sh

On Windows, double-click run.bat or run it from Command Prompt in the server folder. NeoForge notes that the first launch stops so the Minecraft EULA can be handled. This is expected; it does not mean the installation failed.

Set the EULA flag

  1. Wait for the first launch to finish creating its files.
  2. Open eula.txt in a text editor.
  3. Read the Minecraft EULA. If you agree to it, change eula=false to eula=true.
  4. Save the file without changing its name or extension.
  5. Run ./run.sh again on Unix-like systems or run.bat again on Windows.

If eula.txt is missing, you probably launched from the wrong directory or the process could not write files. Return to the folder containing the NeoForge launch script, check permissions, and launch again.

Configure memory without inventing a fixed requirement

No authoritative Caveopolis 2 source publishes a tested RAM allocation for this pack. Do not treat a generic “X GB minimum” as official guidance. NeoForge generates user_jvm_args.txt; use that file for Java options, then monitor the running server while players explore and generate terrain.

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A practical tuning process

  1. Start with the generated arguments unchanged unless you have a specific reason to edit them.
  2. Confirm that the operating system retains memory for itself and other services; do not assign all physical RAM to Java.
  3. Watch the server console, operating-system memory use, and player symptoms during normal exploration.
  4. If the process runs out of memory, investigate logs and reduce competing services before increasing the allocation.
  5. If the server pauses during garbage collection or the host begins swapping, lower the allocation or move the server to a machine with more available memory.

Memory needs vary with world size, view and simulation distances, number of players, automated farms, and other configuration choices. A number copied from another modpack is not a Caveopolis 2 test result.

Make the server reachable

Local network play

Players on the same home network can usually connect to the host’s local IP address and the default Minecraft port, 25565. The host firewall may still need an inbound rule allowing the Java server process or that port.

Internet play

For players outside the home network, allow the default port 25565 through the host firewall and configure the router’s NAT or port-forwarding rule to send that traffic to the server machine’s local IP address. Reserve the host’s local address in the router when possible, so a DHCP change does not silently break the forwarding rule.

Only expose the port needed for Minecraft. Keep the operating system, Java runtime, router firmware, and server files updated, and avoid sharing administrative services directly with the public internet.

Connection details for players

Players should use the host’s local address on a LAN or the public address supplied by the host for internet play. They normally do not need to append :25565 because that is the default port; a non-default port would need to be included explicitly.

Prepare every player’s client

Each player must install Caveopolis 2 version 0.12.1 with the Minecraft 26.1.2 and NeoForge profile that matches the server. A player on another pack version, a different Minecraft patch, or a different loader build can receive a missing-mod, registry, or protocol error even when the server itself starts normally.

Client matching checklist

  • Caveopolis 2 release: 0.12.1.
  • Minecraft version: 26.1.2.
  • Loader family: NeoForge.
  • Compatible NeoForge build for Minecraft 26.1.2.
  • Any configuration or script files supplied by the server pack, when the pack requires them on clients.

Have players close the game before replacing a profile. If a launcher retains an older configuration or mods folder, create a fresh profile rather than mixing files from unrelated packs.

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Troubleshoot a server that will not start

The console says Java is unsupported

Run java -version in the same shell or script context used to start the server. It must report Java 25 for Minecraft 26.1. If a system has several Java installations, call the Java 25 executable by its full path in the launch script or correct the system path.

NeoForge reports a Minecraft mismatch

Check that the installer and server files target Minecraft 26.1.2. Do not combine a NeoForge build for another Minecraft line with the 26.1.2 pack. Reinstall NeoForge in a clean directory if an earlier installation has left conflicting libraries or launch arguments.

The server cannot find mods or configuration

Inspect the folder layout. The mods, configuration, and other server-pack contents must be in the active game folder, alongside the NeoForge launch files, rather than inside an extra nested extraction directory. Re-extract the archive and copy its contents again if necessary.

A client-only mod crashes the dedicated server

Read the crash report and latest log for the named mod. Remove client-only rendering, interface, or visual components from the server when they are not part of the supplied server pack. Do not delete gameplay mods that the pack requires; compare the server-pack contents with the official release instead.

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The process stops immediately after launch

Check the terminal output and logs/latest.log before changing several files at once. Common boundaries to verify are Java 25, the 26.1.2 NeoForge build, correct server-pack placement, write permissions, and the EULA setting. Changing many variables simultaneously makes the original cause harder to identify.

Players cannot connect

First test from the host or local network. If local connections work but internet connections fail, check the host firewall, router forwarding target, public address, and whether the internet service provider blocks inbound connections. If everyone receives a mod mismatch, compare each client against the server’s exact 0.12.1, 26.1.2, and NeoForge combination.

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Back up before updates or repairs

Stop the server cleanly before copying a backup. Include the world directory, server.properties, whitelist and operator files, configuration folders, scripts, and any pack-specific data you have changed. Store at least one copy outside the live server directory.

NeoForged explicitly recommends backing up before updating NeoForge or mods. Make a dated backup before changing the loader, replacing the server pack, or allowing a new pack release to overwrite configuration. If an update causes a crash or world problem, restore the previous complete set rather than mixing old world data with partially replaced files.

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Self-hosting compared with managed hosting

Self-hosting gives you direct access to files and networking, while managed Minecraft hosting moves much of the operating-system and network work to a provider. The supplied Caveopolis 2 and NeoForge documentation establish the self-hosted procedure, but do not establish current hosting prices, performance benchmarks, or a named Caveopolis 2 hosting partner.

Decision factor Self-hosted server Managed hosting
Initial setup effort Install Java 25 and NeoForge, copy the server pack, accept the EULA, and configure firewall or NAT. Usually less operating-system setup, but you still need to upload the correct server pack and select compatible Java and NeoForge options.
Ongoing administration You handle updates, logs, backups, Java, firewall rules, and hardware. The provider may handle the host machine and control panel; you remain responsible for pack compatibility and world changes.
File and backup control Full access to local files and your own backup schedule. Depends on the provider’s file access, restore tools, retention, and export policy.
Network exposure You configure port 25565, firewall rules, and router forwarding. The provider normally supplies the public endpoint, but you still need account security and server access controls.
Player capacity Depends on the host’s CPU, available memory, storage, network, and workload; no Caveopolis 2 benchmark is established here. Depends on the selected plan and provider infrastructure; no current Caveopolis 2 benchmark is established here.
Recurring cost No hosting price is established by the Caveopolis 2 documentation; your costs are the machine, electricity, and network service. Provider pricing varies and is not established by the cited Caveopolis 2 sources.

If you choose managed NeoForge hosting, verify before paying that the service supports Java 25, Minecraft 26.1.2, NeoForge, direct server-pack upload, downloadable backups, and restoration of the world and configuration files. A one-click listing that supports a different Minecraft line is not sufficient.

Final verification before inviting players

  • The server starts from the intended folder with Java 25.
  • The console reaches a ready state without a mod-loading or registry error.
  • The EULA file contains eula=true after you have accepted the EULA.
  • A test player can connect using the matching Caveopolis 2 0.12.1, Minecraft 26.1.2, and NeoForge profile.
  • The world can be stopped cleanly and restored from a backup.
  • Your firewall and router expose only the connection required for Minecraft.

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