How to Host an FTB Skies 2: Aero Modpack Server

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Use Feed The Beast’s Server Installer to create the server: choose the exact FTB Skies 2: Aero release, run the Windows, macOS, or Linux installer in a dedicated directory, start the generated run.bat or run.sh, accept the Minecraft EULA, and then perform the networking, backup, and process-management work that FTB’s installer does not cover. Aero targets Minecraft 1.21.1, requires Java 21, needs at least 6 GB of RAM, and is best started with an 8 GB allocation for a small private server.

What you need before installing

FTB Skies 2: Aero is a Minecraft 1.21.1 modpack. Feed The Beast lists 6 GB of RAM as the minimum and 8 GB as the recommendation, with Java 21 required. Those figures describe the server process, not the entire computer: the operating system and monitoring tools also need memory. On a small self-hosted machine, 8 GB available to the server is a sensible starting point only when the host has additional memory for the operating system.

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• A compatible host: a Windows, macOS, or Linux computer or virtual machine that can remain online while players connect.
• Enough memory: reserve at least 6 GB for the server process; begin at 8 GB unless the host is too small to leave room for the operating system.
• Java 21: the installer can download the required runtime automatically. You do not normally need to install Java manually.
• Storage and permissions: use a dedicated directory where your account can create files, execute scripts, and write world data.
• A chosen pack release: all players must install the same Aero release that the server uses.
• Network access: local players need the host’s local address; remote players require firewall and, for a home connection, router configuration.

FTB does not publish a universal CPU, disk, bandwidth, or player-count target for Aero. Do not treat any particular processor, storage size, or number of simultaneous players as an official capacity guarantee. World-generation speed, simulation load, view distance, other programs, and the number of players all affect the result.

Choose and record the exact Aero release

The pack identifier is 134. On the official FTB server-files listing, the release shown at the time of writing was 1.13.0, with version ID 100527, alongside earlier releases. The listing can change as FTB publishes updates, so use the version currently displayed when you install rather than assuming that 100527 will remain current.

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1. Open the official FTB server-files page.
2. Select FTB Skies 2: Aero.
3. Choose the release your group will use and note both its human-readable version and numeric version ID.
4. Give every player that same release number and require them to install it before joining.

Never let the server silently move to a different release while some clients remain on the old one. A client with a newer or older mod list, configuration, or loader can be rejected during login or produce mismatched-world behavior. Keep a short record such as “Aero 1.13.0, pack ID 134, version ID 100527” beside your server notes, backup schedule, and update plan.

How the FTB Server Installer works

FTB distributes a single executable rather than a conventional server ZIP. The executable contains the download and extraction system, identifies the selected pack and release, obtains the modpack files, and can download the appropriate Java runtime. The installer creates the actual server directory, including the launch script you use afterward.

On Windows, the process is graphical. On macOS and Linux, you make the downloaded file executable and run it from a terminal. In both cases, keep the installer filename unchanged: FTB’s documentation says the filename identifies the pack and version. Renaming it can make it harder to verify which release you intended to deploy.

Install on Windows

1. Create a dedicated directory

Create a folder such as C:MinecraftFTB-Skies-2-Aero. Avoid placing the server inside a personal Downloads folder that is routinely cleaned up, or in a directory synchronized by software that may lock world files while the server is running.

2. Download the correct installer

From the official server-files page, download the Windows AMD64 installer for your selected release. Use an ARM build only when the Windows host actually uses a compatible ARM architecture. Confirm the displayed pack and release before downloading.

3. Put the executable in the target folder

Move the downloaded executable into the dedicated directory without changing its name. Windows may show a security prompt for a downloaded executable; verify that you obtained it from the official FTB listing before allowing it to run.

4. Run the installer

Double-click the executable and answer its prompts. It downloads the pack files, modloader components, and Java runtime as needed. The duration depends on the host’s storage and connection speed; do not close the installer while it is still extracting files.

5. Start the generated server

When installation completes, the directory contains a generated run.bat. Launch it from File Explorer for a simple start, or open a Command Prompt in that directory and run run.bat so that you can read the console output. The first launch creates configuration files and a world and may take substantially longer than later starts.

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6. Accept the EULA and restart cleanly

When prompted, accept the Minecraft EULA, either through the installer’s documented -accept-eula option or by following the prompt generated during startup. Stop the server using its console stop command after the initial world is created, then start it again. Only after this clean restart should you edit settings such as server.properties or assign operator permissions.

Install on macOS or Linux

1. Create and enter the server directory

Choose a path owned by the account that will run the service. For example, a Linux administrator might use /srv/ftb-aero; on macOS, a directory under the user’s home folder is usually simpler. Change into that directory before downloading or moving the installer.

2. Download the matching installer

Download the macOS or Linux installer for the exact release recorded earlier. The filename contains the pack and version information. The example below uses the release shown at the time of writing; substitute the actual filename from the current download page if it has changed.

3. Add execute permission

chmod +x serverinstaller_134_100527

If the file has a different suffix or version number, use that exact name. A “permission denied” error usually means this step was skipped or was run in a different directory.

4. Run the installer

./serverinstaller_134_100527

Answer the prompts and allow the installer to download the pack, loader files, and Java runtime. When it finishes, it creates a run.sh launch script.

5. Launch and complete first startup

./run.sh

Read the console output rather than closing the terminal. Accept the EULA when requested, allow the world to finish generating, stop the process cleanly, and start run.sh again before changing server settings.

Use installer flags for repeatable deployments

The installer supports command-line options that are useful for a new machine, a scripted rebuild, or an automated update. The exact options and behavior can change, so read the help output for the installer you downloaded before putting a command into a permanent service.

A reproducible Linux deployment might therefore pin the pack and directory with a command equivalent to ./serverinstaller_134_100527 -pack 134 -version 100527 -dir /srv/ftb-aero. Do not add -latest to a production command that is meant to recreate the same server later.

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Allocate memory without starving the host

The official requirement is at least 6 GB, and the recommendation is 8 GB. Treat 6 GB as a lower boundary for a lightly used installation, not as a promise of a particular player count or render distance. Starting at 8 GB gives a small private server more headroom, but only if the physical or virtual host has additional memory for the operating system and other services.

• On a dedicated machine, check total installed RAM before assigning 8 GB to Java.
• On a shared host or virtual machine, leave memory for the hypervisor’s requirements, backups, monitoring, and the operating system.
• Watch for operating-system swapping. Increasing the Java allocation does not fix a host that is already paging heavily.
• When buying an upgrade, an 8GB RAM module is relevant to the recommendation, but verify DDR generation, form factor, slot availability, speed compatibility, and ECC requirements before ordering.

The pack page does not publish a fixed CPU model, disk size, bandwidth rate, or supported player count. Measure your own workload rather than advertising a guaranteed capacity based solely on the 6 GB or 8 GB figures.

Complete the first server configuration

Set the server name and gameplay settings

After the first clean restart, open server.properties in the server directory. Change only one setting at a time, save it while the server is stopped, and restart to apply it. Typical choices include the message of the day, difficulty, game mode, view distance, simulation distance, and the listening port. Keep a copy of the original file so you can identify which change caused a problem.

Grant operator access carefully

Use the server console’s operator command for the trusted administrator account rather than giving every player elevated permissions. Operator access can alter or remove worlds and configurations. Remove access when someone no longer administers the server.

Keep the world directory intact

World data, player inventories, mod configuration, and server settings are interdependent. Do not copy only a region folder or only the configuration directory when migrating the server. Stop the process before copying files so that chunks and level metadata are flushed consistently.

Make the server reachable on your network

FTB’s setup guide obtains and creates the files; it does not teach general Minecraft networking. Networking is therefore your responsibility after the first local startup.

Test locally first

From a Minecraft client on the same machine, connect to localhost. From another device on the same home network, use the host’s private address, such as 192.168.x.x. A local test separates server configuration problems from router and internet problems. Do not describe the server as publicly reachable until you have actually verified the connection from an external network.

Open the host firewall

Create an inbound rule for the port configured in server.properties, restricted to the appropriate network profile when possible. Apply the rule to the Java or server process only as broadly as necessary. A firewall change on the computer is separate from a port-forwarding rule on the router.

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Forward the port at home

Assign the host a static local address or a DHCP reservation, then forward the configured Minecraft port from the router to that address. If the local address changes, the forwarding rule can point at the wrong computer. Some internet connections use carrier-grade NAT and do not allow inbound forwarding; in that case, a public server may require a different network arrangement or managed hosting.

Limit exposure

Use a whitelist when the server is intended for a known group, keep operator privileges minimal, and avoid exposing unrelated administration services to the internet. Share the public address only with players who should have access.

Keep the process running and observable

Closing the terminal or a remote desktop session can stop an unmanaged server. On Linux, run the server under a service manager or a terminal multiplexer and configure restart behavior only after you understand how to stop it safely. On Windows, use a dedicated account and a scheduled or service-based launch method rather than relying on a user’s interactive desktop.

• Capture the console log so crashes and mod errors can be diagnosed.
• Monitor free disk space; world saves and logs grow over time.
• Watch memory pressure, CPU saturation, and tick-delay warnings instead of raising Java memory blindly.
• Stop the server with its console command before maintenance, updates, or backups.
• Document the pack release, Java source, installation path, port, firewall rule, and backup location.

Backups and updates

Use offline or coordinated backups

Make regular copies of the world and configuration directories to storage that is separate from the live server. A backup on the same disk does not protect against disk failure, theft, or filesystem corruption. For a consistent copy, stop the server first or use a backup method designed to coordinate with a running Minecraft process.

Keep more than one restore point and periodically verify that an archive can actually be opened. A backup that has never been tested is only an assumption. Include the release notes or a text file containing the pack version with each important backup.

Update deliberately

1. Tell players which new Aero release you intend to adopt.
2. Take and verify a backup while the current server is stopped.
3. Record the current pack and numeric version IDs.
4. Install the new release in a staging directory or update the live directory only after you have a rollback plan.
5. Start the updated server, review the console for errors, and test with a client using the same release.
6. Only then announce the new version and update the remaining clients.

Do not use an unpinned -latest deployment for a group that expects all clients to remain synchronized. A fixed -version value makes it easier to reproduce the installation and roll back after a failed update.

Common failures and fixes

The installer will not start on Windows

Confirm that you downloaded the build matching the host architecture, kept the original filename, and placed it in a writable directory. If Windows blocks the file, re-download it from the official FTB listing and inspect the file’s security properties before running it. Do not work around a warning by downloading an unidentified executable from a mirror.

Permission denied on macOS or Linux

Run chmod +x on the exact installer filename, then execute it with ./ from the directory containing the file. If the directory is mounted with execution disabled, move the installer to a location where your account is allowed to execute programs.

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The server says Java is missing or incompatible

Allow the installer to obtain its Java runtime, or install and expose a compatible Java 21 runtime yourself. Do not use -no-java merely to suppress an error; that flag assumes you have already supplied a working runtime.

Players receive a version or mod mismatch

Compare the client’s Aero release with the server’s recorded release and numeric version ID. Reinstall or update the client so both sides use exactly the same pack version. Also check that the client is using the modpack’s expected Minecraft 1.21.1 base rather than a manually altered profile.

Local connections work but internet connections fail

Check the host firewall, the server’s configured port, the router’s forwarding target, and the host’s reserved local address. If the internet provider uses carrier-grade NAT, ordinary forwarding may be impossible. Test from a genuinely external network; a second device on the same Wi-Fi does not prove that the public route works.

The server stops when the terminal closes

Run it under a persistent service or session manager and configure logging. Make sure the service account owns the server directory and that the service starts in the directory containing run.sh or run.bat. Always retain a controlled stop procedure before enabling automatic restarts.

Startup is slow or the host swaps memory

World generation and mod loading can be intensive. Check available host memory and disk performance, close unrelated applications, and avoid assigning all physical RAM to Java. The published 6 GB minimum and 8 GB recommendation do not establish a guaranteed startup time or player capacity.

Self-hosting or managed hosting?

Self-hosting gives you control over the server files, update schedule, backups, access rules, and ongoing cost. In exchange, you administer Java and the process, maintain firewall and router rules, monitor uptime, replace failed hardware, and recover from bad updates.

Managed hosting is preferable when you do not want to administer a terminal-based installation, cannot keep a home connection reachable, or need someone else to handle machine availability and basic server controls. Feed The Beast identifies BisectHosting as its partner for readers seeking hosted Minecraft servers. Before purchasing, confirm that the current service supports the exact Aero release, the RAM allocation you need, automated backups, the geographic location you want, modpack installation assistance, player-slot policy, cancellation terms, and the current price. Those commercial terms are not established by the FTB setup documentation and can change.

Practical launch checklist

• Record “FTB Skies 2: Aero,” pack ID 134, the selected release, and its numeric version ID.
• Confirm Minecraft 1.21.1 compatibility and Java 21 availability.
• Reserve at least 6 GB for the process; start at 8 GB when the host has additional memory.
• Download the matching Windows, macOS, or Linux installer from FTB’s server-files listing.
• Keep the installer filename unchanged and install into a dedicated directory.
• Use run.bat or run.sh for the first startup, accept the EULA, and perform a clean restart.
• Test localhost or a private LAN address before changing router settings.
• Configure the host firewall, a stable local address, and port forwarding only when remote access is required.
• Set a whitelist and least-privilege operator access for a private group.
• Create, separate, and test backups before changing pack releases.
• Record logs and use a process supervisor or persistent session so the server remains running.
• Tell every player the exact release and update clients in a coordinated window.

What the FTB guide does—and does not—cover

The official installer documentation is deliberately focused on obtaining and creating the files for an FTB modpack server. It explains the single-binary installer, release selection, Java acquisition, and generated launch scripts. It does not operate your firewall, configure a router, choose a backup strategy, supervise a long-running process, or guarantee a player capacity. Those are ordinary Minecraft administration tasks that remain with the server owner or a managed provider.

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