How to Install Pufferfish on a Minecraft Server

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To install Pufferfish, install the Java runtime required by your Minecraft version, download a matching Pufferfish server JAR, place it in a dedicated folder, and launch it from that folder with Java memory options. The first launch creates the server files; after accepting the Minecraft EULA, configure server.properties, allow the server port through your firewall and router, and then test locally before inviting players.

Pufferfish is a high-performance fork of Paper. Its Paper-based workflow means Paper’s Java guidance, launch syntax and general administration practices are the correct starting point, while Pufferfish supplies the server JAR and its own configuration defaults and optimizations.

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What Pufferfish is and what the installation requires

Pufferfish describes itself as a high-performance fork of Paper intended to provide enterprise features and maximize performance. The project repository describes it as a high-performance fork designed for large servers and claims compatibility with plugins that work with Paper. Those are project statements, not an independent performance benchmark; actual results depend on the Minecraft version, plugins, world, view distance, hardware and player activity.

The installation has five practical stages:

1. Choose a Minecraft/Pufferfish build and identify its Java requirement.
2. Install a complete Java runtime or JDK and verify it from a terminal.
3. Create a dedicated server directory and put the matching Pufferfish JAR in it.
4. Launch the JAR with suitable memory flags, complete first-run setup and accept the EULA.
5. Review the server properties, networking and plugins before opening the server to other players.

Choose a Pufferfish build that matches Minecraft

Download Pufferfish only after deciding which Minecraft version your players will use. The server JAR, Java version and client version must be treated as one compatibility set. Do not select a JAR merely because it is the newest file on the page.

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The captured Pufferfish download page listed builds for Minecraft 1.21.8, 1.20.4, 1.19.4, 1.18.2 and 1.17.1. That list can change, so check the current official download page immediately before installation. If the exact Minecraft version you need is not listed, do not substitute a nearby build without checking its release notes and compatibility guidance.

Record the target version before installing

• Write down the exact Minecraft version, including the minor release, such as 1.21.8 rather than simply 1.21.
• Check that Pufferfish offers a build for that version.
• Check plugin documentation for the same Minecraft generation before you copy plugins into the server.
• Keep the downloaded JAR and your world backups associated with that version so a later rollback is possible.

Install the correct Java version

Java must be installed before Pufferfish can start. Use a full Java runtime or JDK, not a headless-only package. Paper’s documentation warns that headless variants can omit dependencies needed by a server. Java requirements are version-sensitive and should be rechecked whenever Minecraft or Pufferfish is upgraded.

Verify Java on Linux, Windows or macOS

Install Java using the instructions for your operating system and the vendor you choose. Paper’s Linux example uses Amazon Corretto OpenJDK, but other OpenJDK distributions are available. After installation, open a new terminal or PowerShell window and run:

java -version

The output should show the major version you selected. If the command is not found, Java is not installed on your PATH. If it reports a different major version, either correct the PATH or use the operating system’s Java configuration tools before launching Pufferfish. Running the command from the same account that will run the server avoids permissions surprises.

When more than one Java version is installed

Multiple Java versions can coexist, but the java command used to start Pufferfish must resolve to the required one. On Linux and macOS, inspect the command location with which java; on Windows PowerShell, use Get-Command java. If the result points to an old installation, update PATH or call the required Java executable by its full path in your startup script.

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Create a dedicated server directory

Keep the server JAR, configuration, logs, worlds, plugins and backups in a directory used only for this server. A dedicated directory makes upgrades and backups safer and prevents a command launched from the wrong folder from creating files somewhere unexpected.

Linux or macOS

1. Open Terminal.
2. Create a directory and enter it, for example: mkdir -p ~/minecraft/pufferfish followed by cd ~/minecraft/pufferfish.
3. Download the Pufferfish JAR for the exact Minecraft version from the official Pufferfish download page using your browser.
4. Move the downloaded file into this directory. You may rename it to pufferfish.jar to keep the launch command stable, provided you retain a note of the original version and build.

Windows

1. Create a folder such as C:MinecraftPufferfish.
2. Download the matching JAR with a browser and move it into that folder.
3. Open PowerShell in the folder by using the address bar’s Open in Terminal option, or run cd C:MinecraftPufferfish.
4. Rename the file to pufferfish.jar if you want to use the same command after future file replacements.

Do not double-click the JAR as your normal launch method. Starting from the server directory lets you see console output, keeps generated files together and makes Java memory options explicit.

Launch Pufferfish with Java memory options

Paper’s documented launch pattern is:

java -Xms4G -Xmx4G -jar paper.jar --nogui

For Pufferfish, use the same syntax and substitute your Pufferfish filename:

java -Xms4G -Xmx4G -jar pufferfish.jar --nogui

If you kept the downloaded filename, replace pufferfish.jar with that exact name, including capitalization and punctuation. The command must be run from the directory containing the JAR, unless you provide a complete path.

What the launch options mean

The 4G values in the example are a launch example, not a universal recommendation. A small private world may need less, while a heavily populated world with many plugins may need more. Increase memory only when the host has it available and monitoring shows that Java heap is the limiting resource. More allocated RAM does not automatically produce better tick performance.

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Save the command in a startup script

A script prevents typing errors and makes restarts repeatable. On Linux or macOS, create a file such as start.sh containing:

#!/bin/sh
cd "$(dirname "$0")"
exec java -Xms4G -Xmx4G -jar pufferfish.jar --nogui

Make it executable with chmod +x start.sh, then run ./start.sh. On Windows, create start.bat with:

@echo off
cd /d "%~dp0"
java -Xms4G -Xmx4G -jar pufferfish.jar --nogui
pause

The pause line keeps the window open after an error so you can read it. If your JAR has another name, change only the filename in the script.

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Complete the first launch and accept the EULA

On its first successful start, Pufferfish creates the server files, including the world directory, configuration files and eula.txt. The process normally stops or refuses to continue until the EULA setting is completed.

1. Read the Minecraft EULA and any associated terms.
2. Open eula.txt in the server directory.
3. Change the setting to eula=true only if you agree to the terms.
4. Save the file without changing its filename or extension.
5. Run the same Java command again.

A successful second launch should continue through world preparation and leave a server console waiting for commands. The first world generation can take longer than later starts. Stop a running server with the console command stop rather than closing the terminal or killing the process; this allows the world and region files to be saved cleanly.

Review server.properties before inviting players

Open server.properties after the first launch and stop the server before making changes. Restart Pufferfish after editing so every setting is loaded consistently.

Make the port reachable

Players on the same machine can connect to the local address. Players on another device on the same network need the host’s private address and an allowed firewall rule. Players on the public internet additionally need the selected TCP port allowed through the host firewall and forwarded by the network router to the server machine. The port in the router rule must match server-port.

If a firewall prompt appears when Java first listens, allow the Java process on the network profiles you actually use. Do not expose administrative interfaces simply to make player connections work. If your internet service uses carrier-grade NAT or blocks inbound connections, ordinary port forwarding may not be sufficient; a managed host or a private networking solution may be more practical.

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Add Paper-compatible plugins carefully

Pufferfish’s project states that plugins compatible with Paper are compatible with Pufferfish. In practice, install plugins built for the exact Minecraft generation you selected and read each plugin’s requirements. A plugin can still fail because it expects a different server API, Java version or dependency.

1. Stop the server with stop.
2. Create a plugins directory if the first launch did not create one.
3. Copy only trusted plugin JAR files into that directory.
4. Start the server and read the console for dependency, version or configuration errors.
5. Test one plugin or a small group at a time so a failure can be identified.
6. Back up the world and configuration before adding plugins that alter terrain, inventories or permissions.

Never replace a server JAR or plugin while the server is running. Keep a record of each plugin version, and remove a problematic plugin by stopping the server, moving its JAR out of plugins and starting again.

Test locally before opening the server

Connect from the host machine first. Confirm that the world loads, operators can use intended commands, and the console reports no recurring errors. Then test from another device on the same network using the host’s private address. Only after that should you test an external connection through the public address or hostname.

• Confirm the selected Minecraft client version matches the server build.
• Check that a non-operator player cannot run administrative commands.
• Walk through important areas to trigger chunk loading and watch for severe lag or repeated errors.
• Verify that the configured player limit, resource pack and simulation distance behave as intended.
• Stop and restart once to ensure the server can recover cleanly from a normal shutdown.

Troubleshoot common installation failures

Keep the installation maintainable

Back up before upgrades

Stop the server before copying the world, server.properties, permissions files and plugin configuration. Keep at least one backup away from the live server directory. A backup made while region files are being written may be incomplete.

Upgrade in a controlled order

When moving to another Minecraft version, read the new Pufferfish build information, confirm the required Java major version, update plugins and test a copy of the world first. Do not overwrite the only working JAR. Keep the previous server JAR and a matching backup until the new installation has completed a full test.

Monitor before changing memory

Use console warnings, tick-time information and operating-system memory usage to identify the bottleneck. Raising -Xmx cannot fix a saturated CPU, a slow disk, an incompatible plugin or excessive simulation distance. Change one major setting at a time and record the result.

Self-hosting versus managed Pufferfish hosting

Self-hosting gives you control over Java, files, plugins, backups, network rules and update timing, but you must maintain every part of the stack. A managed Minecraft host can run the Pufferfish JAR for you and may handle the operating system, storage, backups, network exposure and support. The Pufferfish project identifies Pufferfish Host as an option providing hosting and tailored performance support; evaluate any provider’s current features, recovery policy, locations, limits and pricing before committing.

Pufferfish compared with Paper: what can and cannot be concluded

Pufferfish and Paper share the same broad server workflow: Java installation, a server JAR, command-line launch, server.properties, plugins and console administration. Pufferfish adds its own project-level optimizations and features, while Paper remains the baseline documentation and compatibility reference used for the installation steps above.

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Final installation sequence

1. Select an available Pufferfish build that exactly matches the Minecraft version.
2. Install the required full Java runtime or JDK and verify it with java -version.
3. Create a dedicated directory and place the JAR inside it.
4. Launch with the appropriate -Xms, -Xmx, -jar and --nogui options.
5. Read the EULA, set eula=true only if you agree, and restart.
6. Review port, authentication, player limit, address binding, distance and resource-pack settings.
7. Configure firewall and router access only as needed, then test locally and remotely.
8. Add Paper-compatible plugins one at a time, keeping backups and reading console errors.
9. Document the working Java version, launch command, plugin versions and backup location before inviting players.

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