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To host Craft to Exile [Dissonance], use the pack’s separate Minecraft 1.15.2 Forge server download, run it with 64-bit Java 17, give it 4–8 GB of memory, accept the EULA during first startup, and forward the configured server port if people outside your home network will join. Every player must install the same Dissonance release and loader on the client.
The most important version check is that Dissonance is the older pack: the official files page lists version 3.1.9 for Minecraft 1.15.2. Do not substitute the files for Craft to Exile 2, which targets Minecraft 1.20.1.
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Use the correct Dissonance files
Craft to Exile has more than one pack, and the files are not interchangeable. This guide applies to Craft to Exile [Dissonance] version 3.1.9 for Minecraft 1.15.2, using the Forge loader. Craft to Exile 2 is a separate 1.20.1 project and should not be used for this server.
| Item | Dissonance server | Craft to Exile 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Minecraft version | 1.15.2 | 1.20.1 |
| Pack generation | Older Forge pack | Different, newer pack |
| Files to download | Dissonance client release and its separate server pack | Not used for this guide |
| Compatible players | Clients using the same Dissonance release and loader | Not compatible with Dissonance clients |
Open the project’s official CurseForge files page and select the Dissonance 3.1.9 release. Download the item identified as the server pack for the host. A client ZIP or launcher installation alone does not create a usable dedicated server.
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Prepare the host computer
Install 64-bit Java 17
The project’s server instructions specifically require Java 17, 64 bit. Install that runtime before extracting the server files. On the host, open a terminal or command prompt and run:
java -versionThe output should identify Java 17 and a 64-bit virtual machine. If the command reports another major version, points to a 32-bit installation, or is not found, fix the Java installation or PATH before starting the pack. A launcher’s bundled Java does not automatically configure the standalone server, so verify Java on the machine that will run run.bat or run.sh.
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Plan on 4–8 GB of RAM for the server process. The project page recommends at least 4 GB with custom arguments; 4 GB is a practical starting point for a small group, while 8 GB leaves more headroom for exploration, extra players, and the pack’s custom systems. Do not assign all physical memory to Java: the operating system and any client running on the same computer still need room.
- Use a machine with enough free memory beyond the amount assigned to the server.
- Keep the server on local storage with sufficient free space for the world, logs, configuration, and backups.
- Use a dedicated folder that is easy to back up and that is not synchronized or cleaned automatically by another application.
- Have administrator access to install Java, allow the server through the operating-system firewall, and change router settings if remote players will connect.
Download and extract the dedicated server pack
- On the official CurseForge files page, choose Craft to Exile [Dissonance] 3.1.9 for Minecraft 1.15.2.
- Download the separately labeled server-pack archive. Do not rename a client download and expect it to become a server.
- Create a dedicated folder such as
Dissonance-Server. Avoid putting it inside a launcher’s instance directory; keeping server files separate makes backups and updates safer. - Extract the entire archive into that folder. Preserve the directory structure supplied by the pack rather than moving individual mods or libraries elsewhere.
- Confirm that the extracted folder contains the supplied startup script, either
run.batfor Windows orrun.shfor Linux and macOS. - Keep the original archive until the first successful launch. It is useful if an extraction is incomplete or a file is accidentally deleted.
If no startup script appears, you probably downloaded the client files, opened the archive at the wrong level, or extracted only part of the server pack. Return to the files page and select the dedicated server download.
Start the server for the first time
Windows
- Open the extracted server folder in File Explorer.
- Double-click
run.bat. If Windows displays a security prompt, allow the script only if it is the file you downloaded from the project’s official release. - Leave the window open while the pack creates its initial files. The first run can take longer than later starts because Forge and the pack generate libraries, configuration, and world data.
Linux or macOS
- Open a terminal and change to the server directory.
- Run the supplied script with
./run.sh. If the shell reports that the file is not executable, grant execute permission withchmod +x run.shand run it again. - Keep the terminal session attached until the first-run files have been created and the EULA step is complete. For a long-running host, use your operating system’s service or session-management tools only after the pack starts correctly by hand.
Complete the EULA and restart
On first startup, the server creates configuration and EULA files. Read the generated eula.txt; if you agree to Mojang’s terms, change the setting to eula=true. Close the server cleanly, then run the same startup script again. The server must be stopped before you edit files, and it must be started again after the first-run files exist.
Do not delete the world or the entire server directory to solve a normal EULA prompt. If the prompt returns every time, check that the process has permission to write to the folder and that you edited the eula.txt generated in this server directory rather than a similarly named file elsewhere.
Set memory and review generated configuration
The server pack’s startup script and generated configuration determine the Java arguments. Review those files after the first run and set the allocation within the project’s 4–8 GB guidance. The project separately calls for custom arguments with at least 4 GB; follow the arguments supplied with the pack rather than replacing them with a random Java command.
- Start with 4 GB when the group is small and increase allocation if logs show memory pressure or the process terminates from insufficient heap.
- Use up to 8 GB when the host has adequate physical memory and the world or player count needs it.
- Leave memory for the operating system and other applications; assigning more heap than the machine can back often causes swapping and worse performance.
- Change one setting at a time, restart the server, and observe the logs before making another change.
Review the generated configuration before inviting players. Set the server name, difficulty, gameplay options, and access controls according to your group’s preferences. Keep a copy of the original configuration so you can identify a later change. Do not copy configuration files from Craft to Exile 2 or from another Dissonance release.
Allow friends to connect over the internet
Players on the same home network can usually connect to the host’s local address. Players elsewhere need an inbound path to the server. The project wiki’s procedure calls for router port forwarding for remote access.
- Give the host computer a stable local address. A DHCP reservation in the router is preferable to an address that changes after a reboot.
- Open the server’s
server.propertiesand note the configured server port. Forward that port from the router to the host’s local address, using the protocol required by the server and router. - Allow the Java runtime or server process through the host operating system’s firewall for the selected network profile. A router rule alone does not permit traffic blocked by the computer.
- Start the server and confirm that it reaches its ready state without an error. Test from another device on the same network first; this separates server or firewall problems from internet-routing problems.
- Give remote players your public address and the port they need to enter in the multiplayer screen. Do not publish your public address broadly; share it only with the people you trust.
- Test from a connection outside your home network, such as a friend’s connection. Some routers cannot test their own public address from inside the LAN.
If local players can join but remote players time out, check the forwarding target, the host firewall, and whether your internet provider uses carrier-grade NAT. With carrier-grade NAT, a normal inbound router rule may not be reachable; a managed Minecraft host is the simplest alternative when the provider cannot supply a usable public address.
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Install the matching client and join
Each player needs a client installation of the same Dissonance release. The installation wiki identifies CurseForge, GDLauncher, and MultiMC as supported ways to install the pack. The launcher installs the required components on first launch and then asks the player to sign in with a Minecraft account.
- Install one of the supported launchers.
- Create or import the Craft to Exile [Dissonance] instance and select the same release used by the server: version 3.1.9 for Minecraft 1.15.2.
- Launch the instance once so the launcher can install its Forge and mod components.
- Complete the requested Minecraft account login. Each person must own and be signed in to an account that can play the required Minecraft edition.
- Open the multiplayer menu and add the server address. Use the host’s local address for a LAN connection or the public address and forwarded port for an internet connection.
Every player must match the server’s pack version and loader. A client with a different Dissonance release, a manually removed mod, or a different Forge build can fail during the handshake even when the address is correct. If a player has experimented with files, recreating the launcher instance from the exact release is often safer than copying individual mods.
Know what to expect in the first session
Dissonance changes more than the list of installed mods. It has custom progression, altered recipes and loot, multiple dimensions, and quest chapters focused partly on technology and colonies. New players should not assume that vanilla recipes or the normal dimension order apply.
Stay in the Overworld while learning
The official project page recommends remaining in the Overworld until about level 15 while learning the Mine and Slash system. Use that time to collect basic resources, test the pack’s combat and equipment progression, and learn how its recipes differ from vanilla Minecraft.
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The quest log provides the intended sequence and introduces the pack’s systems. Follow its early chapters instead of rushing into unfamiliar dimensions or skipping progression gates. Quest rewards and objectives can explain recipes and mechanics that are not obvious from a normal crafting table.
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Form a party
When several people are playing together, form a party with /slash party. Party play makes cooperative progression easier and gives the group a shared way to coordinate exploration while each player learns Mine and Slash.
Self-hosting compared with a managed host
Running the files at home gives you direct control, but you are responsible for Java, updates, backups, uptime, and networking. The project wiki also describes an Akliz/other-host route that can automate modpack setup. Treat that as a hosting option to verify rather than as a guarantee: confirm that the provider still supports the exact Dissonance 3.1.9 files, the required Forge version, and the memory you need.
| Consideration | Self-hosted computer | Managed Minecraft host |
|---|---|---|
| Initial setup | Manual Java 17 installation, server-pack extraction, first run, EULA, and configuration | Provider may automate the pack installation; exact workflow varies |
| Cost | No project price is stated; you supply hardware, electricity, and internet service | Monthly price and included resources are not stated and vary by provider |
| RAM | Allocate 4–8 GB while leaving memory for the operating system | Choose a plan that can provide the required 4–8 GB; exact limits are provider-specific |
| Modpack and file control | Direct access to scripts, configs, worlds, logs, and the exact server pack | Control depends on the provider’s panel and file access |
| Port forwarding | You configure the router and host firewall for remote friends | The provider supplies its own public endpoint; confirm how addresses and ports work |
| Backups | You must create and verify backups yourself | Check whether backups are included, how often they run, and how restoration works |
| Restarts | Use the supplied scripts or your own service tooling | A control panel may offer scheduled or automatic restarts; availability is not stated |
| Support | You diagnose Java, Forge, networking, and pack errors | Support level and Dissonance-specific assistance depend on the provider |
Choose self-hosting when you want complete file access and are comfortable managing a router and a Java process. Choose managed hosting when the host computer, public-address problem, or maintenance workload is the main obstacle. In either case, confirm support for the older 1.15.2 Forge pack before paying or moving a world.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Back up the world and maintain the installation
Make a consistent backup
Stop the server cleanly before copying files. Back up the world directory together with the server configuration, scripts, and any pack-specific data you would need to reproduce the installation. Keep at least one backup away from the host computer and periodically test that it can be opened or restored.
Update deliberately
Do not replace files while the server is running. Before changing Dissonance versions, back up the world, record the current release, and read the release notes supplied with the project. A version change can alter mods, recipes, world data, or configuration. Keep the old server directory until the new installation has been tested.
Protect access
- Share the server address only with intended players.
- Use the pack’s access controls or whitelist features if your group should be private.
- Do not grant administrative privileges casually.
- Keep Java and the host operating system maintained, while avoiding an untested Java major-version change that could break the documented Java 17 requirement.
Troubleshoot the common setup failures
The script is missing
Recheck that you downloaded the Dissonance server pack rather than the client archive and that the archive was fully extracted. The correct folder should contain run.bat or run.sh.
Java is rejected or the server closes immediately
Run java -version from the same account and environment that starts the server. Install a 64-bit Java 17 runtime and correct PATH or the script’s Java path if another runtime is being selected. Then start the script from a terminal so the final error remains visible.
The server says the EULA has not been accepted
Stop the process, edit the generated eula.txt to set eula=true only after accepting the terms, save it in the active server folder, and run the script again. Check folder permissions if the file keeps reverting or a new copy appears.
A client cannot complete the mod handshake
Compare the client and server release, Minecraft version, and Forge loader. Reinstall the client instance from Dissonance 3.1.9 rather than adding or removing individual mods. Do not mix in Craft to Exile 2 files.
The server runs out of memory
Check the server log and the host’s available memory. Stop the server before changing its allocation, move within the documented 4–8 GB range, and leave enough RAM for the operating system. If the computer cannot provide that headroom, reduce other workloads or use a larger host.
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LAN works but internet players cannot join
Verify the host’s local address has not changed, the router forwards the configured port to the correct machine, and the operating-system firewall allows the process. Test from outside the home network. If the internet connection uses carrier-grade NAT, ask the provider about a public address or move the server to a managed host.
Linux or macOS reports permission denied
Run chmod +x run.sh in the server directory and retry. If the script still fails, inspect its terminal output for a Java path or file-permission error and confirm that the archive was extracted by the same user who is starting the server.
Quick Recap
Setup checklist
- Correct pack: Craft to Exile [Dissonance] 3.1.9, Minecraft 1.15.2, Forge.
- 64-bit Java 17 installed and confirmed with
java -version. - Dedicated server pack downloaded separately from the client files.
- Archive fully extracted into a dedicated folder.
run.batorrun.shstarts and creates the initial files.- EULA accepted in the generated
eula.txt. - Server allocation planned at 4–8 GB with memory left for the host operating system.
- Configuration reviewed and the server restarted after first-run generation.
- Router forwarding and the host firewall configured for remote players, or a managed host selected.
- Every player installed the same Dissonance release and loader through CurseForge, GDLauncher, or MultiMC.
- Players know to use the Overworld and quest log while learning Mine and Slash, and can form a group with
/slash party. - Backups created before major configuration or pack changes.
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