Dynmap

Setting Up and Using Dynmap on Your Minecraft Server

Dynmap is a powerful plugin/mod that provides a live, interactive map of your Minecraft server’s worlds, accessible through a web browser. Think of it as Google Maps for Minecraft, helping players explore and interact with their server environment.

While alternatives like BlueMap and squaremap offer optimized solutions, Dynmap remains a favorite for many server admins. This guide will walk you through its installation, configuration, and usage.

---

Installation

If you’re hosting your Minecraft server locally, ensure you have a public IP or port forwarding set up for external access to Dynmap. Follow these steps for installation:

1. Download Dynmap: Get the latest version of the Dynmap plugin (for Bukkit/Spigot) from SpigotMC or the Dynmap mod (for Forge/Fabric) from CurseForge.

2. Add the Plugin/Mod: Place the downloaded .jar file in your server's plugins (for Bukkit/Spigot) or mods (for Forge/Fabric) directory.

3. Restart the Server: Start your server to automatically install and activate Dynmap.

4. Stop the Server for Configuration: After the initial setup, stop the server to make changes to Dynmap’s settings.

5. Set Up Port Allocation: Create a port for Dynmap through your server hosting control panel.

6. Edit the Configuration File: Open the configuration.txt file in the plugins/dynmap folder. Update the port to match the one allocated in step 5 and define a URL path for the web interface (e.g., /dynmap). Save the changes.

7. Restart the Server: Launch your server again to complete the setup. Dynmap should now be accessible.

---

Manual Setup for Advanced Users

For those with technical experience, follow these steps to manually configure a reverse proxy on a Debian/Ubuntu server:

1. Prepare a Proxy Server: Use a dedicated machine or VPS to host the reverse proxy.

2. Install a Web Server: Install Nginx or Apache on your proxy server:

   sudo apt update && sudo apt -y install nginx

3. Set Up DNS Records: Point your domain to the IP of the proxy server.

4. Configure the Web Server: Add a configuration block for Nginx:

   server {
       server_name your-domain.com;
       listen 80;
       listen [::]:80;
   
       access_log /var/log/nginx/reverse-access.log;
       error_log /var/log/nginx/reverse-error.log;
   
       location / {
           proxy_pass http://YOUR-DYNMAP-SERVER-IP:PORT;
       }
   }

   Replace YOUR-DYNMAP-SERVER-IP:PORT with the IP and port from your Dynmap setup.

5. Restart Nginx:

   sudo systemctl restart nginx

6. Test the Proxy: Visit your custom domain to confirm the setup.

---

Using Dynmap

Access the map via your web browser by entering the server’s IP, followed by the port and URL path (e.g., http://yourdomain.com:8123/dynmap or http://IP:8123/dynmap). The Dynmap interface offers:

• A dropdown to switch between maps.

• A player list with real-time locations.

• Search functionality for players and locations.

---

Customization

Dynmap offers extensive customization:

• Web Interface: Adjust settings like zoom levels, player visibility, and markers through the “Configure Dynmap” button.

• Advanced Settings: Edit configuration.txt in the plugins/dynmap folder to fine-tune features like map style, update frequency, and more.

---

Troubleshooting

Here are common issues and solutions:

• Web Interface Not Loading: Check server.log for errors.

• Incorrect Map Area: Verify the worlds.txt file includes the correct world.

• Map Not Updating in Real-Time: Adjust the updaterate setting in configuration.txt.

---

With Dynmap configured, your Minecraft server will have a fully interactive map that enhances player engagement and navigation. Enjoy exploring!