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.

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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.

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Game Panel Proxy Setup

If you’re running a Minecraft server with Four Seasons Hosting, we’ve streamlined the process for setting up a reverse proxy for Dynmap. With just a few clicks in the Game Panel using the Proxies Manager tool, you can easily configure everything. We handle SSL certificates and all the necessary configurations for you.

1. Set Up a DNS Record: Create a DNS record for your custom domain to point to your server’s IP address. If you’re using Cloudflare, ensure the proxy status is set to DNS only.

2. Access Proxies Manager: Go to the Proxies Manager tool and click the “Create Proxy” button.

3. Configure the Proxy: In the Source field, enter the domain you set up in step 1. In the Allocation field, input the allocation you created for Dynmap during the installation process. Then, click “Create”.

That’s it! Your reverse proxy for Dynmap will be ready to go.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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