Get the most out of Nebula.

Make your first server

There's no setup wizard to grind through and nothing to install on your computer. Everything happens in the dashboard.

1. Open the dashboard and click New server.
2. Type a name — this is just for you, so call it whatever you like. Pick a game and a plan if you haven't already.
3. Press Launch. Nebula provisions the server, boots it, and waits for it to come fully online.
4. When the status turns green, copy the address that appears at the top of the server page and share it. That's the bit your friends paste into Minecraft.

The first boot takes a little longer than later ones because the world is generating. After that, starting and stopping is near-instant.

Invite Java and Bedrock friends

Every server gets its own tidy address like yourname.nebula.gg — no IP numbers, no port to remember.

1. Java players open Minecraft, go to Multiplayer → Add Server, and paste your address.
2. Bedrock players (phones, consoles, Windows 10/11) use the same address. On a Crew plan or higher we run both editions side by side, so one address works for everyone.
3. Want a private game? Turn on the whitelist from the server settings, then add each player's username. Only people on the list can join.

If a friend can't connect, double-check they typed the address exactly and that the server status is green. A stopped server simply won't show up.

Add mods and plugins

The built-in installer handles the fiddly part — matching versions, downloading files, and putting them in the right folder.

1. Open Mods & Plugins on your server, search for what you want, and click Install. Nebula restarts the server for you so the change takes effect.
2. Got a file the installer doesn't list? Drop it straight into the right folder with the file manager — no FTP client needed.
3. For a whole modpack, paste a CurseForge or Modrinth pack link and Nebula installs every mod, switches the server to the matching loader, and lines the version up for you.

A quick tip: tell your players which pack you're running. With mods, everyone needs the same one installed on their own client to join.

Backups and rollbacks

Nebula takes an automatic snapshot of your world every day and keeps a rolling history, so a creeper, a grief, or a bad command is never the end of the world.

1. Open the Backups tab to see every snapshot with its date and size.
2. Found the one you want? Click Restore. Nebula stops the server, swaps the world back, and starts it again — one click, no file juggling.
3. About to terraform half the map or test a sketchy plugin? Hit Back up now first. A manual snapshot takes seconds and gives you a clean point to return to.

Restores don't delete your other backups, so you can always try a different point if the first one wasn't quite right.

Switch Minecraft versions

Chasing the latest update, or pinning to an older one so your mods keep working? You can move between versions from the dashboard.

1. Open Version on your server and pick the release you want from the menu — current, snapshot, or an older build.
2. Confirm, and Nebula swaps the server software and restarts. There's no reinstall and your world, players, and settings stay put.
3. Take a quick backup first. Worlds can be upgraded forwards but rarely play nicely going backwards, so a snapshot lets you reverse course if a new version doesn't suit you.

Keep your server fast

Lag usually comes down to one of two things: too little memory, or something on the server working too hard. The dashboard shows you which.

1. Watch the memory and CPU meters on the server page. Brief spikes are normal; sitting pinned near the top during normal play is the sign to act.
2. Nebula's watchdog keeps an eye on things around the clock and restarts the server automatically if it ever stops responding, so a crash at 3am doesn't ruin the next morning.
3. If you've added heavy mods, a big map render, or a crowd of players and the meters stay high, size up your plan. More memory is the single biggest fix for chunk-loading lag, and you can change plans without losing your world.

Trimming view distance and clearing dropped items also help on busier servers — small tweaks that buy back a surprising amount of headroom.