Can someone explain minecraft servers for me?

Hello lets start like this:

Connecting to a Server

Depending on your gaming preference, you may select any one of the server variations: SMP, CMP, or HMP for survival, creative, or hardcore multiplayer modes, respectively. There are also free-build servers where the objective is simply to explore building structures. Other nonstandard server types that do not fit in the above classifications are also available.

To join in any one of the Minecraft multiplayer modes, you will have to connect to the server hosted by an official server service, a dedicated or virtual private server, or another player in his or her own home machine. Upon launching the game, you will have to enter your login details and select the Multiplayer mode from the list of options on the main menu. Next, click the button for Add Server. You will then be prompted to key in the IP or web address of the server you are joining. A very good server can be found on IP: game.moncraft.net :-)

Minecraft Single-Player and Multiplayer Modes

When on single-player mode, the primary goal is just to survive attacks by hostile mobs by building shelter. Minecraft multiplayer mode, on the other hand, offers a more versatile gameplay by playing against other human gamers connected to the server. In addition to surviving attacks from hostile mobs, players in this mode will also have to protect their buildings from other players. On average, about 50 players are hosted on the same server with an uptime of about seven days.

The PvP Minecraft Multiplayer Server

PvP stands for player versus player and is a type of Minecraft multiplayer server where players are intended to fight against each other. For a more hostile environment, there is also the Hardcore PvP.

The Spleef Mini-game

Spleef is a popular mini-game in Minecraft multiplayer mode where players are set out on a skirmish. The main objective is to be the only surviving player. Due to the various gameplays that can be hosted on a Minecraft multiplayer server, the game has been popular among gamers of all ages.

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I have not tried the new 1.3 update yet, but I can tell you what I do know about servers for previous versions (It's most likely the same).

First off, when you download the Minecraft_Server.exe, create a new folder on your desktop called "Minecraft Server". After that, drag the Minecraft_Server.exe file into the folder. Next, double-click the file and a pop-up should appear.

This is the server console, where you can see its stability, online players, and a log of every message sent or command executed.

If you plan to op a player, make sure to type it as "op <Player_Name>" without a /, so if I wanted to op myself, I would type "op Nordinthelich" into the console, without quotations (""). When you launch the console, you will notice it telling you that it's loading.

Once it finishes loading, your Minecraft Server folder will have some new files. Some are just code, but some are config files, with the file extension .cfg which allow you to change some settings such as who the ops are, who's on the whitelist, who's banned, difficulty, nether on/off, etc. the list goes on.

Now, go to whatismyip.com and you will see a large number. That is your external IP. There are two IP addresses: the external, which all your friends will be using, and the internal, which you will use if you play on a different computer than you are hosting off (Hosting on computer A but playing on computer B).

To find your internal IP, go to the Start menu on your computer and in the search, type "cmd" without quotations. Another pop-up will appear, all in black. Type "ipconfig" without quotations, and look for an IP starting in "192.168.0." without quotations. That is your internal IP. However, if you play on the same computer you host the server off (Host on computer A, play on computer A) then you can use the IP "localhost" without quotations.

By now you have joined your new and completed server. There are some times where you need a program called LogMeIn Hamachi for friends to join. The server will not run if the console program is not open.

If you wish to save your world and use a different one, simply close the server, drag the World folder out, and start the server again. It will notice there is no world and will create a new one.

Players can join if you are not online, but only if you have the server program open.

Multiplayer has a thing called a ping rate, where basically, sometimes the host computer will not register a player do something and it will take a while for it to happen. An example of this is when you break a block and nothing drops, then a second later the block reappears and will break again with the drop when the server has caught up. In singleplayer, you do not have any ping rate lag. Multiplayer will not cause any additional framerate lag.

You do not need to create a new server for each map, just drag the map folder into your Minecraft Server folder. Make sure to name the map folder "world" without quotations, or it will ignore the map entirely and make a new one.

I hope that this has been helpful to you, and I would love to one day perhaps play with you. Shoot me an email if you're interested, my email address is negeronthemage@gmail.com.

I would be honored to answer this for you.

First off, of course you can host your own map, while you don't have to. You see, when you launch your minecraft_server.exe or .jar (depending on computer type), it will create your server info, and a few other things, this will include a world it will try to generate, if you close your launcher before it generates the world, it will not create the world fully, and can be deleted. Now, you can go into your server options (it will be a properties file [this can be opened with any text editor, really]) and edit that how you would like it to be. Let me explain some of these features:

allow-nether=True/False - If true, then the world the "Nether" will be enabled, and users may enter the nether after making the portal.

level-name=<Insert level name here> - This is basically the name of the world, if you are going to put in your own world from your game, copy it from your saves file, and put it into the folder with all of these files

server-IP=<Insert IP Here> - This is where you must put the IP address of your server, now if you don't know what your IP is, you haven't port-forwarded. You need to do this, or, you can get a No-IP from their website. Look up a guide on this.

The others are more self-explanatory. Now, for your other questions:

As long as YOU are running the server, yes, it must be connected through the internet, but either way, unable to do unless you have an IP to locate. There is also the use of Hamachi, but I don't suggest it, because this is a bother.

No, each map does NOT need its own server, there are some plugins (mods for MP) that you can use for multi-world support, so you can have multiple worlds at once. You must be running Bukkit in order for this to work, though. Go check out their website afterwords if you want.

Yes, people can join your server if you aren't on Minecraft, or in it. But you must be running the server with a computer this is constantly running. I don't suggest this, but if you don't want to pay money for a hosting website, then you may have to.

If you're playing alone on Single player, then it will generally have a huge difference, depending on your computer type, that is. If Single player runs smoothly and has no errors of lag whatsoever, you're probably going to have little to no lag running it.

The difference between MP and LAN connections are a great variety. First off, a LAN connection is Local Area Network, thus being, only people on the same connection as you can join it.

MP servers allow people from other areas, houses, cities, states, and even countries to join. But, depending on how you host the server and your computer specs, you can only have so many people on your server.

First, if you have poor specs, you probably shouldn't even be running this server in the first place.

If you have high specs, you can support maybe up to 30-35 people, with a good charting of little lag.

If you just want it for a few friends, you're in the clear with high specs, and can just support for those little people.

Second, in a LAN connection, it may lag because of computer specs, because your game cannot support running two people on it. This is where a server would come in handy.

A few other things, if you don't know how to port-forward, or haven't already, I suggest looking up a guide on it.

Next, if you are thinking about having a server hosting service run the server, then you may be in shock when you find out the price of the plans.

Most of the plans are very high in price, and only people who are supported by the community, or famous youtube stars can really run these. But, if you have the money, I suggest this the most, it's easiest and can support who knows how many people.

Finally, I suggest using another server software if you are running it yourself. Bukkit is my favorite, and like I said, you can go check it out.

That's about all there is to it for answering your questions, I really hope this helped. :]

Explain Server

A server of any sort is a dedicated computer in a network (group of computers communicating/working together) that does a specific task. When someone makes a minecraft server, they make their computer a place in the internet that people can connect to and play together. Basically for games it shouldn't be that hard, just go on youtube and search up how to make one.

I will answer all your questions:

no, yes, yes, yes (if you have the server client running), It depends on how many people are on the server, and finally, people cannot join a single player world, hence *single* player. Online play can only be done on a server,

If you have the Xbox 360 version

yes, yes but no to the computer, you don't need a server, no, depends once again on the number of people, one map is your map, and the other map is their map.

It is really interesting