Server software
CraftPanel downloads every server from its official source and verifies it against the published checksum.
| Software | Best for | Add-ons | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper | Most servers. Faster than Vanilla, same gameplay. | Bukkit/Paper plugins | PaperMC |
| Purpur | Paper plus many extra gameplay and configuration options | Same plugins as Paper | Purpur API |
| Fabric | Lightweight server-side mods such as Lithium | Fabric mods | Fabric meta |
| NeoForge | Large mods and modpacks. Plan 4 GB of memory or more. | NeoForge mods | NeoForged Maven |
| Vanilla | The unmodified Mojang server | none | Mojang |
| Velocity | A proxy that puts several servers behind one address | Velocity plugins | PaperMC |
For Paper, Purpur, Fabric and NeoForge you choose a build or loader version; the newest stable one is preselected.
Each Minecraft version needs a specific Java version. CraftPanel downloads Eclipse Temurin 8, 17, 21 or 25 from Adoptium as needed and keeps one copy per version under Settings → Java. Nothing is installed system-wide.
Log4Shell protection
Section titled “Log4Shell protection”Minecraft 1.7 to 1.18 is affected by the Log4Shell vulnerability. CraftPanel adds Mojang’s JVM flag or a patched logging configuration on every start. The server’s Settings → Runtime shows that the protection is active.
Switching software or version
Section titled “Switching software or version”Open the server’s Settings → Software & version to change the software, the Minecraft version or the build, in any direction (for example Paper → Fabric or 1.21.4 → 1.21.11).
Before anything changes, a preview tells you what will happen:
- A backup of the whole server is created first. To undo the change, restore it.
- Plugins or mods that won’t load on the new software stay in their folder, and the preview counts them.
- Downgrades to an older Minecraft version need an explicit confirmation, because worlds can’t always be opened by older versions.
- Switching from Paper or Purpur to Vanilla or Fabric moves the Nether and the End back into the world folder, so nothing is lost.