General Info
Hours
The server should be running 24/7. If it's down, email me or ping me via Google chat/Facebook/phone and I'll check it out ASAP.
We're running with a modified vanilla experience- mob griefing is off so creeper explosions hurt you, but don't break blocks, and I've added some plugins to reduce the focus on some of the harsher elements of Minecraft, while still keeping an element of risk. So you can use the /back command to return to your death point and gather your gear (assuming you didn't die in lava, anyway), you can use the /home command to go home and save travel time, stuff like that.
Platform
The server is hosted on a VPS (Virtual Private Server) that I pay a monthly fee for. It's running on CentOS (Linux) and I have full access to the system. The server is virtualized, but we're not on a control panel setup where we can't access root.
The server platform is Bukkit, which is a Minecraft server mod that allows you to run a general Minecraft server with a nice, consistent plugin API. Because they have to update after Mojang does, they usually lag a couple of versions. For example, they're on 1.7.3 while Mojang has put out 1.7.5. But I try to keep it on the bleeding edge by reviewing the pre-release updates and updating the server frequently.
Backups and Rollback Support
The server is backing up every 30 minutes or so to an incremental/daily/weekly system. If someone has some space to offer for offsite daily backups via FTP or SCP, I'd love you long time. It's a vulnerablity that if the server tanks and we can't recover it, we could lose backups also. I currently copy them off when I think of it, but it's not automated.
We're also running LogBlock, which logs every change made. That's an experiment on my part but if something goes horribly wrong I can in theory roll back the changes.
Plugins
We're running the following plugins at the moment:
* ToughBoats (makes boats not break easily, my own plugin)
* Essentials (provides general server support, teleport and warp commands, utility functions, and is quite useful)
* TreeFeller (if you use an axe on a tree, it should cut down everything above it. you may have to crouch to do that. Makes cutting down trees faster)
* SecureChests (lets you lock chests, doors and other objects with a container. Uses the /sc lock and /sc unlock commands).
* WorldGuard (protection/antigriefing plugin)
* Gringotts (economy plugin, uses emeralds as the exchange medium. I hope we can make a vibrant economy on the server with this as the basis)
Rules and Access
The server is intended to be kid-friendly. My kids and some of their friends join us, and at least one Alvian's kid plays on the server also. So that's kind of the big thing- watch your language as much as you can. We're also generally co-op, so there's no griefing or non-consensual PVP.
Specific rules:
* No breaking people's structures or stealing their stuff, etc.
* Don't build abusively (phallic statues in someone's yard, building right in front of someone's house, that kind of thing).
* In community areas, try to follow the planned layout if there is one.
* Feel free to PVP or build traps if you 1) have agreed to it, and 2) such things are CLEARLY marked and not in a shared area.
The server is whitelisted, so no one I haven't added to the access list can play. If you have someone you think would be a good candidate to join us, let me know. Only mature people who will play within both the letter and spirit of the rules should be considered. I'll let you vouch for new players, but make sure you're certain they won't be disruptive.
If you have suggestions, requests or problems, post them in this thread! I'm excited to have the server seeing some activity.
