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Introduction to Minecraft Administration

Effectively managing a Minecraft server requires knowledge of essential admin commands and understanding permission systems. This guide covers the most important commands and permission frameworks for server administrators on Wasabi Hosting.

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Basic Operator Commands

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Server Management Commands

/op <username>            # Grants operator status to a player
/deop <username>          # Removes operator status from a player
/stop                     # Safely shuts down the server
/save-all                 # Forces a world save
/save-off                 # Disables automatic saving
/save-on                  # Re-enables automatic saving
/list                     # Shows online players
/tps                      # Shows server TPS (ticks per second)
/reload                   # Reloads server configuration (use cautiously)
Using /reload can cause issues with some plugins. A full server restart is often safer.

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World Management

/gamerule <rule> <value>  # Changes game rules (e.g., doFireTick, mobGriefing)
/difficulty <difficulty>  # Sets server difficulty
/time set <time>          # Changes the time of day
/weather <type> [duration]# Changes the weather
/worldborder set <diameter> # Sets the world border size
/setworldspawn            # Sets the world spawn point

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Player Management

/gamemode <mode> [player] # Changes a player's game mode
/teleport <destination>   # Teleports players
/kick <player> [reason]   # Kicks a player from the server
/ban <player> [reason]    # Bans a player from the server
/pardon <player>          # Unbans a player
/ban-ip <ip> [reason]     # Bans an IP address
/pardon-ip <ip>           # Unbans an IP address
/whitelist add <player>   # Adds a player to the whitelist
/whitelist remove <player># Removes a player from the whitelist
/whitelist on/off         # Enables/disables the whitelist

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Permission Systems

Most servers use plugin-based permission systems rather than the basic operator system. Here are the most popular options:

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LuckPerms

LuckPerms is the most widely used permission management plugin, offering:
  1. Group-based permissions
  2. Temporary permissions
  3. Context-based permissions (world, server, etc.)
  4. Web editor for easier management
  5. Track system for promotion paths

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Essential LuckPerms Commands

/lp user <user> info                   # View user information
/lp user <user> permission set <perm>  # Give a permission
/lp user <user> group add <group>      # Add user to a group
/lp group <group> permission set <perm># Add permission to a group
/lp creategroup <name>                 # Create a new group
/lp editor                             # Access the web editor
The LuckPerms web editor is the easiest way to manage complex permission setups.

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Permission Nodes Structure

Permission nodes follow a hierarchical structure: 
permission.category.subcategory.action
Examples:
  • essentials.teleport - Allows using teleport commands
  • worldedit.region.set - Allows setting blocks in a region

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Wildcard Permissions

Wildcards grant multiple permissions at once: 
essentials.*       # Grants all Essentials permissions
worldguard.region.*# Grants all WorldGuard region permissions
Use wildcards cautiously as they may grant more permissions than intended.

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Permission Groups Best Practices

  1. Create a clear hierarchy: 
    Owner > Admin > Moderator > Helper > VIP > Player
  2. Use permission inheritance to avoid duplication: 
    /lp group admin parent add moderator
  3. Set default group for new players: 
    /lp group default setweight 1
  4. Use prefix/suffix system for chat formatting: 
    /lp group admin meta setprefix "&c[Admin] "

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Advanced Permission Management

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Permission Priority

When a player has conflicting permissions from different groups, the system uses priorities:
  1. Most specific node wins over wildcards
  2. Explicit negated permissions (-node) override positive ones
  3. Higher group weight/priority takes precedence

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Context-Based Permissions

Grant permissions only in specific contexts: 
/lp user Steve permission set essentials.fly true world=skyworld
This grants the flight permission only in the “skyworld” world.

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Temporary Permissions

Grant time-limited permissions: 
/lp user Steve permission settemp essentials.fly true 7d
This grants flight for 7 days.

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Gamepanel Console Access

As a server owner using Wasabi Hosting’s Gamepanel, you can:
  1. Access the server console directly from the panel
  2. Run admin commands without being in-game
  3. View real-time logs and error messages
  4. Schedule automated commands using the panel’s scheduler
  5. Manage server files and configurations

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Common Permission Plugin Combinations

For a comprehensive admin toolkit, consider these plugin combinations:
  1. LuckPerms + EssentialsX - Core permissions and commands
  2. LuckPerms + EssentialsX + LiteBans - Add advanced ban management
  3. LuckPerms + EssentialsX + CoreProtect - Add griefing prevention/rollback

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Troubleshooting Permissions

If permissions aren’t working as expected:
  1. Check for conflicting plugins
  2. Verify permission node spelling
  3. Look for negated permissions (-node)
  4. Check group inheritance chains
  5. Verify context settings (world, server)
  6. Check the console for permission-related errors

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Security Best Practices

  1. Limit operator status - Use permission plugins instead
  2. Regularly audit permissions - Remove unnecessary access
  3. Use 2FA plugins for sensitive admin accounts
  4. Log admin actions with plugins like CoreProtect
  5. Rotate staff passwords periodically
  6. Never share console access except with trusted admins
By following these guidelines and best practices, you’ll be able to effectively manage your Minecraft server on Wasabi Hosting while maintaining security and providing a smooth experience for your players.