Docker-Compose method - Recommended

Install Docker

Update the repo to get latest versions

sudo apt update

Install the latest version

sudo apt install docker.io

Set Docker to start on startup

sudo systemctl enable --now docker

Give your user permissions to docker, replacing user with your username

sudo usermod -aG docker user

Once you have run this command close and reopen your session if you accessing remotely. This is to apply the permissions in the above step

Test it has installed correctly by getting the docker version

docker --version

Docker Compose

I also install docker-compose as some dockers need you to compose from a yml file. This downloads v2.16.0, just change this if the version updates to a later version

sudo curl -L "https://github.com/docker/compose/releases/download/v2.16.0/docker-compose-$(uname -s)-$(uname -m)" -o /usr/local/bin/docker-compose

Give permissions to this

sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/docker-compose

Test it has installed correctly by getting the docker-compose version

docker-compose --version

Install Minecraft Server

I keep all my dockers in a dockers folder in my home directory. If it doesn’t exist already, create this folder:-

mkdir ~/dockers

Now create a folder for Minecraft Server to live in.

mkdir ~/dockers/minecraft

Create a folder for the data

mkdir ~/dockers/minecraft/data

Change directory to this folder

cd ~/dockers/minecraft

Create a docker-compose.yml file

nano docker-compose.yml

Paste the following. Change the first 25565 part of 25565:25565 if you want it to listen on an alternative port to port 25565. If you want monsters, change SPAWN_MONSTERS: "FALSE" to SPAWN_MONSTERS: "TRUE". Change the SERVER_NAME to whatever you want to call it. For game modes, change MODE to whatever you want, these are the current options - Survival, Creative, Hardcore, and Spectator.

version: "3"
services:
    mc:
    image: itzg/minecraft-server
    ports:
        - 25565:25565
    environment:
        EULA: "TRUE"
        SPAWN_MONSTERS: "FALSE"
        MODE: "CREATIVE"
        ONLINE_MODE: "FALSE"
        SERVER_NAME: "CHANGEME"
        MEMORY: "3G"
    tty: true
    stdin_open: true
    restart: unless-stopped
    volumes:
        - ./data:/data

Save the file with ctl + x, then y to save.

Run the docker-compose file with the following:-

docker-compose up -d