Create Your First Server
This guide walks through creating a game server from scratch and finding your connection details.
Takes about 2–5 minutes
Most servers finish provisioning in under five minutes. Modded runtimes like Forge or NeoForge may take slightly longer on first start.
Step 1 — Open the dashboard
Log into the Portal at portal.zerolaghub.com. Your dashboard is the first thing you see after login.
The Notices section shows any platform alerts or billing messages that need attention. Check this first if anything looks wrong.
Step 2 — Create a server
Click Create Server in the Primary Actions panel, or use the button in the top nav.
You’ll be asked to choose:
- Game — Minecraft is available now. Select your preferred runtime (Vanilla, Paper, Fabric, Forge, NeoForge, Bedrock).
- Plan — controls available RAM and features. See Plans and Changes for details.
Choose your runtime carefully
Switching runtimes after creation requires a new server. Take a backup before making major changes to an existing server.
Step 3 — Wait for provisioning
After creation, the server will show a provisioning state. This is normal — the platform is setting up your container, installing the runtime, and registering the server.
When the status shows Ready, your server is live.
Forge and NeoForge
Forge and NeoForge servers run an installation step on first start. The server will briefly show as starting, then restart automatically before reaching Ready. This is expected behaviour.
Step 4 — Connect
Once Ready, open the server from the Servers page or the Spotlight card on your dashboard.
You’ll find:
- Hostname — the address your players use to connect
(e.g.
mc-vanilla-0000.zerolaghub.quest) - Player count — live player count when the server is running
- Connection details button — shows the full connection address and port
Share the hostname with your players. They connect using a standard Minecraft client — no special setup required.
Step 5 — Explore the console
Click Open Console to access the server console. From here you can:
- View live server logs
- Run server commands in the terminal
- Check live metrics — CPU, memory, disk, network
- Take snapshots and manage backups
- Browse and manage server files
Bookmark the console
The console is where you’ll spend most of your time managing an active server. Bookmark it directly for quick access.
If something goes wrong
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Server stuck provisioning | Wait 5 minutes, then open a ticket |
| Status shows error | Open a ticket with the server name and any visible error text |
| Can’t connect as a player | Check the hostname in Connection Details and verify the server shows Ready |
| Forge/NeoForge not reaching Ready | Wait for the installation restart to complete — usually 3–5 minutes |