Deploy a Minetest server, the free open-source voxel game engine compatible with hundreds of games and mods — a privacy-friendly Minecraft alternative.
Grab the automated bash script from GitHub to follow along with the video.
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mhmdali94/Docker/main/gaming/minetest/minetest-ubuntu.sh
chmod +x minetest-ubuntu.sh
sudo bash minetest-ubuntu.shDownload the automated install script that sets up Docker and deploys the Minetest server container with persistent world storage.
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mhmdali94/Docker/main/gaming/minetest/minetest-ubuntu.shGrant the script execution permissions before running it.
chmod +x minetest-ubuntu.shThe script installs Docker if needed, then sets up the Minetest dedicated server automatically with world data persisted to the host filesystem.
sudo bash minetest-ubuntu.shEdit minetest.conf to customize your server settings:
# Edit server configuration
nano /opt/minetest/minetest.conf
# Key settings to customize:
# server_name — display name in the server list
# server_description — brief description shown to players
# max_users — maximum simultaneous players
# default_game — which game/mod to use (e.g. minetest_game)Open Minetest, go to Join Game, click Add server, and enter your server address:
<your-server-ip>:30000| Port | Purpose |
|---|---|
| 30000 UDP | Game connection port |
Minetest is a free and open-source voxel game engine with a default survival game included. Unlike Minecraft, Minetest is designed from the ground up for extensibility — almost everything is defined in Lua mods. The ContentDB provides hundreds of mods and game packs that transform the experience.
Minetest is completely free, has no account requirements, and runs on very modest hardware. It is ideal for educational environments, resource-constrained servers (like Raspberry Pi), and communities wanting a Minecraft-like experience without licensing fees.
Minetest uses UDP port 30000 for all game connections. Open UDP port 30000 in your firewall. No additional ports are needed for basic server operation.
Alternatives include Minecraft (Java or Bedrock, paid), Veloren (3D voxel RPG, free and open source), and Terasology (Java, open source). Choose Minetest for maximum openness, zero cost, and Lua extensibility on minimal hardware.
Avoid Minetest if you want an experience identical to Minecraft — MineClone2 is close but not the same. Also avoid if your community expects Minecraft-specific mechanics and biomes without significant mod configuration.
PrismaTechWork provides end-to-end infrastructure services — from initial deployment and security hardening to ongoing monitoring, automated backups, and dedicated support. Whether you need a single-server setup or a multi-site network, our team ensures your infrastructure is built right, secured properly, and maintained reliably.
No — Minetest is an independent open-source voxel game engine. While both are voxel sandbox games, they have different mechanics, different content, and different mod ecosystems. Minetest with the MineClone2 or VoxeLibre game pack tries to recreate a Minecraft-like experience, but it is not identical.
No Mojang or Microsoft account is required. Players download the free Minetest client and choose a username at connection time. The server can optionally require registration with a password for returning players. No external authentication service is involved.
MineClone2 (now called VoxeLibre) is a Minetest game pack that recreates the Minecraft survival experience with biomes, mobs, crafting, and dimension portals. Download it from ContentDB via the Minetest client or manually, place it in the games directory, and set default_game = MineClone2 in minetest.conf.
Yes — Minetest is one of the few game servers that runs comfortably on a Raspberry Pi 4. Set max_users to 5 to 10, use a simple map generator, and keep the world size manageable. A Raspberry Pi 4 with 4 GB RAM can host a small friend group very well.
Download mods from ContentDB via the Minetest client (preferred) or place mod directories in the mods folder. Enable mods in minetest.conf by adding load_mod_MODNAME = true. Some mods require configuration in minetest.conf. Clients do not need to install server-side mods in most cases.