This article is the only guide you will need to understand BungeeCord. This article will take you from a beginner to an expert in BungeeCord in under 2 minutes.
What is BungeeCord?
BungeeCord is a server type for Minecraft that allows you to connect several servers together, so players can transfer between them without having to disconnect from the server.
BungeeCord is not a plugin
Users that are new to BungeeCord commonly assume that BungeeCord is a plugin for Spigot or CraftBukkit. This is not the case. Instead, BungeeCord is a server type, in the same way, that Spigot and CraftBukkit are.
BungeeCord cannot run Spigot or CraftBukkit plugins
Although it is developed and maintained by the Spigot team, BungeeCord is not a Minecraft software and does not share any of the Spigot or CraftBukkit code. This means Spigot plugins are not compatible with BungeeCord. BungeeCord does support plugins, however, it only supports plugins that have been specifically developed for BungeeCord.
BungeeCord cannot run worlds, players, etc.
Since BungeeCord is not a Minecraft software and does not run any of the Minecraft code, worlds and players cannot actually exist on a BungeeCord instance. BungeeCord is not a Minecraft server - rather, it is a proxy that simply bridges the connection between the player and the server. It pretends to be a Minecraft server, but it isn't. Its only purpose is to forward you to one of the Minecraft servers under the network. If no servers are connected to the BungeeCord instance, the player will simply be disconnected upon joining as there is no Minecraft server under the network for them to actually play on.
BungeeCord requires a minimum of 3 servers
Your BungeeCord network will need a server for each of the servers you wish to run, plus an additional server to run BungeeCord.
The minimum requirements for a BungeeCord setup are as follows:
- Two Minecraft servers that you wish to connect together (typically running Spigot)
- An additional Minecraft server to run the BungeeCord software
BungeeCord cannot be used as a Hub or Lobby server - you would need an additional server running Minecraft software to do this.
How can I create a BungeeCord network?
Most Minecraft server hosts support BungeeCord networks. At Anvilnode, it is very easy and can be done in just a couple of clicks. You can follow this guide to find out how to set up a BungeeCord network.
If you're running your own VPS or dedicated server, the setup process is much more difficult. The BungeeCord documentation will be able to help you configure this.