Minecraft Server on IX4-300d

Installing a Minecraft server on your Iomega NAS is a great way to host a lightweight, always-on multiplayer world from your own hardware. While the NAS only has 512MB of RAM—half of Minecraft’s recommended 1GB minimum—the setup can still be surprisingly functional with a few optimizations. The performance may not be suitable for larger, mod-heavy worlds or many concurrent players, but it is more than adequate for a small group. In my testing, the server handled up to five online players with reasonable stability, making it a viable option for casual gaming sessions among friends or family.

To make the most of the limited hardware, this guide includes a curated selection of lightweight server plugins that help optimize memory usage and improve stability. These plugins were specifically chosen to reduce strain on system resources while maintaining essential features like teleportation, basic permissions, and performance monitoring. If you follow the setup and configuration steps closely, you’ll find that even with just 512MB of RAM, your Iomega NAS can reliably run a Minecraft server that delivers a smooth and enjoyable multiplayer experience for a small group of users.

Requirements

⚠️ Note: This guide is outdated, and CraftBukkit is no longer maintained. However, the method described still works—just skip any references to CraftBukkit if you prefer to use another Minecraft server JAR (like Paper or Spigot).

Before starting, ensure the following prerequisites are met:

• SSH Access to your NAS. You’ll need to log in remotely to manage files and execute commands. See [this SSH guide] if you haven’t set this up yet.

• A Custom Startup Script located at /mnt/system/opt/init-opt.sh. This ensures that Minecraft starts automatically when the NAS reboots. Follow [this startup script guide] to set it up.

• A Share Called “Minecraft” on your NAS. This will be used to store Java, the server JAR file, and plugin data. If you choose a different share name, make sure to adjust all file paths accordingly throughout this guide.

• Basic Knowledge of Minecraft Server Management is recommended, especially if you’re using plugins or making performance tweaks manually.

 

Installing Java and the Minecraft Server

Download Java for ARM
Since your NAS runs on an ARM processor, you’ll need an ARM-compatible Java Runtime Environment.
Download the “ARM Linux Headless” version of Java from Oracle or another trusted source (the original used: ejre-7u21-fcs-b11-linux-arm-sflt-headless-04_apr_2013.tar.gz).
Copy this archive into the root of your shared folder, e.g., /mnt/pools/A/A0/Minecraft.

Unpack Java on the NAS via SSH
Open a terminal using PuTTY (or any SSH client) and connect to your NAS. Then run:

Add Java to Your PATH
Set the path to Java so that it can be used in the terminal:

Adjust ejre1.7.0 if the folder name is different in your case.

Test the Java Installation
Confirm Java is installed and working:

If Java is correctly configured, it should output version info. If you receive a command not found error, double-check the folder name in the PATH variable.

Download the Minecraft Server JAR
Download the CraftBukkit server JAR (or PaperMC, Spigot, etc.) to your PC and copy it into the root of your /Minecraft share.
Rename the file to:

Start the Server for the First Time

SSH into your NAS again and navigate to the Minecraft share:

Then launch the server:

The server will generate the world and all default configuration files on the first run. This may take a few minutes.

Test Server Access

Once started, you should be able to connect to the server from your Minecraft client by entering the NAS’s IP address:

If successful, you’re running a live server! But it’s not persistent yet—you’ll need to configure it to auto-start and optimize it for limited RAM.

 

Optional – Install Minecraft Plugins for Optimization

Although optional, installing a few performance-enhancing plugins is highly recommended since your NAS only has 512MB of RAM.

Recommended Plugins:

• NoSpawnChunks
  Prevents chunks from preloading unnecessarily, reducing RAM usage.

• Simple-Autosave
  Automatically saves the world at set intervals, reducing risk of data loss.

• BukkitBackup
  Automatically creates compressed backups of your server at defined times.

How to Install Plugins:

1. Download the .jar files for the plugins listed above.

2. Place them in the following folder:

   /mnt/pools/A/A0/Minecraft/plugins/


3. Restart the Minecraft server to let the plugins generate their config files.

4. Open and review each configuration file to fine-tune them.

Example – Simple-Autosave config:

Example – BukkitBackup config:

Keep your plugin list minimal for best performance with limited system memory.

 

Auto-starting the Minecraft Server on NAS Boot

To ensure your Minecraft server starts automatically whenever the NAS reboots:

1. Open your custom startup script:

   nano /mnt/system/opt/init-opt.sh


2. Scroll to the bottom of the file, but before any final sleep or reboot commands.

3. Add the following lines:

   echo "Minecraft Starting" >> /opt/init-opt.log
PATH=$PATH:/mnt/pools/A/A0/Minecraft/ejre1.7.0/bin


   export PATH


   cd /mnt/pools/A/A0/Minecraft
java -Xms256M -Xmx512M -jar craftbukkit.jar nogui


   Adjust memory flags or paths if you’re using a different server or version.

4. Save and exit the file (CTRL + O, ENTER, then CTRL + X).

5. Reboot your NAS. After a few minutes, the Minecraft server should be running and accessible again.

 

Internet Access Notes

Currently, only devices within your local network can connect to the Minecraft server.
To allow external access (friends outside your home network):

• Set up port forwarding on your router:

  • Forward TCP port 25565 to your NAS’s local IP address.

• Ensure your public IP is static, or use a Dynamic DNS service.

• Add firewall rules if needed to allow external traffic.