Articles
Get a ServerDiscord

Install CraftBukkit Plugins on a Minecraft and Tekkit Classic Server

Suggest Edits

If you wish to install CraftBukkit plugins on a modpack that’s not Tekkit Classic, refer to How to Install CraftBukkit Plugins on a Modded Minecraft Server instead. Tekkit Classic users should follow these directions.

CraftBukkit plugins can enhance the game play of your server. For example, you can edit your world using WorldEdit, protect regions with WorldGuard, buy and sell items with other players, create factions, setup permissions, and much more.

This article assumes that you have added a game that supports CraftBukkit plugins. Games that support CraftBukkit plugins out of the box include Minecraft and Tekkit Classic. Other games that can support CraftBukkit plugins but require additional configuration include Tekkit, Tekkit Lite, Big Dig, Voltz, and most Feed the Beast mod packs. Configuration instructions for such games are at How to Install CraftBukkit Plugins on a Modded Minecraft Server

Installing CraftBukkit

Select a CraftBukkit version that matches your Minecraft version (This step is only required if your game is CraftBukkit. Tekkit Classic users should skip this section and proceed to the next one.)

The Minecraft version on your server must match the version of the game that you run on your computer. If you’re not sure which version of Minecraft you’re running, start Minecraft on your computer and check the lower left of the screen. It should indicate something like 1.5.2, etc.

  1. Login to Command Center.
  2. From the server list, find the server you want to modify (or create a new one), and click the Manage button on the right.
  3. From the server you selected, click the gear and then Game Update.
  4. Under JAR File, select CraftBukkit [version], where version is the version number. For example, 2377 is a recommended build (RB) for Minecraft 1.3.2. There will be many more releases after this article, so this example will no longer be up to date.
  5. Click Install.
  6. Click Restart. Restarting will generate a plugins folder on your server for you to place plugins.

Download Your Plugins

  1. Download your plugins from Bukkitdev, the official site for Bukkit plugins. It’s best that the plugin is designed for the version of Minecraft you use to connect to your server. The version number is on the lower left screen after you start Minecraft. Compatibility improves the stability of your server. A plugin will specify the version of CraftBukkit that it has been developed and tested for.

    • If you have a Tekkit Classic server, it’s based on CraftBukkit 1.2.5. Thus, choose plugins made for 1.2.5. Essentials GroupManager for Tekkit Classic is available for download here. Choose Essentials-gm-2.9.2.zip.
    • Can’t find a plugin download for a specific version? Click on the Files tab below the Bukkit logo on a plugin page to view a full list of files.

  2. If the plugin is in a Zip archive, you must unzip the archive.

Upload a Plugin

  1. Connect to your server using SFTP. Instructions are in Command Center.
  2. On the left panel (“Local site”), navigate to the folder on your computer that you have downloaded (and extracted) the plugins to.
  3. On the right side (“Remote site”), open the game folder, and then open the plugins folder. If you don’t see it, right-click, and then click Refresh. If you still don’t see it, right-click, and create a new folder.
  4. Drag and drop a plugin .jar file from the left pane (“Local site”) into the plugins folder on the right (“Remote site”).
  5. Repeat if necessary. However, we recommend one or two plugins at a time and restarting your server in between. As plugins are coded by different people around the world with varying levels of quality control, some may cause stability issues that cause your server to crash. By installing one plugin at a time, you can be certain which plugin is causing an issue.

Activate the Plugin

When you activate a plugin, it will generate its configuration files and become ready for use.

  1. Go to Command Center and then to your server.
  2. Click Restart

Popular Plugins

Updated about 1 year ago