How to Host a Create Mod Minecraft Server

The Create mod is a fan favourite — rotational contraptions, conveyor belts, trains, and satisfying automation. Hosting a Create server lets a group build sprawling factories together. This guide covers both a minimal Create setup and full Create-based packs.

Forge or Fabric?

Create exists for both loaders, but they are separate builds — a Forge Create jar won't run on Fabric and vice versa. Forge has historically been Create's main home, but the Fabric port is mature. Pick your loader, then install it: Forge guide or Fabric guide.

Install the loader and Java

Create's recent versions target 1.20.1, needing Java 17:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y openjdk-17-jdk screen

Set up Forge or Fabric for 1.20.1 following the linked guides, then confirm the server boots vanilla-modded before adding Create.

Add Create and its dependencies

Download the Create jar for your loader and version from CurseForge or Modrinth. On Fabric, Create needs the Fabric API and often Forge Config API Port. Drop everything into mods:

cd ~/minecraft-server/mods
wget -O create.jar "<create-download-url>"
wget -O fabric-api.jar "<fabric-api-url>"   # Fabric only

See our adding-mods guide for reading the log if a dependency is missing.

Size it for contraptions

Create itself is reasonably efficient, but large moving contraptions and many players add up:

• Just Create + a few mods: 4 GB is comfortable.
• A Create-focused pack (Create: Above and Beyond, New Age): 6 GB.
• CPU matters: moving contraptions tick every frame, so fast single-thread CPU keeps them smooth.

Big automated bases are where lag tuning pays off; the RAM guide helps you pick a plan.

Accept EULA and run

echo "eula=true" > eula.txt
java -Xmx6G -Xms6G -jar server.jar nogui

Pair the launch with Aikar's JVM flags to keep garbage-collection pauses from stuttering your trains.

Keep clients in sync

Every player needs Create (and the same dependencies) at the identical version. For a curated experience, a Create-themed pack from CurseForge bundles it all — our CurseForge modpack guide shows how to install one. Open the port and you're live:

sudo ufw allow 25565/tcp

Great companion mods for Create

Create shines on its own, but a few mods pair naturally with it and stay server-friendly:

• Create: Additions — bridges Create's rotational power with electrical energy (RF/FE) systems.
• Create Crafts & Additions and various add-ons — extra machines and materials.
• JEI (Just Enough Items) — recipe lookup so players can figure out Create's many crafts. (JEI is client-side, but harmless to list for players.)
• A performance mod — on Fabric, Lithium; keeps tick times down as contraptions grow.

Remember every content mod must be on both server and client at matching versions — the mods guide covers keeping them in sync.

Keep contraptions smooth

Create's moving contraptions tick constantly, so a few habits keep performance healthy:

• Fast single-thread CPU is the biggest factor — contraptions and kinetics are largely single-threaded.
• Reasonable contraption sizes — one enormous moving factory costs more than several small ones.
• Lower simulation distance in server.properties (to 6) so distant machines don't all tick at once.
• Profile with /spark if a base starts to lag; it'll point at the culprit contraption.

The general advice in our lag-reduction guide applies directly.

Consider a Create-focused pack

If you want a curated experience rather than hand-picking mods, packs like Create: Above and Beyond, Create: Arcane Engineering, or Create: New Age build a whole progression around the mod. Installing one follows the CurseForge modpack process — grab the server files, match Java, and run the start script. These packs are a bit heavier (budget 6 GB), so check the RAM guide, and back up your automated masterpieces regularly.

Adding Create to an existing world

You can add Create to a world that's already underway — it's a common upgrade for a group that wants automation. Because Create adds worldgen (its ores like zinc, plus structures), new content only appears in freshly generated chunks, so players may need to explore outward to find Create ores. Before adding it: back up the world, stop the server, drop the Create jar (and dependencies) into mods, and restart. Every player must add the same Create version to their client at the same time, or they won't be able to connect — this is standard for any content mod. If you'd rather start fresh with everything balanced around Create from the beginning, a Create-focused pack is the cleaner route. Either way, the mod is stable and well-maintained, making it one of the more pleasant big mods to run on a shared server.

FAQ

Does Create work on Fabric servers?

Yes — there's a maintained Fabric port. It needs the Fabric API and usually Forge Config API Port. Match the loader on client and server.

How much RAM for a Create server?

4 GB for Create plus a few mods; 6 GB for a full Create-based pack or larger group.

Why do my contraptions lag?

Large moving contraptions are CPU-heavy because they tick constantly. Fast single-thread CPU and reasonable contraption sizes help most; tuning view distance also frees resources.

Can I add Create to an existing world?

Yes — add the mod and dependencies, then restart. Back up first, since Create adds worldgen (ore, structures) to unexplored chunks.

Automation servers reward fast CPU and NVMe storage. Nxeon's game server hosting gives you root access to build the perfect Create setup.