home-server
Here's some of the details behind how I configured my home network and set up my locally hosted minecraft server. This post is mainly for my own future reference.
It turns out, this "upgrade" severely inhibited the functionality of the model. I was now unable to edit most of the modem's settings without downloading Comcast Xfinity's disfunctional, spyware-ridden mobile app. To emphasize on the latter bit, the app would attempt to collect my location every 30 seconds.
My solution to getting around the god-awful modem was setting it into "bridge mode" in the local settings. See Xfinity's support article.
To restart the pi through ssh, use
To keep the minecraft server up 24/7, I found the best solution was to create a systemd service. I initially tried to use a cron job, but this solution proved to be clunky. Systemd better.
ok, systemd has problems, but it's fine for my pi.
Anyways, guided by this stackoverflow post, I created
Modem
I don't have enough money to blow on a new high-speed modem, so I was stuck with the default modem Comcast Xfinity, my Internet provider, gives to their customers for free. Comcast Xfinity had recently upgraded our modem for free, so I had made the easy mistake in believing I could actually make use of it.It turns out, this "upgrade" severely inhibited the functionality of the model. I was now unable to edit most of the modem's settings without downloading Comcast Xfinity's disfunctional, spyware-ridden mobile app. To emphasize on the latter bit, the app would attempt to collect my location every 30 seconds.
My solution to getting around the god-awful modem was setting it into "bridge mode" in the local settings. See Xfinity's support article.
Router
I built a computer out of some old parts and installed pfsense on it. (I made a reddit post further detailing specs, details, etc).Pi
I attached my raspberri pi 4 running Arch Linux to my network, gave it a static IP address assignment, and created a port forwarding rule to that IP address in pfsense. I then configured the pi as an SSH server.To restart the pi through ssh, use
sudo shutdown -r now
Minecraft Server
Because pis have poor single-core performance, the only way viable way to run a minecraft server smoothly is to use papermc. I just replaced my server's jar file with papermc's and everything worked fine. I further optimized the server with help from this reddit post and this blog post.To keep the minecraft server up 24/7, I found the best solution was to create a systemd service. I initially tried to use a cron job, but this solution proved to be clunky. Systemd better.
ok, systemd has problems, but it's fine for my pi.
Anyways, guided by this stackoverflow post, I created
mc.service in the directory .config/systemd/user with the contents:
[Unit]
Description=Minecraft Server
[Service]
type=simple
WorkingDirectory=/home/pi/Server
ExecStart=/bin/sh /home/pi/Server/run.sh
Restart=always
RestartSec=10
[Install]
WantedBy=default.target