This guide covers server administration for Minetest (Luanti), including in-game commands, privilege management, mod installation, player management, and world maintenance.
Prerequisites: This guide assumes your server is already running. If you need to set up your server first, see the Minetest Server Setup Guide.
Admin Setup
The player specified in the SERVER_ADMIN_NAME startup variable automatically has full admin privileges. Make sure this is set to your actual player name (not the default changeme).
In-Game Chat Commands
Admin commands are entered in the in-game chat (press T) with a / prefix. You can also enter commands from the GPanel console.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
/help |
Lists all available commands |
/privs [player] |
Shows a player's privileges |
/grant [player] [privilege] |
Grants a privilege to a player |
/revoke [player] [privilege] |
Revokes a privilege from a player |
/teleport [x,y,z] |
Teleport to coordinates |
/teleport [player] |
Teleport to another player |
/kick [player] [reason] |
Kicks a player with an optional reason |
/ban [player] |
Bans a player from the server |
/unban [player] |
Unbans a player |
/time [hours:minutes] |
Sets the in-game time (e.g., /time 12:00) |
/give [player] [item] [count] |
Gives items to a player |
/setpassword [player] [password] |
Changes a player's password |
/clearpassword [player] |
Clears a player's password |
/status |
Shows server status information |
/shutdown [delay] [reconnect] [message] |
Shuts down the server with optional delay and message |
Privilege System
Minetest uses a privilege-based permission system. Key privileges:
| Privilege | Description |
|---|---|
interact |
Can dig and place nodes, use items |
shout |
Can speak in chat |
teleport |
Can use /teleport command |
settime |
Can change the time of day |
give |
Can use /give and /giveme commands |
fly |
Can fly (toggle with K key) |
noclip |
Can fly through blocks |
fast |
Can use fast movement mode |
kick |
Can kick other players |
ban |
Can ban and unban players |
server |
Can use /shutdown and other server commands |
privs |
Can modify other players' privileges |
Example: Setting Up a Moderator
/grant PlayerName kick
/grant PlayerName ban
/grant PlayerName teleportMod Installation
Minetest has a large modding community. Mods can be downloaded from ContentDB.
- Stop your server from GPanel.
- Download the mod archive from ContentDB or the mod's repository.
- Extract and upload the mod folder to
.minetest/mods/via SFTP or the File Manager. - Enable the mod by adding it to the world configuration. Edit
.minetest/worlds/{world_name}/world.mtand add:load_mod_modname = true - Start the server and check the console for mod load messages.
Mod Dependencies: Some mods require other mods to function. Check each mod's documentation for dependencies and install them all.
World Management
World Data Location
World data is stored in .minetest/worlds/{WORLD_NAME}/. The default world name is world.
Resetting the World
- Stop the server from GPanel.
- Rename or delete the world folder in
.minetest/worlds/. - Start the server. A new world will be generated automatically.
Backup First: Download the world folder before deleting it. World deletion is permanent.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Server not showing in public list | Ensure SERVER_ANNOUNCE is set to true. The server must be accessible on the configured port. |
| Mod fails to load | Check the console for error messages. Verify load_mod_modname = true is in world.mt and all dependencies are installed. |
| Admin commands not working | Verify SERVER_ADMIN_NAME matches your exact player name (case-sensitive). Restart after changing. |
| Game not found after changing DEFAULT_GAME | Ensure the game is installed in .minetest/games/. You may need to reinstall from GPanel after changing community game settings. |
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Need Help? If you encounter any issues not covered in this guide, open a support ticket and our team will assist you.
