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Linking a Domain to Minecraft Server

Linking a Domain to Minecraft Server

How to Use Your Domain Instead of an IP Address?

Linking a domain to your server is necessary to make the connection process simpler and faster. Typically, an IP address is used for connection, which can be long and difficult to remember (123.45.67.89:1234).

If you link a domain, for example, play.mhcore.xyz, it will be easier for players to remember, which can help attract an audience to your server.

Why do you need this?

  • Easy to remember: play.mhcore.xyz instead of 123.45.67.89:25565
  • Professional appearance for your server
  • Ability to change hosting without changing the address for players

Preparation

Important to remember!

To begin, you need to:

  1. Purchase a domain (for example, on Namecheap, GoDaddy, REG.RU, etc.)
  2. Transfer it to Cloudflare (free, but mandatory for this guide)

If you already have a domain in Cloudflare — proceed to the next step!

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Open Cloudflare Dashboard

  1. Go to Cloudflare
  2. Log in to your account
  3. You will see a list of all your domains

Step 2: Select Your Domain

From the list of domains, select the one you want to use for your Minecraft server.

Step 3: Navigate to the “DNS” Tab

In the top menu, find and click on DNS → Records.

Method 1: Setup via A Record (Recommended)

Step 4: Create a New A Record

Click the Add record button and fill in the fields as follows:

Field Value Description
Type A Record type
Name play Any name (subdomain)
IPv4 address 123.45.67.89 Your server’s IP address WITHOUT PORT
Proxy status 🔴 OFF Orange cloud must be disabled (gray)
TTL Auto Leave unchanged

Critically important:

  • Proxy Status (orange cloud) MUST be disabled!
  • In IPv4, specify the IP WITHOUT PORT (e.g., 123.45.67.89, not 123.45.67.89:25565)

Example A Record Configuration:

A Record Configuration in Cloudflare

Save the record by clicking Save.

Step 5: Create a New SRV Record

Now create an SRV record to specify the server port. Click Add record and fill in:

Field Value Description
Type SRV Record type
Name _minecraft._tcp.play Format: _minecraft._tcp.(your_subdomain)
Service _minecraft Auto-filled
Protocol TCP Auto-filled
TTL Auto Leave unchanged
Priority 5 Record priority
Weight 5 Record weight
Port 25565 Your Minecraft server port
Target play.mhcore.xyz Format: (a-record_name).(your_domain)

SRV Record Fields Explained:

  • Name: _minecraft._tcp.play means the server will be accessible at play.mhcore.xyz
  • Port: Specify your Minecraft server port (usually 25565 or another)
  • Target: Should point to the A record you created (e.g., play.mhcore.xyz)

Example SRV Record Configuration:

SRV Record Configuration in Cloudflare

Save the record by clicking Save.

Method 2: Setup Without A Record (Alternative)

If your server is hosted on MHCore, you can use the node address directly:

Step 4 (alternative): Create Only SRV Record

Field Value
Type SRV
Name _minecraft._tcp.play
Priority 5
Weight 5
Port 25565 (your server port)
Target node1.mhcore.xyz (your node name)

For MHCore Users: In Target, specify your node address in the format: (node_name).mhcore.xyz

Example: node1.mhcore.xyz, node2.mhcore.xyz, etc.

Result

According to the example above, your server will be accessible at:

play.mhcore.xyz

Players will be able to connect to the server by simply entering this address in Minecraft, without specifying the port!

Done! 🎉

Now players can connect to your server using a beautiful and memorable address!

Time for Changes to Apply

Please note:

DNS records may not apply instantly. Typically, changes take effect:

  • Cloudflare: 1-5 minutes
  • Worldwide: from 1 hour to 48 hours (due to DNS caching)

If the domain doesn’t work immediately — wait 10-15 minutes and try again.

Common Errors and Solutions

❌ Error: “Unknown host”

Causes:

  • DNS records haven’t propagated yet
  • Error in A record configuration
  • Proxy Status is enabled (orange cloud)

Solution:

  1. Check that Proxy Status is disabled for the A record
  2. Wait 15-30 minutes
  3. Clear DNS cache on your computer:
    • Windows: ipconfig /flushdns
    • macOS: sudo dscacheutil -flushcache
    • Linux: sudo systemd-resolve --flush-caches

❌ Error: Connection via domain works but with wrong port

Cause: SRV record is misconfigured or missing

Solution:

  1. Check for the presence of an SRV record
  2. Ensure the port is specified correctly
  3. Verify the Name format: _minecraft._tcp.(subdomain)

❌ Cloudflare shows error when creating record

Cause: Incorrect data format

Solution:

  • Ensure Target ends with . or contains a fully qualified domain name
  • Check that all required fields are filled
  • Use only allowed characters (a-z, 0-9, hyphen, period)

Additional Capabilities

Multiple Servers on One Domain

You can create multiple subdomains for different servers:

  • play.mhcore.xyz — main server
  • lobby.mhcore.xyz — lobby server
  • creative.mhcore.xyz — creative mode
  • minigames.mhcore.xyz — mini-games

For each, create separate A and SRV records with different names and ports!

Using CNAME Instead of A Record

If your hosting provides a dedicated address (e.g., server123.hosting.com), you can use a CNAME record instead of an A record:

Field Value
Type CNAME
Name play
Target server123.hosting.com
Proxy status OFF

Useful Links

Need help?

If you encounter difficulties setting up your domain, contact your hosting support or Cloudflare.

Linking Web Server to Domain