Auto starting minecraft server in a docker container on Ubuntu 16.04

README.md

The better way to do this

During a twitter conversation with itzg, he suggested that I use [docker's built in --restart="unless-stopped" runtime flag] (https://gist.github.com/itzg/36e59186f6195a445f1f1fa2b0087ea9). That worked a treat and means I don't need to maintain an extra service.

My old way of doing it

This is only retained for historic record. Don't follow these steps.

If you want to run a minecraft server in a docker container on Ubuntu 16.04 and have it automatically start at boot, follow these steps:

• Install Ubuntu 16.04. I have not tested these steps any other version of Linux.
• Install docker and make sure it it is working properly.
• Follow itzg's minecraft dockerfile setup guide to start the container for the first time.
• Copy the minecraft.service file below to /lib/systemd/system/minecraft.service.
• Tweak any of the runtime options in the ExecStart line of the file to suit your needs (yes, you need to read itzg's README!).
• Enable the service by running sudo systemctl enable minecraft.
• Restart the service to make sure it works by running sudo systemctl restart minecraft.service.
• Confirm that the service restarted by running sudo systemctl status minecraft.service. You should see a that starts with Active: active (running).
• Run docker ps and look for an entry minecraft in the NAMES column.
• If you want to double check it all works reboot the server and run docker ps again.
• Tweet a link to this gist and follow @skwashd on twitter.

minecraft.service

[Unit]
Description=Minecraft container
Requires=docker.service
After=docker.service

[Service]
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=10
ExecStart=/usr/bin/docker run --rm -e EULA=TRUE -e TYPE=BUKKIT -e VERSION=1.9.4 -v /srv/docker/containers/minecraft/data:/data -p 25565:25565 --name mc itzg/minecraft-server
ExecStop=/usr/bin/docker kill mc

[Install]
WantedBy=local.target