I have reached the first big milestone: I managed to go through the list of plugins we ran on the server and update or replace every single ciritical one with either a similar replacement or a updated version of the old plugin. There are those that are missing (13 of them):

• Those that allowed us to create special worlds like the flatlands etc. Not having those is not critical, since we have those worlds already, but I want to check if we can replace them.
• The PVP plugin
• Hats, disguises, playerheads – I skipped those for now.
• Some that addressed bugs in older versions of minecraft
• One that prevented some hacks/cheats. I need to check if this is still needed.
• Some smaller utilities that were only occasionally used

There are some that I had to replace with a new plugin promising the same core functionality:

• bshortcuts: This allowed us to shorten commands. almost all commands that are custom to this server, like the shop etc, should actually be prefixed with /ws, e.g. /ws depotlist instead of /depotlist. Since the new plugin uses a different configfile I need to transfer and test all those commands.
• perworldInventory: This enables us to have a different inventory from the flatlands to the normal world. I need to see if migrating from the old plugin to the new one, inventories will be preserved. In case this does not work, I need to either somehow dump the survival inventories into the deposit, allow everyone to stash their stuff in boxes on the old server before we upgrade or somethign similar.

There is however already one game-breaking issue: The new way how signs in the game work is that you can right-click on them to edit the content. This is however also how our story-signs worked to display the stories. That means I have to find a way how to deal with that conflict. Either we need to ask people to click with a special tool on it (e.g. the left vs the right mouse button, a wooden sword etc) but in any case it will make the story signs less accesible for new players and I will have to find a way how to program that into the plugin. Hmmmm.

What’s next?

Now I can start the server with all the transferred plugins (37) and do not get any errors on launching it. Yay! Next, I need to try to transfer all the configurations from the old server to the new one. Since some years have passed, there is a risk that:

• The config format has changed considerably and I have to weed through hundreds of lines and make sure that we do not lose some core settings
• That those who use a database did not change the database format. In some cases we can just dump the old database since it was only logging user behavior, in others, we need to preserve it and check how we can migrate (the user inventories for example).

Then, I need to test all the plugins and see if they actually work as expected, such as the minecarts, the story signs, the darklands etc etc.

Then, I need to update the worlds to the new format. Minecraft has changed around version 20 how worlds are stored and needs to upgrade the format. This does not change how the world looks like.

Lastly, I need to make sure that the expansion of the world height does not affect the regions that we have in the world.

And possibly more that I forgot now.

Thanks for the patience everyone. I am still working on the server update. I am still going – as I have time for it – through plugins and update them. There are some that are a bit more tricky and we might need to see if we can drop them or not, but so far nothing critical. Sorry that it’s a slow progress, there are a lot of plugins and I do not have that much time & energy to work on it. We are however definetely closing in on the target, either before or after the easter break. Let’s see.

Some important clarifications:

1. The temp server is whitelisted. Only past active users can join. Even if people would whitelist on the server right now (which is not even possible), they could not join the temp server. So there should be no need to build a base millions of block outside of spawn to feel “safe”. I think we have a quite solid community right now where we can trust that people won’t start griefing. Anyhow, even if it happened, we can trace it.
2. The 1.21.6 upcoming update (this summer someday) will include an update to the nether, specifically the soulsand biome. I am not sure yet how to deal with it. We can either reset the nether then again or we can just make the items available in the shop. Let’s discuss when it comes to that.
3. The temp server is supposed to be permanently online. In case it crashes, please let me know, either via a direct message in Discord or via a comment here. I will try to make a crash-check in the coming days.
4. If someone in-game has important questions about the server (like the ones answered above), please ask them to comment there so I can answer them for everyone.
5. Depending on the progress of the various plugins, we might be able to go live with 1.21.5 already. I will for sure try.

Update

I heard last night that the main reason for update in 1.21.6 would not require a reset of the nether since the main feature would be even craftable. So we either skip that one – or at least update without resetting the nether.

I had to take a break last week because of other committments. Yesterday I could pickup the work again and I am progressing on a _virtual_ level on the migration. What does “virtual” mean? More later to that.

Well, I am going through the list of the plugins as they were in the old server and (for those that are externally written and still being developed) download the latest version or (those that were custom-built for the server or those abanadoned) find the source code and try to update it for the latest minecraft server version.

The first part is relatively straightforward, the second one is much more complicated – in cases. While the plugins that we wrote for this server are all very small and often very easy to update, others are rather complicated because the core function is completely deprecated or because my Java skills are not sufficient to quickly do the job. So far I fixed 9 out of 10 plugins of this type and more to come (i.e there is one I could not fix so far).

The issue now is that I changed the plugins so that the code compiles and does not throw any error. This is where the “virtual” is coming in. I have not had the opportunity to actually test them in-game. There is a high chance that most of them will be easy to fix even if they prove not to work initially or if other issues arise. Another option will be that if one plugin REALLY proves to be hard to fix that we restrict some feature for a while or find a workaround until we can sustainably fix it. I hope that I will be able to start proper testing towards the end of this week and see some sustainable progress. Will keep you guys updated.

Update Monday 2025-03-17:

I have now started to look more in detail if the plugins actually work. I have updated a few more plugins and downloaded recent versions of still maintained plugins. So far, all is looking good and I am working myself through them one by one.

I had to adjust the functionality of one plugin: The custom built plugin that prevents people from getting on the nether roof with ender pearls other other means. In the past, we used a program interface (API) to another plugin that included a function for a “safe” teleport. It allowed people to be relocated somewhere near without being dropped into Lava. The interface for safe teleport has been removed from external access so now we just configure a default warp point and send people there instead.

More updates will follow.

So to clarify how this server upgrade is working and what is in question:

1. Everything that is physically in worlds outside of the old darklands, nether and end, be it in chests, in your inventory or in itemframes etc, will be preserved.
2. Everything that is in the shop offered for sale, or in your depositbox – the does NOT have enchantments or extra data, will be preserved.
3. If you had something special in the store or deposit that was enchanted or had other extra data (books, potions, tipped arrows) that you need to be preserved, please let me know. We can restart the old server for a while so you can pull it out and put it in a chest.
4. Same goes for the nether or end. If you had something REALLY special there, let me know then we can restart the old server for a short while to clean it up.
5. Once we upgrade, the old nether, end and darklands will be reset. All other worlds will be kept.

I will add here the current server upgrade progress. Stand by for more updates in the future. I am using that to update you as well as a to-do list for myself.

Monday 02-24:

• I installed a (hidden) development server to test stuff and installed only the websend plugin. All others are still up for testing.
• I managed to upgrade the Websend plugin after several iterations using AI coding tools to get it running, ditching several old parts of the code that are not compatible or safe anymore. Websend processes all our custom commands, economy etc. It seems to work fine sending and receiving commands.
• There is an issue (I expected that) with displaying enchanted stuff from the shop. The new version of websend had to ditch some very old legacy code that managed the handling of enchantments and now uses a different process. Right now I could identify a correct syntax for the code to display e.g. deposited enchanted items. I still need to get the backend code to format it correctly.
• I also found out that minecraft is now getting pickier about displaying text. All the nice formatted shop text is at risk of breaking somewhere now. I could fix some obvious issues but expect to find more.
• I also then need to see if stuff currently in the shop or deposit would break with the current websend version.

Tuesday 02-25:

• I found out how to program websend so that items in the inventory can be converted into a text to store in a database and that the text is able to be converted back in the game in order to be given to a user.
• What is currently broken is to actually remove the item from the user inventory after it has been deposited or sent to the shop.
• What is also broken right now is how to get stuff from the deposit and give it to the user if it was deposited with the old minecraft version. There are several ways to fix it, I just have to find the most time-efficient and reliable way.

Wednesday 02-26

In order to translate old deposit enchantments into ones that can be accepted by the current minecraft version, I need to be able to translate them. Do do that, I have created a version of Websend that knows both the old and new minecraft version and can accept both enchantment versions. The issue is now to find out how to convert them. In the past, all enchantment <-> database transfer was done through the inventory of a users. So either I have to start a temp server and then write a code that takes every item in the inventory with enchantments, gives it to a dummy user with the old method and then takes it away immediately again with the new method. Or I need to find a java code that can somehow handle items without the user being there – but I do not know how that would work. So I likely need to test the first method and see how fast and practical that would be.

Friday 02-28

After a LOT of tinkering yesterdey, I came to the conclusion that there is no automated way to translate the enchanted items in the store and deposit through a native in-game mechanic for use in the new version of minecraft. The old format has been discontinued in version 1.17 and the new version has been introduced in version 1.18. It’s not possible to integrate both versions in one plugin.If we want to have the current store and deposit enchanted items (including potions, enchanted books, books with text in them, mob heads etc etc) we have the following options:

• Find a programmatic way that goes through the text and translates it. The text is similar but not the same, and a program has to be made for every type of item. Workload: 2-3 days
• Do it manually, only on request. I.e. I will give manually people a few important items in-game, we delete the rest (a lot of the items in the deposit are by users that have not been around for a while). Workload: Not too much, but tedious.
• We re-open the old server for a short while, let everyone withdraw those items and delete what was not withdrawn later
• We just delete everyhing.

I am also working already to upgrade a lot of other custom plugins to 1.21.4 with one proving to be quite difficult. But there is progress in general. The main biggest progress is that the Websend plugin is now 100% finished and works very well.

We are live now at new.uncovery.me:25565
You need to be whitelisted at the normal server as usual.

It’s pure, raw, minecraft vanilla.

Let me know if there are any issues. Have fun!

Note: The server will become the future darklands. The Nether and End will likely become the future nether and end. If there are a lot of stuff left behind in the nether and end, we can swap the old one in for a while and clean it up before we put back the currrent in. I am making backups, so we can do that.

Thanks for the comments on the last post. My proposal would then be that you guys start working immediately on the Darklands cleanup. I will be working on the migration of plugins first to make sure they work – on a hidden server for testing only.

We will see how the progress with plugin testing & darklands demolition progesses. Let me know when you think that you are done. Then we can figure out the sequence of upgrading and if we need a temp darklands or not.

Dear all,

I am finally getting around to upgrade the server to the current minecraft version 1.21.4. This will happen in the following way:

1. I will setup a new, blank, temporary darklands server that is using the current whitelist.
2. While that server is running, I will work on upgrading the current server, it’s plugins etc to the current version.
3. We will then switch the updated server live and replace the legacy darklands with the new darklands.

Topics to be decided:

1. Will the new darklands actually be permanent night or only once the whole server goes live?
2. Do we absolutely need a lot of time where the old darklands can be deconstructed?
3. What plugins do we need (or can even have) during the temporary server time.

Please note that the hardware that the current server is running on will be decomissioned. I am moving everything to a new machine. So not keeping the old darklands around for long would be helpful in closing down the old machine sooner.

Let me know your thoughts!

Uncovery

Hey all, we were kindly and very positively featured by RedLyne in a video about “Forgotten Minecraft servers”. Check it out and subscirbe to this guys channel!

FYI, if anyone is wondering about the status of the server, I am still around (in the sense of “alive”). I have actual plans to upgrade the server to the current version of minecraft, but it’s a long, long story of started attempts and many issues along the way that did not allow me to do so yet. But I promise it will eventually happen, I just cannot put a date on it yet. We will move the whole server to a new machine and in that process I will also upgrade the version. So stay tuned and thanks for your patience.

Hi all,

the maintainers of my linux distro decided to remove the Java version required to run the minecraft server. I will need some time to get and reinstall the required version. Since I am on vacation, that cannot happen immediately. I try to do it as soon as possible. Please watch this space for updates.

Issue is fixed, we are back up!

thanks for your understanding

Uncovery

Dear all,

the Darklands is now reset and fully 1.17 generated! Have fun finding all the new blocks and building new infrastructure!

Unocvery

Hey all, so we have some good progress:

First of all, the shop is now updated with 99% of the block/item pictures and 100% of the stack sizes (needed to properly withdraw stuff without overfilling your inventory). The remaining item pictures that are outstanding are also missing from a central fanmdom wiki page and we have to wait until that is fixed there.

The other thing that is still outstanding is the 2D map. I am working right now with the dev of the app that is generating the map to make it ready for 1.17. Since there are a bunch of new blocks that need to have a color in the 2D map, those need to be added. You can track the progress on the above link. I assume that we might have some progress within the next 7-12 days.

Otherwise everything should be fine. Let me know if anything else is broken.

Please also let me know which animal eggs you want to see in the shop.

Ok, so this time we are trying something different. We are now live with 1.17.1 and the darklands are still around. However, we will reset the darklands end of August. So you have basically 6 weeks time to demolish whatever is in the darklands and we will reset/wipe the darklands to make room for all the new crystal caves!

Please let me know if something does not work. To my knowledge everything except the 2D map should work.

I have now tested the server with Java 16 on MC 1.17.1. All plugins seem to be working (they start without errors). So I will attempt a 1.17.1 upgrade very soon.

FYI I have started now to make sure all our hand-made plugins work with Java 16 (previously Java 8). After that, I will check if all other plugins are ready for MC 1.17.1 and so on. Thanks for your patience.

Paper (our MC server software) has just released an “OK” version of MC 1.7. This means that there are no major known game-wrecking bugs in it anymore. We have to expect a MC 1.17.1 to be released soon since there are still many known smaller bugs in the official MC server 1.17 which is the base for Paper.

I am also very busy this week on different projects so I won’t be able to spend time on the upgrade – which does not make too much sense yet anyhow. I will likely spend more time next week then and prepare for the version change by first moving the existing server to a newer Java version as this is anyhow required for 1.17.

I hope that until then 1.17.1 will be ready and also more plugins will have updated for that version. Then, once Paper catches up with this, I will attempt to move the server to that version as well.

Stand by for more announcements.

Dear all, some updates first:

I have worked on the 2D map and fixed some issues after some back-and-forth with the developer of the software that generates them.

I also fixed most of the userlevel issues. There is still an issue where people are not properly downgraded after their donator status expires (they just stay donator), but I should be able to fix that soon.

Otherwise the server seems to be running smoothly, let me know if you are aware about any additional issues.

Regarding the 1.17 upgrade, there is of course not yet any 1.17 version of the server out that we can use, but there is an additional roadblock in the way: 1.17 does not run on Java 8 anymore but instead requires java 11+. This is a small issue since we are using some plugins that require java 8. While I have been working in the past already to upgrade some of them to Java 11, this is not finished yet.

Anyhow, as previously, once the update is done, we will have to check all the other plugins for compatibility and since 1.17 is a quite big upgrade, there is a certain risk that this will take longer this time. Let’s wait and see how it goes. So no ETA for this one yet.

Dear all,

There is still an issue with the userlevels. As you might have read before, I had to urgently switch to another userlevel system since the old one suddenly caused severe issues on the server.

I have now found out that the new system stores userlevels in all lowercase instead of the old one where the levels where stored with the first level in upper case. This difference is causing various problems on the server.

To fix this, I will need to change a couple of hundred lines all over the code and test it. I am afraid that this is a major issue and I hardly have any time for this.

I am not sure what to do here. But I am afraid that we have come to a point where keeping the server alive and working without problems is getting more work than I have time for. I am not sure how to go on from here but there needs to be changes and a likely dramatic downscale of the server complexity. But even that is also additional work…

At the minimum I will most likely not allow any new users on the server to reduce the issues.

I will try to fix this over the coming days but it will likely take a longer time.

thanks for your understanding.

Uncovery

Please see the latest upgrades from the voting system:

• torresfury73 (from citizen to Architect)

Congratz and thanks to all voters!

I have now checked all the users in the system to find those that have incorrect ranks and found the following:

1. Users who had wrong levels did not have double levels by default as it seems. The double levels came since they reported to me that they have the wrong level and I then promoted them, which wrongly left the old level around and gave them the new level on top of that – which it should not. I need to find out why that is. This issue could be fixed by migrating to another permissions plugin.
2. There were a number of users (6 or so) which had the wrong level and I manually now set the right level and made sure they don’t have several. The big question now is if the problem reoccurs or not.

If we are lucky, then this was a one-off and simply was not properly fixed (see point 1). I have a hunch however that this will happen again. Please let me know if you see yourself not having the correct userlevel so I can investigate further on this.