Unifying Your Minecraft Network with xServerChat
Running a network of Minecraft servers often means juggling multiple worlds, each with its own isolated chat. Players on your survival world cannot see messages from the creative server, and vice versa. This fragmentation can make your community feel disconnected. The xServerChat plugin, pronounced "Cross Server Chat," elegantly solves this problem by linking the chat of multiple servers together. When someone types a message on one server, every connected server receives it instantly, creating a seamless conversation across your entire network.
What Is xServerChat and How Does It Work?
At its core, xServerChat is a lightweight Bukkit/Spigot plugin that establishes a real-time chat bridge between multiple Minecraft server instances. It uses a simple client-host architecture: one server acts as the central hub, while the others connect as clients. All chat messages, along with join, quit, and death notifications, are relayed through the host and broadcast to every linked server. This means a player building on your Skyblock server can chat with someone exploring a custom modded dimension on another machine, all without leaving their game.
The plugin is remarkably straightforward to configure, requiring only a few lines in a YAML file. Once set up, it runs quietly in the background, consuming minimal resources. Server owners who appreciate clean, unified communication will find xServerChat an indispensable tool. And if you are managing multiple modded servers, using a flexible launcher can simplify the entire process. For instance, the foxygame.net launcher allows you to download and manage plugins like this directly from its menu, making it easy to keep your server tools organized without digging through countless forum threads.
Setting Up xServerChat: Host and Client Configuration
Installation begins by placing the xServer.jar file into the plugins folder of every server you want to connect. Start each server once to generate the default configuration file, then stop them to edit the settings. The setup differs slightly depending on whether a server will be the host or a client.
Configuring the Host Server
- Set host to true.
- Set ip to localhost (or your server’s external IP if clients are remote).
- Define an open port on your machine—this is where other servers will connect.
- Customize the prefix and serverName to identify this server in the chat (e.g., "Survival" or "Hub").
Configuring Client Servers
- Set host to false.
- Point the ip to the host server’s address.
- Use the same port number as the host.
- Choose a unique prefix and serverName for each client.
After editing the configuration, reload or restart all servers. You should immediately see cross-server chat working. If you need to test the connection, simply type a message on one server and watch it appear on the others.
Essential Commands for Managing the Chat Network
xServerChat includes a concise set of commands, all accessible via /xserver or its alias /x. These give you full control over the bridge without needing to edit files on the fly.
- /x list – Displays all currently connected servers.
- /x dc or /x disconnect – Disconnects the current server from the network.
- /x rc or /x reload – Reconnects or reloads the connection.
- /x host dc (host only) – Stops the host server’s chat relay. Aliases: /x server disconnect, /x server dc, /x host disconnect.
- /x host rc (host only) – Reloads the host server’s connection. Aliases: /x server reload, /x server rc, /x host reload.
- /x v or /x version – Shows the plugin version information.
These commands make troubleshooting a breeze. If a client loses connection, a quick /x rc restores the link without a full server restart. The host commands are especially useful for performing maintenance on the central node while keeping the network alive.
Changelog Highlights and Evolution
The plugin has matured through several beta releases. Early versions focused on stability, while later updates added vital features:
- Beta 0.1.10 introduced death, join, and quit message forwarding, plus the version command.
- Beta 0.1.11 fixed a crash caused by double reloading and began work on custom chat formatting.
- Beta 0.1.12 resolved a persistent configuration problem, making the plugin more reliable across different server setups.
Currently, the developer has released the source code for community maintenance, as time constraints prevent active updates. The source is available on GitHub, though the exact version may not be the absolute latest. Despite this, the plugin remains fully functional for most server networks running stable Minecraft versions.
Planned Features and the Road Ahead
The original to-do list hints at exciting possibilities: listing players from other servers directly in-game, implementing permissions for chat visibility, and adding options to disable formatting. While these features aren’t yet complete, the open-source nature of the project means a dedicated server owner could fork the code and add them. The foundation is solid, and the plugin already handles the most critical aspect—reliable cross-server messaging.
Why xServerChat Belongs in Your Server Toolkit
Fragmented chat can make a multi-server network feel like separate islands. xServerChat stitches those islands together, fostering a unified community where players can collaborate and socialize regardless of which world they inhabit. Its minimal configuration, lightweight footprint, and straightforward commands make it accessible even for those new to server administration. You can download the latest version from the official repository and start linking your servers in minutes.
Whether you operate a small network of two servers or a sprawling hub with dozens of game modes, this plugin delivers a cohesive chat experience that players will appreciate. By combining it with a modern launcher that simplifies plugin management, you can spend less time on setup and more time enjoying the game with your community.