Getting Started with oLL's Who is Online for Minecraft Servers
Running a Minecraft server comes with plenty of rewarding moments, but keeping tabs on who is playing at any given second can be a challenge. You might want to check player activity from your phone without launching the full game, or embed a live player list on your community website. That is exactly where oLL's Who is Online steps in. This lightweight plugin acts as a tiny web server inside your Spigot or CraftBukkit setup, generating a clean, mobile-friendly page that displays every online player along with their in-game head icon.
What Makes oLL's Who is Online Stand Out
Unlike bulky administration panels that overwhelm you with graphs and logs, this plugin focuses on a single task: answering the question “who is online right now?” in the simplest way possible. It serves a minimal HTML page that you can open in any browser, meaning you can check your server status from a tablet, a second monitor, or even a smart TV. The design is intentionally lightweight so it loads quickly even on slow connections.
Because it operates as a standalone web server on a configurable port (default 8123), you do not need to install Apache or Nginx. The plugin listens for HTTP requests directly and responds with the player list. This makes it perfect for small community servers where every megabyte of RAM counts.
Key Features at a Glance
- Real-time player listing with customizable refresh intervals.
- Head or avatar icons next to each name, pulled from Cravatar.
- Sorting options by experience level or default alphabetical order.
- Offline player tracking with last seen timestamps (since version 2.6).
- Country flags displayed beside player names for a global touch.
- Seamless web embedding using a simple HTML object tag.
Installation and First Launch
Setting up the plugin is refreshingly straightforward. Download the jar file from the official source, then place it into your server's /plugins folder. After restarting the Minecraft server, oLL's Who is Online will automatically create its configuration directory and start listening on port 8123. To test it locally, open a browser on the same machine and visit http://localhost:8123. You should immediately see a page listing all currently connected players.
For external access, you will need to configure port forwarding on your router to direct traffic from your public IP to the server's internal IP on port 8123. Once that is done, anyone with the link can view your player list. For instance, a server owner might share http://home.seydell.com:8123 with their community. If you manage multiple servers and want a streamlined way to install plugins like this one, the foxygame.net launcher offers a convenient, flexible, and modern Minecraft launcher where you can download mods right from the menu, saving time on manual file transfers.
Customizing the Look and Feel
Every server has its own personality, and the plugin respects that. Inside /plugins/oLLsWhoIsOnline/config.yml you will find a clean set of options that control the visual representation of the mini website. You can change the background and font colors using standard CSS hex codes, adjust the icon size, and decide whether to use head icons or full avatars.
Configuration Highlights
- web_server_port: Change the default 8123 to any free port on your machine.
- server_name: Display a custom server title at the top of the page.
- background_color / font_color: Match your server's branding with hex values like 010101 for dark mode.
- bigger_line_space: Increase spacing between player names for better readability on small screens.
- with_icon: Toggle player head images on or off.
- icon_size: Set the pixel dimensions of each icon (default 16).
- icon_type: Choose between “head” (just the face) or “avatar” (head and shoulders).
- refresh_time: How often the page reloads automatically (in seconds).
- experience_mode: Sort players by their experience level instead of name.
- show_position / show_level: Reveal coordinates and XP level next to each name.
- show_flag: Display country flags based on player IP (requires external service).
- show_last: Include offline players with their last seen date.
Embedding the Player List on Your Website
One of the most practical uses of oLL's Who is Online is embedding the live player feed directly into your guild or server homepage. The plugin outputs plain HTML that can be included with a single <object> tag. Simply insert the following snippet into your site's code:
<object data="http://your.server.com:8123" width="300" height="200">
Your browser does not support the object tag.
</object>This approach works without any JavaScript dependencies, making it compatible with virtually every web host and CMS. The dimensions can be adjusted to fit your layout, and because the page auto-refreshes according to your configured interval, the embedded list stays current without any extra effort.
Platform and Compatibility
oLL's Who is Online is built for Spigot and CraftBukkit servers running Minecraft 1.7.2 and above. It has been tested across Windows 10, Ubuntu 14, and OS X Yosemite, ensuring broad compatibility. The plugin is compiled with JDK 1.7, so it runs smoothly even on older Java environments. This makes it a reliable choice for server admins who prefer stability over bleeding-edge features.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of the Plugin
- Combine with a dynamic DNS service if your home IP changes often, so the public link remains reachable.
- Use a firewall rule to restrict access to the web port if you only want certain IPs to view the list.
- Experiment with icon sizes and spacing to create a dashboard-like display on a dedicated monitor.
- Enable show_last to keep a record of player activity even when the server is empty, which can encourage others to join when they see familiar names.
Final Thoughts
oLL's Who is Online strips away unnecessary complexity and delivers exactly what its name promises. It transforms your server’s player data into a portable, embeddable, and customizable web view that works across devices. Whether you are a server owner wanting to showcase activity on your forum, or a player who likes to check who is around before logging in, this plugin fills that niche perfectly. With its straightforward configuration, lightweight footprint, and thoughtful features like country flags and offline tracking, it remains a valuable addition to any Minecraft server toolkit.