Keeping Your Minecraft Server Fair with XRay Informer
Running a multiplayer Minecraft server is an incredible experience. You build a community, craft unique spawn areas, and watch players explore every biome you have carefully generated. But nothing ruins that fairness faster than a player using an X-ray mod to locate diamonds, ancient debris, or hidden bases in seconds. For server admins, catching these cheaters can feel like an endless game of cat and mouse. That is exactly where XRay Informer steps in, transforming how you detect and handle illicit mining.
What Exactly Is XRay Informer?
XRay Informer is a powerful Bukkit plugin that hooks directly into your existing server logging systems. Instead of just hoping you catch someone red-handed, it analyzes block-breaking data from plugins like CoreProtect or LogBlock and calculates the likelihood that a player is using an X-ray mod. The plugin does not ban anyone automatically; it gives you clear, evidence-based reports so you can make informed moderation decisions. Think of it as a silent detective that watches mining patterns and raises a flag when something looks suspicious.
Many server owners have been frustrated by players who mine in perfectly straight lines toward ores, ignoring all other blocks. XRay Informer evaluates ratios, distances, and the types of blocks broken to spot these unnatural behaviors. The plugin has already gained significant traction, with over 70,000 downloads, and recent updates have added CoreProtect support, making it compatible with the most popular logging tools.
How the Detection Engine Works
The magic lies in the data analysis. When a player breaks a block, your logging plugin records the coordinates, block type, and time. XRay Informer periodically scans these logs and calculates metrics like the ratio of valuable ores to stone mined, the average distance between ore discoveries, and whether the player consistently bypasses non-valuable blocks. A legitimate miner will break a lot of stone and occasionally hit diamonds. An X-rayer will break almost exclusively ores, often with suspiciously short intervals between finds.
Admins can configure sensitivity thresholds and whitelist certain players or worlds. The plugin also includes a cleared player manager, ensuring that once a player is investigated and cleared, they won’t be flagged again for the same old data. This prevents false positives from piling up and keeps your logs clean.
Supported Logging Plugins and Compatibility
XRay Informer currently works seamlessly with two major logging solutions:
- CoreProtect – The most widely used block logging and rollback plugin, now fully supported after a recent update.
- LogBlock – Another veteran logging tool that many older servers still rely on.
Future versions plan to add support for Prism, broadening compatibility even further. The developer is actively refining the search algorithm to be faster and more efficient, so you can scan large databases without lag. A key upcoming feature is the ability to have calculations only account for naturally generated ores, ignoring any ores placed by players or admins. This will drastically reduce false flags from building or decorative ore blocks.
If you run a modded server, you might be familiar with the challenge of keeping plugins updated. While XRay Informer is a server-side plugin, many admins also manage client-side mods for their players. For those who enjoy a streamlined modding experience, the foxygame.net launcher offers a modern way to install and manage mods directly from its menu, making it a convenient companion for anyone juggling multiple modpacks alongside server administration tasks.
Commands, Permissions, and Configuration
Getting started is straightforward. After placing the jar file in your plugins folder and restarting, you will find a config file where you can set the minimum ore ratio, the check interval, and which worlds to monitor. Permissions allow you to control who can run scans and view reports. Typical commands include:
- /xray check [player] – Run a manual scan on a specific player.
- /xray reload – Reload the configuration without a full server restart.
- /xray clear [player] – Clear a player’s flag history.
These commands give you full control without needing to dig through database tables manually. The plugin also includes a screen capture feature that can take visual evidence of suspicious mining patterns when integrated with other tools, though this is more advanced and depends on your server setup.
What the Future Holds
The developer, a self-described learning and aspiring programmer, has laid out a clear roadmap. In addition to faster algorithms and Prism support, later versions will refine the cleared player manager and fix lingering bugs. The plugin remains completely free, with optional donations to support the creator’s school endeavors. This open development approach means the community can suggest features and report issues via the public issue tracker, ensuring the tool evolves to meet real admin needs.
Why Your Server Needs Intelligent Anti-Xray Measures
Vanilla anti-cheat measures are limited. Without a logging-based analysis tool, you might only catch the most blatant offenders. XRay Informer fills that gap by turning raw block logs into actionable intelligence. It respects player privacy while protecting the integrity of your server’s economy and gameplay. When players know that mining patterns are being analyzed, the deterrent effect alone can reduce cheating significantly.
For server owners who value fairness and want to maintain a healthy community, adding XRay Informer to your anti-cheat toolkit is a no-brainer. It works quietly in the background, integrates with tools you already use, and provides clear evidence when you need to confront a player. With continuous updates and growing plugin support, it is poised to become an essential part of any serious admin’s arsenal.