How to use Chunky plugin on your Minecraft Server

Hello PixelHost community! 🌟

Minecraft servers can sometimes experience lag for various reasons, which can affect your players' gameplay. Solving this can involve a lot of optimization, some of which can be complicated and difficult to implement. However, an easy way to address lag or world issues is by using Chunky, a Bukkit plugin for Paper and similar servers. This allows owners and authorized users to pregenerate chunks (regions) of the map to reduce load times, thereby increasing the overall TPS (ticks per second) after generation. If your server is experiencing a lot of issues, this plugin will likely help. With this in mind, let’s learn more about the Chunky plugin for your Minecraft server in this PixelHost guide.

Installation

1. Go to Chunky on Spigot and click Download Now.

2. Save this file in an easily accessible location on your computer.

3. Go to your PixelHost server panel and click on FTP File Access at the top left.

4. Note: Make sure you are using the correct server profile for this installation.

5. Log in with your password and enter the plugins folder.

6. Near the top left, click on Upload and drag the file to the corresponding area.

7. Wait for it to reach 100%, then return to the main panel and restart the server.

8. Join the server and run the command /plugins to confirm if Chunky was installed correctly. The plugin should appear in green in the list, indicating it is enabled.

How to Use Chunky

Using Chunky on your server is done solely through commands, as these control how the world is pregenerated. There isn’t much to do in-game, like skills, due to the plugin’s functionality. However, there are many commands to try and possibly combine to achieve the desired result. Additionally, there are some plugin settings to tweak for more control if you wish. Once you get the hang of it, you can create pregenerated areas with unique shapes in your world as per your needs. For example, if you only want to have a radius instead of the entire map, you’ll need to use a specific set of commands. With this in mind, take a look at the sections below to start using Chunky on your Minecraft server.

Commands

As noted before, commands are required to execute pregeneration tasks. These can be used in the chat or in your server panel’s Console, which is preferred over in-game use due to more available information. However, if you try them while in your world, make sure to be a server operator or have a management plugin like LuckPerms. This allows you to access the commands by giving permissions to your account or rank. Otherwise, continue entering them in the console without worrying about prior setup. Review the list below to start understanding the plugin's features.

Types of Pregeneration

Now that you’re familiar with Chunky commands, it’s time to understand how to use them. As mentioned earlier, we recommend using the console to execute them. It’s important to note that you’re not using just one command but several combined to create the task. The control is completely in your hands, as you can use different commands to achieve the desired goal. However, first, we need to go over the necessary steps to start entering tasks and then address the different types you can use.

1. Go to your server panel and click on Console near the top left.

2. Once there, confirm that the server is online and running by checking the status at the top.

3. When confirmed, proceed to enter your individual command in the text box below.

4. Note: Do not include slashes when using the console unless specified otherwise. After entering it, click on Send on the far right or press Enter on your keyboard.
   

World Border

Using the world border is the most popular method, as it automatically pregenerates every chunk in the map. However, this can result in longer wait times depending on the size. Using the default world border command determines how long you and others wait for the task to complete. That said, go to your console and enter these commands in order:

• worldborder set [value]

• chunky world [world name]

• chunky worldborder

• chunky start
  

Custom Border

Instead of using the world border, customize it with unique values to possibly speed up the task time. Additionally, this can be useful if you don’t want to set a physical border in the game to pregenerate chunks. This method isn’t too popular but provides server owners and players more control. Copy and paste the following commands into your console to get started:

• chunky world [world name]

• chunky shape [shape]

• chunky center [(x) (z)]

• chunky start

Alternatively, use these commands to automatically set the shape, center, and radius of the task:

• chunky world [world name]

• chunky corners [(x1) (z1) (x2) (z2)]

• chunky start
  

Block Radius

This is what some server owners use as it only pregenerates the world in a defined area instead of a specific border or shape. Its use will significantly reduce the time needed to complete the task, as this method isn’t a complete border. However, it still requires the center point of your map to know where the radius starts. With this in mind, use the commands below to start the task:

• chunky world [world name]

• chunky center [(x) (z)]

• chunky radius [radius]

• chunky start
  

Configuration

As for Chunky’s configuration, there isn’t much to review or edit. However, you can allow tasks to continue running even if the server restarts frequently. This might be best if you restart a lot, which happens daily by default in the Scheduled Tasks section. Another option to review is force-loading existing chunks, keeping them active in the game. This helps with villages, mobs, or regular farms, as loaded chunks make them work. These features are the main adjustments in the file, so let’s go over the necessary steps to access and edit them on your server.

1. Go to your server panel and enter the FTP File Access section.

2. Log in with your password, then navigate to the plugins directory.

3. From here, locate and select the Chunky folder to reveal its contents.

4. Click Edit on the config.yml file, then start making the desired changes.

5. After changing the settings, continue with Save at the top and join the server.

6. Use the command /chunky reload to apply the new edits, or restart from the panel.
   

Common Issues

The Plugin Doesn’t Work

If you’ve installed the plugin and it appears in red or doesn’t show up after using /plugins, then it’s disabled. This might be due to using an outdated Minecraft version, so make sure you’re on version 1.14 or higher. Also, ensure your server is based on Bukkit, like Paper or Spigot. Using one of these allows plugins to load and work correctly. However, you may have installed Chunky in the wrong server profile. Confirm that the panel is using the correct type to load your world, which should help resolve the issue among other potential solutions.

Cannot Use Commands

The best method to use Chunky is through the console, as it bypasses permissions. If you use this and nothing happens, check the command format (usage). For example, the console cannot execute commands that have slashes, unlike in-game commands. Once you’ve confirmed this, it will work on your server without issues. However, if you attempt this in the game, make sure your character is an operator or has the correct permission nodes.

The Server Became Slow

After executing a Chunky command, the server might experience lag due to ongoing generation. This is expected for large worlds or extensive radii but can be stopped with the /chunky cancel command. Although, if the world has been significantly altered due to other plugins, then a small pregeneration may still cause issues. In this case, you might want to wait until the task is finished before trying to play. Otherwise, try different methods to see what works best for your server.

We hope this guide helps you use Chunky to improve your server’s performance and reduce lag. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact us through any convenient channel.

Best regards to everyone!

Stay safe and happy gaming! 🚀