For a Fabric server, match the Minecraft version and mod loader first. Install server-compatible mods from the catalogue, check their dependencies, then give players the mods their client actually needs. A mod made for Forge or NeoForge is not a Fabric mod.
Choose the correct server software first
ChunkArc offers Fabric for lightweight modded Minecraft. Do not upload Fabric mods to a Paper or Purpur server: those platforms use plugins, not Fabric mods. Choose Fabric and the exact Minecraft version before installing anything. If you are weighing plugin platforms instead of mods, compare Paper and Folia first.
Large modpacks can need substantially more memory than a small server. The Free Beta has 2 GB RAM, so use a modest set of mods, watch startup memory use and consult the RAM planning guide. Keep a local copy of important worlds. You can connect your own Google Drive for backups and enable an optional schedule in Manage; copies use your Drive storage and remain subject to service limits.
Modpack release, Minecraft version and loader are different
- Pack release: the version chosen by the pack author. A hypothetical pack “2.0” does not mean Minecraft 2.0. This is an example, not a tested pack.
- Minecraft version: the game version required by that release. Use the same supported game version on the server and each player’s launcher.
- Loader: Fabric, Forge and NeoForge are different. Check the required loader and its version, not just the pack name. ChunkArc’s current free mod catalogue is for compatible Fabric mods.
Before changing files, record all three values and check each mod’s dependencies and client/server requirements. A client-only file does not belong on a dedicated server. Finding a pack on Modrinth does not mean the whole pack can be imported automatically or will fit the free plan.
Use compatible mod files
Use the catalogue in ChunkArc Manage for server installation. Read the official project page to check Minecraft and Fabric Loader compatibility, server/client requirements and dependencies such as Fabric API. If a project is missing, send its official Modrinth link to support for review. Direct JAR uploads are not the installation path described here.
Install server-side mods from the catalogue
- Stop the server in ChunkArc Manage before changing its mods.
- Open Plugins & mods and use the catalogue for your Fabric server and Minecraft version.
- Choose a compatible release and review the planned files. The installer includes required dependencies declared in the catalogue when it can verify them. Read the author’s instructions for any additional requirements and client-side files.
- Start the server and watch the console from the beginning.
A clean startup is the first test. If the server crashes, keep the first meaningful error rather than repeatedly restarting; it normally names the incompatible mod, missing dependency or wrong Minecraft version.
Check the review before installing
Read the selected release, Minecraft version, loader and required files in the catalogue review. A matching project name alone is not enough. If you change the server software or version while a review is open, close it and request a fresh review before installing.
- Keep a stable compatible release when available; a newer beta is not automatically the better choice.
- If the review reports an installed-version conflict, check the existing installation before trying again. Do not add a second copy just to get past the warning.
- Compare the exact client requirements with the official release page. A server metadata match does not establish which files each player needs.
Your first Fabric install: keep a small test record
Use one server-compatible mod before building a larger set. Copy the exact versions from your selected server and the catalogue review; the list below is a checklist, not a pretested modpack.
- Record your Minecraft version and Fabric Loader version. Open the official page for the release you plan to install and check whether it belongs on the dedicated server, the client, or both.
- Save a recoverable world copy, stop the server and open Plugins & mods. Select that release and record the exact mod version and every dependency shown in the review. Do not confirm a different Minecraft version or loader.
- Confirm only after the review is clear. Start the server once and save the first relevant console error if startup fails. Do not add another mod until this one starts successfully.
- Join using the matching game version and required client files. Check normal play and memory use, then keep the working version list before adding the next mod.
Three separate checks: a compatible preview, successful server startup, and a real player join. Passing the first does not prove the other two. If one fails, use the startup and connection troubleshooting guide.
Choosing a host first? Read the Fabric hosting resources and limits before preparing a large pack.
Does this mod go on the server, the PC, or both?
| Mod type | Dedicated server | Player's PC |
|---|---|---|
| Client-only | Do not install it here. | Install it in the player's launcher instance. |
| Server-only | Install the compatible release. | Check the project's instructions before adding a client copy. |
| Required on both | Install the compatible release. | Each player needs a compatible copy too. |
A visual or interface mod does not become a server mod just because it is in a modpack. Mods that add blocks, items or other shared content commonly need compatible copies on both sides.
Read the environment and dependency notes for the exact release you select, not just the project name. Fabric Loader and Fabric API are different: Loader starts the mods; Fabric API is a separate dependency required by many of them.
Give players the matching client files
Many mods require players to install the same mod and version locally. Send a small written list with the Minecraft version, Fabric Loader version and direct links to each required client mod. Client-only visual mods generally do not belong on the server unless their documentation says otherwise.
Using Prism Launcher with friends
Create a Minecraft instance with the server's Minecraft version and Fabric Loader. Add the required client mods and dependencies to that instance. Prism can keep this setup separate from your usual Minecraft installation; it does not make an incompatible mod compatible or install the server's mods for you.
A useful shared list includes the Minecraft version, loader, exact mod versions and official download links. Do not copy every server file to players: server-only mods and private configuration do not belong in a shared client setup.
The server will not start, or a player cannot join
- Missing dependency or incompatible mod set: read the first error in the console. Match the named mod's Minecraft version, loader and required dependency versions. Fabric API is not a substitute for every dependency.
- A client class appears in a dedicated-server error: check whether the mod is client-only. Read its installation instructions before trying it on the server again.
- The server starts but a player cannot join: compare the player's Minecraft version, loader and required client mod versions. Save the full disconnect message; a timeout alone does not identify a mod conflict.
- The server runs out of memory: return to a smaller known-working set and test again. There is no reliable fixed number of mods that fits 2 GB: terrain generation, players and the individual mods all affect usage.
If you need support, send the software and Minecraft version, the mod that changed, and the first relevant error. Remove tokens, passwords and private addresses from anything you share. Do not bypass dependency checks to make a release appear supported.
Can I use a complete modpack on the free plan?
The 2 GB Free Beta is a starting point for a small compatible mod set, not a promise that a large modpack will run. A client modpack can include files that do not belong on a dedicated server. An .mrpack is a pack manifest and overrides, not a plugin JAR; this catalogue workflow does not promise automatic full-pack installation.
Start with the mods you need, test a real join and watch memory use. Before removing a mod that adds world content, keep a recoverable world copy: removing that mod can change or remove its content.
Installation references
Use the official Fabric mod installation guide, Fabric FAQ and Modrinth modpack format to check requirements. The ChunkArc steps above describe installation through our catalogue; the external guides also cover local client setup.
Update deliberately
Before changing a mod or Minecraft version, download your world and configuration. Update one mod at a time where possible, then start the server and join with a test client. Never assume that a newer mod file is compatible with an older world.
Choose your server software
Read the practical comparison before deciding whether Fabric is right for your world. You can also check what free Minecraft server hosting on the Free Beta provides.
Select or create your server in Manage. Choose Fabric and the Minecraft version before installing mods. The 2 GB Free Beta is intended for a modest mod set, not a guaranteed fit for a full modpack.