Pre-Launch Server Validation - Preparing for Opening Day

The High Stakes of Launch Day

You've spent months building your server—custom plugins, detailed spawn, balanced economy, curated world. Launch day approaches. Are you ready?

A failed launch is devastating:

Player churn: Poor first impression = lost players forever
Reputation damage: "Laggy server" label sticks
Staff burnout: Firefighting issues instead of welcoming players
Wasted marketing: Promotion efforts wasted on broken experience

A successful launch builds momentum:

Strong first impressions: Smooth gameplay = returning players
Positive word-of-mouth: Players invite friends
Staff confidence: Team executes well-rehearsed plan
Growth foundation: Solid base for future expansion

This guide ensures you're ready.

Pre-Launch Validation Checklist

Phase 1: Infrastructure (2-4 Weeks Before Launch)

Hardware Verification

Test 1: Resource Capacity

Server Resource Monitoring

# Monitor idle server resources
htop

# Check disk space
df -h

# Test disk I/O speed
dd if=/dev/zero of=/tmp/test bs=1G count=1 oflag=direct
# Should achieve >200 MB/s for SSD

# Network bandwidth test
iperf3 -c speedtest.server.com

Minimum recommendations:

Server Size	RAM	CPU	Disk	Network
Small (10-20 players)	4GB	2 cores	20GB SSD	100 Mbps
Medium (50-100)	8GB	4 cores	50GB SSD	500 Mbps
Large (200+)	16GB+	8+ cores	100GB+ SSD	1 Gbps

Red flags:

RAM <2GB per 10 players
HDD instead of SSD (5-10x slower)
CPU from before 2018
Shared hosting with unknown neighbors

Backup System

Test 2: Backup and Restore

Backup Testing

# Create full backup
./backup-server.sh

# Verify backup file created
ls -lh backups/

# Test restore to separate directory
mkdir test-restore
tar -xzf backups/latest.tar.gz -C test-restore

# Start restored server
cd test-restore
java -jar paper.jar --nogui

# Verify world loads correctly

Automation:

Cron Backup Automation

# Schedule automatic backups
crontab -e

# Add:
0 */6 * * * /path/to/backup-server.sh  # Every 6 hours
0 4 * * * /path/to/backup-server.sh && /path/to/upload-to-s3.sh  # Daily offsite

Critical:

Test restore BEFORE launch
Automated backups configured
Offsite backup storage
Backup retention policy (7 days minimum)

Security Hardening

Test 3: Security Audit

Security Verification

# Check firewall rules
sudo iptables -L -n

# Verify only necessary ports open
sudo nmap -p- localhost

# Test DDoS protection
# (Use testing tool or service)

# Verify SSH key authentication
grep "PasswordAuthentication no" /etc/ssh/sshd_config

Security checklist:

Firewall configured (only ports 25565, 22, 80/443 if needed)
SSH key authentication (no password login)
Fail2ban or similar brute-force protection
Regular security updates scheduled
Backup server IP hidden (behind proxy/firewall)

Phase 2: Server Configuration (1-2 Weeks Before Launch)

Performance Optimization

Performance Recommendations

Use Paper for superior performance over Spigot/Bukkit
Install Spark for profiling and performance monitoring
Use Chunky for world pregeneration
Allocate appropriate RAM - 4GB minimum for small servers, 8GB+ for medium
Use Aikar's JVM flags for optimized garbage collection

Test 4: Baseline Performance

Spark Performance Baseline

# Start empty server
# Connect and run (requires Spark plugin: https://spark.lucko.me/)
/spark tps
/spark heapsummary

# Record baseline:
# TPS: 20.0
# MSPT: < 10ms
# RAM: <25% of max
# CPU: <20%

Configuration review:

server.properties

view-distance=8
simulation-distance=4
spawn-protection=16
max-players=100
online-mode=true

paper-world-defaults.yml

spawn-limits:
  monster: 20
  creature: 5
  water_creature: 2

entities:
  behavior:
    max-entity-collisions: 2

chunks:
  auto-save-interval: 300  # 5 minutes

Critical checks:

View/simulation distance optimized
Spawn limits configured
Auto-save interval reasonable
Garbage collection optimized (Aikar's flags)

World Preparation

Test 5: Spawn Area Optimization

Chunky Pregeneration

# Pregenerate spawn chunks (requires Chunky plugin: https://github.com/pop4959/Chunky)
/chunky center 0 0
/chunky radius 5000
/chunky start

# Monitor progress
/chunky status

# Wait for completion (can take hours)

Why pregeneration matters:

Without Pregeneration	With Pregeneration
Launch day: 100 players explore	Launch day: Chunks already generated
Server generates chunks on-demand	No generation lag
TPS drops to 5-10	TPS stays 18-20
Block break delay 3+ seconds	Instant response
Players complain of lag	Smooth experience

Spawn area checklist:

5,000-10,000 block radius pregenerated
Spawn point set correctly (/setworldspawn)
Spawn area built and decorated
Important buildings accessible
Signs/holograms with basic info
No hazards (lava, cliffs, mobs)

Economy and Progression

Test 6: Economy Balance

Economy Progression Testing

Test progression path:
1. New player joins
2. Complete starter tasks
3. Earn first currency
4. Purchase first item
5. Progress to next tier

Time to reach milestones:
- First purchase: <15 minutes
- Iron tools: <30 minutes
- Diamond tools: 2-3 hours
- Endgame items: 20-40 hours

Monitor:
- Starting money reasonable?
- Prices balanced?
- Earning rate appropriate?
- No exploits?

Red flags:

Players get rich too quickly (inflation, boredom)
Players can't afford anything (frustration)
One method vastly outperforms others (exploitation)
Endgame reachable in <10 hours (no longevity)

Phase 3: Plugin Validation (1 Week Before Launch)

Command and Permission Testing

Test 8: Permission Hierarchy

Permission Group Testing

# Test user progression
Groups to test:
- default (new player)
- member (played 1+ hour)
- vip (donor)
- moderator
- admin

For each group:
- Test can use expected commands
- Test cannot use restricted commands
- Verify chat prefix/suffix correct
- Check tab list formatting

Permission checklist:

Default group has basic commands only
Staff have moderation commands
Admin has full access
VIP perks work correctly
No permission leaks (default can't ban, etc.)

Phase 4: Player Experience (3-5 Days Before Launch)

New Player Flow

Test 9: First-Time User Experience (FTUE)

New Player Journey Test

Roleplay as new player:
1. Join server for first time
2. Read welcome message
3. Follow instructions
4. Complete starter quests/tasks
5. Obtain first tools/items
6. Find important locations

Time this process - should take 10-20 minutes

Validate:
- Instructions clear?
- Tasks completable?
- Rewards satisfying?
- Direction obvious?
- No confusion?

FTUE checklist:

Wel come message informative but concise
Spawn point visible from all angles
Signs guide to important areas
Starter quests exist and work
/help command provides useful info
Rules are posted and accessible
Tutorial area optional but recommended

UI/UX Polish

Test 10: Visual Polish

Visual Polish Checklist

Inspect spawn area:
- Lighting correct (no dark patches)?
- No floating blocks?
- Signs readable?
- Builds complete (no scaffolding)?
- Terrain smooth (no chunk errors)?
- Resource pack (if used) loads?

Test tab list:
- Groups colored/formatted?
- Server info in footer?
- Ping showing correctly?

Test scoreboard (if used):
- Information relevant?
- Updates correctly?
- No flickering?

First impressions matter:

Good	Bad
Polished spawn build	Unfinished builds, scaffolding
Clear signage	Confusing layout
Helpful starter NPC	No guidance
Welcoming message	No welcome message or wall of text
Working features	Broken commands, "Coming soon"

Phase 5: Load Testing (2-3 Days Before Launch)

Stress Testing

Test 11: Simulated Player Load

Load Test Progression

Test progression:
- 10 players: 5 minutes
- 25 players: 10 minutes
- 50 players: 15 minutes
- 75 players: 15 minutes
- 100 players: 20 minutes

Monitor throughout (using Spark: https://spark.lucko.me/):
/spark tps
/spark profiler (capture 120-second profile)
/spark heapsummary

Expected results:
- TPS >18 throughout
- MSPT <50 throughout
- RAM <75% of max
- CPU <80%

Load test scenarios:

Load Test Scenarios

Scenario 1: Mass Join (Launch Day Simulation)
- 50 bots join within 2 minutes
- Monitor server during surge
- Check for connection failures
- Verify spawn area handles load

Scenario 2: Active Exploration
- 25 bots walk in random directions
- Simulates players exploring
- Tests chunk loading under movement
- Monitors TPS during high I/O

Scenario 3: Combat Stress
- 20 bots in small area
- Bots attack each other
- Tests entity AI and combat calculations
- Verifies anti-cheat doesn't false-positive

Scenario 4: Endurance Test
- 30 bots connected for 4 hours
- Tests long-term stability
- Monitors for memory leaks
- Checks garbage collection frequency

Network Performance

Test 12: Connection Quality

Network Latency Testing

# Test from various locations
# Use VPS in different regions

# From US East
ping your-server.com
traceroute your-server.com

# From EU
ping your-server.com
traceroute your-server.com

# Record latency:
# US East: 20ms ✅
# US West: 60ms ✅
# EU: 100ms ✅ (acceptable)
# Asia: 250ms ⚠️ (playable but not ideal)

Network checklist:

Latency <100ms for target region
No packet loss
Bandwidth sufficient (5-10 Mbps per 50 players)
DDoS protection active (if applicable)

Phase 6: Staff Preparation (1-2 Days Before Launch)

Staff Training

Test 13: Staff Readiness

Staff Training Guide

Train staff on:
- Common issues and solutions
- Moderation commands
- Ban/kick procedures
- Claim resolution
- Economy management
- How to escalate issues

Create cheat sheet:
=====================================
Common Issues
=====================================
Issue: Can't claim land
Fix: Check balance (/bal), need $ for claims

Issue: Can't use command
Fix: Check permission, may need to rank up

Issue: Grief reported
Fix: /co inspect, identify culprit, rollback if needed
=====================================

Staff checklist:

All staff have correct permissions
Staff know basic commands
Escalation procedure documented
Discord/communication channels ready
On-call schedule for launch day
Common issue solutions documented

Communication Channels

Test 14: Communication Systems

Communication Verification

Verify:
- Discord server configured
- Staff channels ready
- Bot commands working
- Announcement channel prepared
- Link verification (if used)
- Role assignment working

Test:
- Staff can communicate
- Bots respond to commands
- Voice channels available (if applicable)
- Server status bot working

Phase 7: Final Validation (Launch Day Minus 1)

Complete Server Test

Test 15: Full Walkthrough

Complete Player Journey Test

Simulate complete player journey:

Hour 1: Join and Orientation
- Connect to server
- Read welcome message
- Tour spawn area
- Complete starter quests
- Join Discord
- Read rules

Hour 2: Basic Gameplay
- Find resource area
- Gather basic resources
- Craft tools
- Return to spawn
- Use shop/economy

Hour 3: Claim and Build
- Teleport to build area
- Create claim
- Start building
- Invite friend to claim
- Test permissions

Hour 4: Social Features
- Join or create party/guild
- Use chat commands
- Try teleport commands
- Test voting system (if any)

Hour 5: Advanced Features
- Try minigame (if any)
- Test advanced economy
- Explore custom content
- Challenge/achievement progress

Validate every feature works flawlessly.

Launch Day Protocol

Critical Launch Reminders

One crash during launch = many lost players forever
Stability is more important than features - disable anything unstable
Have a rollback plan - be ready to revert if critical issues arise
Communicate delays immediately - players appreciate transparency
All staff must be online and ready - no exceptions for launch

T-Minus 1 Hour

Final Pre-Launch Protocol

1. Final restart
   - /stop
   - Clear cache/temporary files
   - Start with fresh logs

2. Staff assembly
   - All staff online
   - Roles assigned
   - Communication channels open

3. Final systems check
   - /spark tps (should be 20.0)
   - /plugins (all green)
   - Test connection from external

4. Open whitelist (if used)
   - /whitelist off
   or
   - Add initial players to whitelist

5. Send announcement
   - Discord
   - Social media
   - Server lists (if posted early)

T-Minus 0: Launch!

Launch Monitoring Checklist

Monitor closely:
- Player count
- TPS (should stay >18)
- Chat (answer questions)
- Console (watch for errors)

Have ready:
- Backup plan if issues arise
- Communication to delay if critical issue
- Staff on standby

Engage with players:
- Welcome personally
- Answer questions
- Thank for joining
- Guide to features

First Hour Priorities

Stability above all: One crash = many lost players
Responsive support: Answer questions quickly
Fix blockers immediately: Can't claim? Fix NOW
Defer polish: Typo in sign? Fix tomorrow
Monitor metrics: Watch TPS, player count, errors

Post-Launch Validation

First 24 Hours

Metrics to track:

Launch Metrics Tracking

Players:
- Peak concurrent players
- Total unique joins
- Average session length
- Return rate (players who come back)

Performance:
- Minimum TPS during peak
- Crashes or restarts
- Plugin errors
- Player complaints

Engagement:
- Chat activity
- Feature usage (claims, shops, etc.)
- Quest/achievement completion
- Discord activity

First Week

Review and iterate:

Post-Launch Review Template

What went well:
- Stable TPS throughout
- No major bugs
- Players engaged with custom features
- Staff handled volume well

What needs improvement:
- Economy balancing (items too cheap)
- Spawn can be confusing for new players
- One plugin has minor bug
- Need more staff during peak hours

Action items:
1. Adjust shop prices
2. Add more spawn signs
3. Update buggy plugin
4. Recruit 2 more moderators

Using Bots for Pre-Launch Testing

Manual testing has limits. Bots enable comprehensive, realistic validation.

Why Bots for Pre-Launch?

Manual testing gaps:

Can't simulate 100 players joining simultaneously
Hard to test for extended periods (4+ hours)
Can't create consistent load scenarios
Difficult to test edge cases

Bot testing advantages:

Simulate launch day surge (50-100 players joining rapidly)
Endurance testing (bots online for 24 hours)
Consistent scenarios (same test every time)
Performance benchmarking (measure exactly how many players server handles)

Pre-Launch Test Scenarios

Scenario 1: Launch Day Simulation

Launch Day Test Configuration

Objective: Simulate opening day player surge

Configuration:
- 100 bots
- Join over 10 minutes (10 bots/minute)
- Stagger logins naturally

Test:
1. Bots start joining at T+0
2. By T+10min, 100 bots connected
3. Bots remain online for 1 hour
4. Monitor server stability

Metrics:
- Connection success rate (target: >95%)
- TPS during surge (target: >18)
- TPS after stabilization (target: 19-20)
- Memory usage (target: <75% max)
- Any errors or crashes (target: 0)

Expected:
✅ 95+ bots connect successfully
✅ TPS remains 18+ throughout
✅ No errors in console
✅ Spawn area loads for all bots

Scenario 2: Exploration Stress Test

Exploration Test Configuration

Objective: Test chunk loading during exploration

Configuration:
- 30 bots
- Anti-AFK plugin (random movement)
- Duration: 2 hours

Test:
1. Bots connect to spawn
2. Enable movement (walk in random directions)
3. Bots explore outward from spawn
4. Monitor chunk generation and TPS

Metrics:
- TPS during high I/O
- Chunk generation rate
- Disk I/O saturation
- RAM usage (world data)

Expected:
✅ TPS >18 during movement
✅ Chunks generate without errors
✅ RAM increases proportionally (not leak)
✅ Disk I/O within limits

Scenario 3: Economy System Test

Economy Test Configuration

Objective: Verify economy handles transactions

Configuration:
- 20 bots
- Bots execute economy commands

Test:
1. Bots receive starting balance
2. Bots purchase items from shop
3. Bots sell items back
4. Check for economy exploits or dupes

Validation:
- Balance changes correctly
- Transactions log properly
- No money creation (duplication)
- Shop inventory updates

Scenario 4: Claim System Test

Claim System Test Configuration

Objective: Validate land claiming under load

Configuration:
- 25 bots

Test:
1. Bots teleport to claiming area
2. All 25 bots create claims simultaneously
3. Verify claims don't overlap
4. Check database for corruption

Expected:
✅ All claims created successfully
✅ No overlapping claims
✅ Database intact
✅ Server remains stable

Scenario 5: Endurance and Memory Leak Test

Endurance Test Configuration

Objective: Long-term stability check

Configuration:
- 40 bots
- Duration: 12-24 hours

Test:
1. Bots connect and remain online
2. Bots perform basic actions periodically
3. Monitor memory usage over time

Monitor:
- Memory usage trend (should be stable or slight increase)
- GC frequency (should remain consistent)
- TPS degradation (should stay 19-20)
- Connection stability (bots shouldn't disconnect)

Red flags:
❌ Memory usage increasing steadily (memory leak)
❌ TPS degrading over time
❌ Frequent disconnections
❌ Increasing GC pauses

Expected:
✅ Memory stabilizes after initial period
✅ TPS consistent throughout
✅ All bots remain connected
✅ No errors accumulating

Interpreting Bot Test Results

Good Launch Readiness:

Successful Test Results

Test Results:
- 100/100 bots connected successfully (100%)
- TPS during peak: 18.2 minimum, 19.5 average
- Peak memory: 68% of max
- Peak CPU: 75%
- Errors: 0
- Crashes: 0
- Endurance test: 24 hours stable

Interpretation:
✅ Server ready for launch
✅ Can handle advertised capacity
✅ No critical issues detected
✅ Performance acceptable under load

Needs Improvement:

Failed Test Results

Test Results:
- 85/100 bots connected (85% success)
- TPS during peak: 12.5 minimum (❌)
- Peak memory: 92% of max (⚠️)
- Peak CPU: 95% (❌)
- Errors: 15 plugin exceptions
- Crashes: 1 during stress test

Interpretation:
❌ NOT ready for launch
❌ Connection issues (investigate server capacity)
❌ TPS unacceptable (optimize or upgrade)
❌ Memory/CPU near max (no headroom for spikes)
❌ Plugin errors need resolution

Action:
1. Optimize server configuration
2. Fix plugin errors
3. Upgrade hardware if needed
4. Retest before launch

Using SoulFire for Pre-Launch Validation

Comprehensive pre-launch testing requires realistic client behavior and protocol compliance. SoulFire's Fabric-based architecture makes it ideal for final validation.

Launch Day Simulation:

SoulFire Launch Simulation

Configuration:
- Bots: 100
- Join Pattern: 10 per minute for 10 minutes
- Plugins: Auto-Respawn, Anti-AFK, Auto-Reconnect

Simulate realistic launch:
1. Staggered bot logins (mimics real players)
2. Bots spread across spawn (movement)
3. Monitor TPS, chunk loading, errors
4. Run for 2 hours

Goal:
Validate server handles launch day surge with:
- No crashes
- Acceptable TPS (>18)
- All players can connect
- No game-breaking bugs discovered

What to Monitor:

Launch Monitoring Commands

# Server console
tail -f logs/latest.log | grep -E "(ERROR|WARN|Exception)"

# Performance
/spark tps  # Check every 30 seconds

# Player list
/list  # Verify bot count increasing

# Resource usage
htop  # Monitor CPU/RAM in separate terminal

Success Criteria:

Launch Readiness Criteria

✅ 95+ bots connected
✅ TPS >18 during surge, >19 after stabilization
✅ No errors or exceptions
✅ Spawn area handles 100 players simultaneously
✅ Movement smooth, no rubber-banding
✅ Commands responsive
✅ No crashes for 2+ hour duration

= SERVER READY FOR LAUNCH

Final Pre-Launch Checklist

Launch Time

Whitelist removed (or players added)
Announcement sent
Staff monitoring closely
Ready to respond to issues

A successful launch isn't luck—it's preparation. By systematically validating every aspect of your server, from infrastructure to player experience, you ensure launch day exceeds expectations rather than becoming a disaster recovery exercise.

Key takeaways:

Test early and often: Don't wait until launch eve to discover critical issues
Optimize spawn area: Pregenerate chunks, polish builds, clear guidance
Load test thoroughly: Bots simulate realistic player behavior and stress
Prepare staff: Training and documentation prevent chaos
Have backups: Things will go wrong—be ready to recover

The servers that succeed long-term are those that launch strong. First impressions matter. Put in the work to validate everything beforehand, and your launch day will be smooth, your players will be happy, and your server will thrive.

Remember: Launch day is not the time to discover your server can't handle 50 players. Test with 100 before you advertise for 50.

Your players are counting on you. Make sure you're ready for them.

Good luck with your launch! 🚀