Can I switch from Paper to Fabric later?

Yes, you can switch software types using the Version Changer, but be aware that plugins and mods are not cross-compatible. You will need to remove your existing plugins or mods when switching.

Which software is best for a large modpack?

Fabric is generally better for modded servers as it is designed specifically for mod compatibility. Paper and Purpur are intended for plugin-based servers.

Do I need to edit startup flags for better performance?

AwakeNode manages startup flags for you to ensure optimal performance. If you believe your server needs custom flags, please open a support ticket.

Are Paper plugins compatible with Purpur?

Yes, Purpur is a fork of Paper, so it maintains full compatibility with all Paper and Spigot plugins.

Paper vs Purpur vs Fabric: Choosing Your Server Software

Understanding Server Software

Choosing the right server software is the most important decision for your server's performance and compatibility. While Vanilla Minecraft is the base, it is rarely efficient enough for multiplayer hosting. We recommend using optimised forks or loaders to ensure a smooth experience for your players.

Paper: The Industry Standard

Paper is the most popular high-performance fork of Spigot. It focuses on fixing bugs, improving server performance, and providing a robust API for plugins.

Best for: Survival servers, economy servers, and general-purpose communities.
Compatibility: Supports almost all Spigot and Bukkit plugins.
Performance: Highly optimised with advanced chunk loading and entity management.

Purpur: Feature-Rich Performance

Purpur is a fork of Paper designed to be highly customisable. It includes all the performance optimisations of Paper but adds a vast array of configuration options to change how the game behaves.

Best for: Servers that want unique gameplay mechanics or specific tweaks to vanilla behaviour.
Compatibility: Fully compatible with Paper plugins.
Performance: Matches Paper's performance while offering more granular control over server mechanics.

Fabric: The Lightweight Alternative

Fabric is not a Spigot fork; it is a lightweight, modular mod loader. It is designed to be updated quickly when new Minecraft versions release.

Best for: Technical servers, modded gameplay, or servers that want to stay on the absolute latest version of Minecraft immediately.
Compatibility: Uses Fabric mods rather than Spigot/Bukkit plugins.
Performance: Extremely lightweight, though performance depends heavily on the specific mods installed.

Managing Your Software on AwakeNode

We make switching between these software types simple via our control panel.

On AwakeNode

Navigate to your server in the Awakenode panel.
Use the Version Changer to select your preferred software (Paper, Purpur, or Fabric).
Confirm the change and restart your server. Our system handles the installation automatically.

On other hosts / manually

Stop your server.
Download the relevant .jar file from the official project website.
Upload the file to your server via SFTP.
Rename the file to match your startup command or edit your startup script to point to the new filename.
Restart the server.

A Note on Performance and RAM

If you find your server is lagging, it may be due to insufficient RAM. On AwakeNode, upgrading your plan automatically updates your memory allocation (Xmx) without any manual configuration. If you require specific JVM startup flags or custom garbage collection settings, please contact our Support team, as these cannot be edited by users directly.

Paper vs Purpur vs Fabric for performance