Getting Started
Account Creation
To get started with NGP Hosts:
- Visit ngphosts.com and click "Get Started"
- Click "Sign Up" and enter your email
- Verify your email address
- Connect your Discord account
- Accept terms and create account
- Your first server activates immediately
Your First Server
Your initial server comes with:
- 4GB RAM
- 100% CPU (1 core)
- 10GB disk space
- 1 backup slot
- 1 secondary IP
Inviting Friends
To unlock resource upgrades:
- Go to Dashboard → Referrals
- Copy your unique referral link
- Share it with friends
- They sign up and verify their account
- After 7 days, invites count and unlock upgrades
Note: Referred accounts must be 7+ days old to count as valid invites.
Control Panel Basics
Dashboard Overview
The main dashboard shows:
- Server status (online/offline)
- Current resource usage (RAM, CPU, disk)
- Invite count and next tier
- Quick action buttons
Server Management
From Server Settings, you can:
- Start/Stop: Power on/off the server
- Restart: Gracefully restart
- Delete: Permanently delete server
- Change Port: Modify server port
- Change Name: Rename your server
File Manager
Upload and manage files via the browser:
- Upload plugins and configurations
- Edit server.properties
- Manage world files
- Delete unwanted files
- Download files to your computer
Console
View real-time server logs:
- Monitor server activity
- Execute console commands
- Troubleshoot errors
- Search logs by keyword
- Logs retained for 90 days
World & Data Management
Creating Backups
To backup your world:
- Go to Backups → Create Backup
- Name your backup (optional)
- Click "Create"
- Server creates a snapshot
- Download backup to your computer
Best Practice: Backup weekly or after major changes.
Restoring Backups
To restore a previous backup:
- Go to Backups → List
- Find the backup you want
- Click "Restore"
- Confirm the restore
- Server will be stopped during restore
- Takes 5-15 minutes depending on size
Migrating from Another Host
To move your world from another provider:
- Download your world from old host
- Stop your NGP Hosts server
- Go to File Manager
- Upload world folder to
worlds/
- Update server.properties (level-name)
- Restart server
Plugins & Mods
Installing Plugins
For Bukkit/Spigot servers:
- Download plugin .jar file
- Go to File Manager → plugins/
- Upload .jar file
- Restart server
- Check console for load confirmation
Recommended Plugins
- Paper: Improved Spigot fork
- WorldEdit: World management
- Essentials: Core utilities
- PlaceholderAPI: Advanced customization
- CoreProtect: Logging and rollback
Installing Mods
For Forge servers:
- Select Forge version when creating server
- Go to File Manager → mods/
- Upload mod .jar files
- Restart server
Note: Mods require more resources. Upgrade your tier if performance issues occur.
Security & Backups
Protecting Your Server
- Use whitelist plugin for private servers
- Install anti-cheat plugins
- Regular backups (CRITICAL)
- Strong control panel password
- Enable two-factor authentication if available
Backup Strategy
Regular backups are YOUR responsibility. NGP Hosts is not responsible for data loss.
- Backup weekly or after major changes
- Download backups to your computer
- Store in multiple locations
- Test restore procedures
- Don't rely solely on server backups
Troubleshooting
Server Won't Start
Check the following:
- Check console for error messages
- Verify Java version is compatible
- Look for conflicting plugins
- Try removing recently added plugins
- Check server.properties syntax
Lag or Performance Issues
- Monitor RAM and CPU usage in Dashboard
- Upgrade to higher tier if needed
- Check for resource-heavy plugins
- Optimize world (remove far chunks)
- Use plugin performance profilers
Can't Connect
- Verify server is online (green status)
- Check correct IP and port
- Try direct IP connection
- Check firewall settings
- Verify whitelist settings
Advanced Topics
Custom Java Arguments
Optimize server performance with custom JVM flags:
-Xmx4G -Xms4G -XX:+UseG1GC -XX:MaxGCPauseMillis=200
Contact support for help with advanced settings.
Database Plugins
For plugins requiring databases:
- Higher tiers support database plugins
- Configure plugins for MySQL or SQLite
- NGP Hosts does not provide database hosting
Getting Help
If you need assistance:
Premium Hosting Alternative
For high-performance servers, public SMPs, or commercial projects, NGP Hosts recommends SoloCloud Hosting. SoloCloud offers professional-grade infrastructure with guaranteed performance and uptime SLAs.