See the setting up a LAN world tutorial for more information.

Opening a world to LAN provides a server that is accessible only to other people on the local network unless port forwarding is set up on the router.

See the Minecraft multiplayer server tutorial and Mojang Studios' Minecraft multiplayer server download page for help.

The default multiplayer software is free of charge and is available by Mojang Studios for Windows, macOS, and Unix-like systems (Linux, BSD.).

Note that servers have requirements in order to run efficiently and smoothly. There are many tools provided for players to be able to manage and host a server.

Pay-to-Win: These servers have become slightly uncommon, as it violates Minecraft's EULA, but Pay-to-Win (P2W) servers (occasionally known as Pump-and-Dump servers, which are similar in concept to P2W servers) are designed around allowing users to purchase advantages (likely in the form of Ranks) for real-world money.

Roleplay: These servers have their players acting as their own persona, sometimes being dictated by the Roleplay that is happening.

This typically ends with a 'last man standing' scenario, This type of server is mainly used in SkyWars and Survival Games.

Hardcore: The same as survival mode, except players only have one life.

Usually, the link is private, shared only with the user's close friends.

Personal/Private: These are servers that players can make on their own.

Untrusted players will not be able to build on 'your' land.

Faction: Similar to Survival servers, but claims are used to mark land as 'yours'.

This is usually done to prevent griefing to other players' builds and to prevent excessive lagspikes. Usually, servers give the players Creative, but limit the items they can access and/or limit the plot size.

Creative: These are servers that only use Creative mode.

They are similar to Anarchy Servers, except there are usually rules, with common examples prohibiting Griefing and Exploiting.

Survival: These servers are servers that use only survival mode.

Many players engage in cheating, exploiting, and use of vulgar language.

Anarchy: These servers have basically no rules at all.There are many types of minigames, ranging from Spleef to Capture the Flag.

Minigame: These are servers that host multiple minigames.Some of these servers are more PVP orientated, some involve aspects of Survival, Creative and Adventure mode, some have a built-in economy, and some of them contain built-in minigames. Many special types of servers rely on the use of map editors or the Creative game mode to build custom maps and the CraftBukkit server software to provide additional features. No two servers are the same, and frequently the line between archetypes is blurred or indistinguishable. Multiple archetypes of Minecraft servers exist, distinguished by the unique gameplay features, rules, and societal structures that they implement.

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