Installing and Updating Plugins Using the BukGet Tool

As of version 1.8.0 of Multicraft you can now use the BukGet tool to download and install any Bukkit server-mod plugin that is hosted on bukkit.org using just the Multicraft Control Panel. No need to download files to your computer and then upload them via FTP.

Plugin Files

A plugin file is a Java Archive (JAR) containing files and run-time code that is in a format recognised by the CraftBukkit Server. They are used to over-ride or extend the functionality of a Minecraft server. The most common used plugin type are concerned with managing player permissions, letting server owners have control over what players can and can't do. World protection plugins that manage building and demolition rights in specific areas are probably the next most popular, some even support the ability rewind block changes made by TNT, fire, water or a specific player. Most Plugins have an entry over at Bukkit.org, have a browse to see what else is possible.

How CraftBukkit Identifies and Attempts to Load Plugins

When CraftBukkit launches it will open the plugins directory on your server and look for files with a .jar extension. In each JAR file it will look for a plugin.yml file. This is a configuration file that tells CraftBukkit firstly that it is a plugin so that its contents can be copied into memory, it also tells CraftBukkit which file needs to be run first. The next pieces of important information plugin.yml contains are any server/chat commands that the plugin adds, definitions for permissions to functions of the plugin, and a list of any other plugins that this plugin is dependant upon. The plugin.yml also contains other useful meta-information such as the plugin name, the version number, the plugin's author.

Using all this information, CraftBukkit can decide upon an order in which to load the plugins and add their commands and permissions to the server.

To Install a plugin using BukGet

1. On the left hand menu click Files and then BukGet Plugins. You will be taken to the BukGet Plugin List
2. Find your desired plugin by browsing, selecting a category, or using the search boxes at the top of each column
3. Click on the plugin name. You will be taken to the plugin page containing information scraped from Bukkit.org. Note that there is also a link to the Bukkit page for this plugin here.
4. Click on the Install button

To Remove or Disable a plugin

1. On the left hand menu click Files and then BukGet Plugins. You will be taken to the BukGet Plugin List
2. On the left hand menu Click Currently Installed, this will list your installed plugins
3. Click on the name of the plugin you wish to Remove or Disable. You will be taken to that plugin's page
4. Click on the Remove or Disable button

There are a few things to be aware of when using this new tool

• It only lets you install the latest version that is on Bukkit.org, this version may not be compatible with the server JAR that you are currently using.
• The old list of plugins we provide is still available, this has been renamed to 'Local Plugins'. These lists show plugins that are meant for the server JAR you are currently using.
• You should always click on the Bukkit.org link to make sure that the version of the plugin is compatible with your current Server JAR
• The very latest version of a plugin may not be hosted on Bukkit.org. This is often the case when Bukkit gets updated and a plugin breaks. The plugin author will create a development build but will only upload to Bukkit once it has been tested
• The BukGet repository updates every 3 hours. So new and updated plugins on Bukkit may take up to 3 hours to appear on BukGet

Again, remember that there is always the Local Plugin list. This is a list of plugins that we maintain and should be compatible with the server JAR that you are currently using. If you are having problems with any of the plugins in this list then make sure that you are running the latest version that we have added. If the entry in the Local Plugin list has the 'Update' option next to it then the version you have installed is different to the one in the list. Click Update to replace the installed file with this new one. If you are still having problems with a plugin from the Local Plugin list, then send us a support ticket. There may be a more stable version of that plugin available and we can update the list with it.