What is BungeeCord in Minecraft? Everything You Need to Know.

BungeeCord is one of the original Minecraft proxy systems that connects multiple servers into one network. Instead of players needing separate IPs for your lobby, survival world, minigames, and creative server, BungeeCord acts as a central connection point, letting players seamlessly switch between servers without disconnecting. It's the technology behind most large Minecraft networks, enabling hub systems, game mode switching, and unified player experiences across dozens of backend servers.

What Is BungeeCord?

BungeeCord is a proxy server, a software that sits between players and your actual Minecraft servers. When a player connects to your network, they're actually connecting to the BungeeCord proxy, which then forwards their connection to one of your backend servers.

Here's how it works:

1. Players connect to BungeeCord using a single IP address (your proxy's IP)​
2. BungeeCord pretends to be a Minecraft server from the player's perspective, even though it isn't one
3. Behind the scenes, BungeeCord connects to your actual servers (lobby, survival, creative, etc.)​
4. When players switch servers, BungeeCord disconnects them from one backend server and connects them to another, all without the player leaving the game​

This creates a seamless network experience where players can use commands like /server survival or click NPCs in a hub to instantly teleport between game modes.​

How BungeeCord Networks Work

A BungeeCord network uses a Master/Slave architecture:​

• Master (BungeeCord proxy): The central server that players connect to​
• Slaves (Backend servers): Your actual Minecraft servers (lobby, survival, minigames, etc.)​

Key Configuration Requirements

For BungeeCord to work, you need specific settings on both the proxy and backend servers:​

On the BungeeCord proxy:

• ip_forward: true – Passes player IP addresses to backend servers (required for IP-based plugins)​
• online_mode: true – Authenticates players through Mojang's servers​
• Define all backend servers in the servers: section with their IPs and ports​

On backend servers:

• online-mode: false in server.properties – Lets BungeeCord handle authentication instead of each server​
• Install the BungeeCord plugin (for Spigot/Paper servers) to enable proper communication​

Comparison: BungeeCord vs. Waterfall vs. Velocity

While BungeeCord pioneered the proxy concept, newer alternatives have emerged:​

If you're starting a new network today, use Velocity. It's faster, more secure, and actively maintained by the PaperMC team. However, most BungeeCord plugins now support Velocity, so migration is easier than ever.​

Common Use Cases

BungeeCord networks enable:

• Hub servers: Central lobbies with portals/NPCs to different game modes​
• Minigame networks: Separate servers for each minigame (SkyWars, BedWars, etc.)​
• Load balancing: Distribute players across multiple survival servers​
• Development/testing: Separate test servers from production without needing different IPs​
• Cross-server chat and economy: Plugins can sync data across the entire network​

Advantages and Limitations

Advantages

• Players use one IP for your entire network​
• Seamless server switching without disconnecting
• Separate servers mean isolated crashes. If one game mode crashes, others keep running​
• Resource allocation flexibility. Dedicate more RAM to popular game modes​

Limitations

• Requires multiple server instances (more complex than single-server setups)​
• Backend servers must be firewalled properly for security​
• Cross-server features require special BungeeCord plugins​
• Initial setup is more complex than standalone servers​