How to Connect MySQL Database to Minecraft Plugins

Setting up a MySQL database for your Minecraft plugins improves performance, enables cross-server data sharing, and enhances your server's capabilities. This step-by-step guide shows you exactly how to create and connect a MySQL database to your Minecraft plugins through your hosting panel, with no technical experience required.

Creating Your MySQL Database

Follow these simple steps to create a new database for your Minecraft plugins:

Step 1: Access the Database Section

1. Log into your MintServers game panel
2. Click on "Databases" in the left sidebar

3. On the right side, click the "NEW DATABASE" button

Step 2: Configure Your Database

1. Enter a name for your database
2. Leave the "connections from" field empty (this allows connections from your server)
3. Click "Create" to finalize your database

Step 3: Access Your Database Credentials

1. Click on your newly created database to view its details

2. You'll see important information including:
   • Database name
   • Username
   • Password
   • Hostname
   • Port
   

Connecting Your Plugin to the Database

Now that you've created your database, you need to configure your plugin to use it:

Step 1: Access Plugin Configuration

1. Navigate to your plugin's configuration file using FTP or the file manager in your game panel
2. Open the configuration file (usually config.yml) with a text editor

Step 2: Enter Database Details

1. Locate the database configuration section in your plugin's config file
2. Enter your database credentials:
   • Username: Make sure to use quotes (e.g., username: "s1255_admin")
   • Password: Always use quotes (e.g., password: "84a8sd4d+&1*")
   • Hostname: Include the port (e.g., hostname: "127.0.0.1:3306")
   • Database: Your database name (e.g., database: "s1255_database")
3. If the plugin has a toggle between MySQL and local storage, make sure to enable MySQL/database option

Step 3: Save and Restart

1. Save the configuration file
2. Restart your Minecraft server
3. Check the console for any database connection messages

Common Database Connection Issues

Authentication Failed

If you see authentication errors in your console:

• Double-check your username and password for typos
• Ensure all credentials are properly enclosed in quotes
• Verify that special characters in passwords are properly escaped

Connection Refused

If your plugin can't connect to the database:

• Verify the hostname and port are correct
• Check if your hosting provider requires specific IP addresses in the "connections from" field
• Ensure your server has network access to the database server

Performance Issues

If your server experiences lag after setting up a database:

• Not all plugins benefit from MySQL - file-based storage may be faster for some plugins
• Plugins that load all data at startup (like WorldGuard) often perform better with file storage
• Economy plugins, logging plugins, and cross-server plugins benefit most from MySQL

By following this guide, you've successfully connected your Minecraft plugin to a MySQL database. This setup allows for better performance with certain plugins and enables cross-server functionality if you're running a network of servers.