I was recently faced with a question about adding a third-party plugin to a Minecraft game server created on Aternos hosting. The control panel of the server didn't allow downloading third-party plugins directly from the "Files" section; only the pre-listed plugins in the "Plugins" section were available for download.



The user was asking if there is an alternative way to upload a third-party plugin to the server on this hosting platform. This brought up a few considerations regarding the hosting platform's capabilities and the specific requirements for Minecraft server management.

If I knew any workarounds or alternative methods for achieving this, I would be happy to share them with the user.

While the control panel may restrict direct downloading of third-party plugins from the "Files" section, there are alternative methods for adding custom plugins to the server.
One workaround is to manually upload the third-party plugin files to the server using an FTP client. Aternos allows users to access their server files via FTP, enabling them to upload custom plugins directly to the appropriate directories within the server's file structure. This method requires some technical knowledge, but it's a common approach for adding custom content to game servers hosted on platforms with restrictions on direct plugin installation.

Another alternative is to use the "Plugins" section in the control panel to install a placeholder or dummy plugin with the same name as the desired third-party plugin. Once the dummy plugin is installed, users can use the file manager to replace its files with those of the third-party plugin. This method leverages the platform's allowed plugin installation process to indirectly add custom plugins to the server.

It's important to note that when using workarounds to add third-party plugins, users should exercise caution and ensure that the plugins they are adding are from reliable and trusted sources. Custom plugins can introduce security risks and affect the stability of the server if not properly vetted.
While the Aternos hosting platform may have limitations on directly downloading third-party plugins, there are alternative methods such as manual FTP uploads and leveraging placeholder plugins to achieve the desired result. These methods require careful consideration and technical know-how, but they offer flexibility in customizing Minecraft game servers hosted on the platform.

You should attempt to upload your plugin/addon files to a designated folder, typically named "plugins". If you are using a Vanilla core, it's advisable to download all required mods/addons/textures/resource packs before launching the game and then proceed to download the world.

Alternatively, if you have already begun playing, you can download your world and subsequently install the necessary components. It's worth noting that after this step, there may be issues with the functionality of your addons/mods.

Regrettably, Aternos does not provide FTP access or the option to upload user files. There are various reasons behind this choice, primarily centered around security.

If you're curious why, think about what could happen if plugins or mods with potentially harmful code were uploaded to your server and executed on our hardware. It could introduce risks like bots or viruses into our environment. Even though your server operates in a secure setting, someone might attempt to bypass our restrictions, causing the server to run non-stop. Not only would this be unfair to other users, but it would also impact our queue and waiting times.

We recognize that we could implement systems like antivirus filters, but these filters wouldn't be able to detect code designed to circumvent our limitations due to their game/platform specificity. Furthermore, manual verification of the vast number of users and mods/plugins is virtually impossible, requiring significant resources that we cannot afford.