Docker runs each game server in an isolated container. One VPS can host a Minecraft server, a Palworld server and a Discord bot without them interfering with each other. Each container has its own files, ports and resource limits.
Why Docker for game servers
- Isolation: a crash in one container does not affect others.
- Easy setup: pre-built images for most games. A Minecraft server is one command.
- Reproducible: delete the container, re-create it, and you are back to a clean state. Your data persists in volumes.
- Resource limits: set CPU and memory limits per container so one server cannot starve the others.
Installing Docker
curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
Log out and back in for the group change to take effect.
Minecraft with Docker
The itzg/minecraft-server image is the gold standard:
docker run -d --name mc \ -p 25565:25565 \ -e EULA=TRUE \ -e TYPE=PAPER \ -e MEMORY=4G \ -e VERSION=LATEST \ -v mc-data:/data \ --restart unless-stopped \ itzg/minecraft-server
This starts a Paper server with 4 GB RAM, port 25565, and persistent data in the mc-data volume. Add plugins by placing them in the volume's plugins/ folder.
Docker Compose for multiple servers
Use docker-compose.yml to manage multiple servers:
services:
minecraft:
image: itzg/minecraft-server
ports:
- "25565:25565"
environment:
EULA: "TRUE"
TYPE: PAPER
MEMORY: "4G"
volumes:
- mc-data:/data
restart: unless-stopped
deploy:
resources:
limits:
memory: 5G
palworld:
image: thijsvanloef/palworld-server-docker
ports:
- "8211:8211/udp"
volumes:
- pw-data:/palworld
restart: unless-stopped
deploy:
resources:
limits:
memory: 16G
volumes:
mc-data:
pw-data:
Start both with docker compose up -d.
Useful commands
docker logs mc --tail 100: last 100 lines of the Minecraft server log.docker exec -i mc rcon-cli: access the server console.docker stop mc && docker start mc: restart a container.docker stats: live resource usage of all containers.
Is Docker slower than running directly?
No. Docker uses the host kernel; there is no virtualization overhead. Performance is identical to a direct install.
How do I update the game server?
Pull the latest image: docker pull itzg/minecraft-server. Then recreate the container: docker compose up -d. Your data in the volume is preserved.
Can I use the Pterodactyl panel with Docker?
Yes. Pterodactyl (and its successor Pelican) use Docker containers internally. The panel manages containers through a web interface instead of the command line.
Run Docker on a KVM VPS at HostValues. All plans include full root access.
