🌲 Introduction: 🌲

Using plugins and mods at the same time on a server is a wish of many server owners.

With the great growth of Minecraft, several mods and plugins have been emerging, as well as new versions of the game itself.

Taking this into account we can conclude that each Mod and Plugin is made for a specific version of the game, being necessary to use different files such as Forge, to run mods, and Spigot to run plugins.

But is it possible to use both at the same time?
To answer this question we must first know the difference between a plugin and a mod.

Plugins:

Used to take existing Minecraft features to create new content.
They are used on servers, only.
This means that are not required to players do extra steps to connect to the server.

Mods:

Used to add additional content modifications to Minecraft.
They can be used on servers and single-player.
This means it is required that players do extra steps to connect to the server. (the server and the client must be using both the same mods)

❓ Running Plugins and Mods at the Same Time

As it was explained above, Mods don't support Bukkit plugins because Mods aren't based on Vanilla Minecraft, this means that, in few words, plugins can't use elements of a standard vanilla version when they have been modified by Mods.

🔎 But there is a way to achieve something similar to this...
It is not a way that will make it possible to use plugins and mods at the same time (as we have seen, this is not possible) but rather an alternative that allows us to execute mods that are "plugins" using the SpongeForge method.

🤔 Confused? No Worries.
We are here to answer all your questions and to help.

💠 What is SpongeForge?

SpongeForge is a Mod for Minecraft Forge Servers, that integrates the possibility to use Sponge "plugins" in your server.
They are not totally plugins because they are Mods.
So this means that you must drop your Sponge "plugins" in your /mods directory as well.

💠 Where can I get SpongeForge?

SpongeForge is not available for all Minecraft versions, so this means that you must use the following provided by Sponge.
The currently available are:
SpongeForge: 1.10.2, 1.11.2 and 1.12.2.

💠 Is there a SpongeForge for servers running on 1.7.10?

No, there is not.
If you wish to run "plugins" and mods together, you must use one of the versions provided above.
This means that if your modpack/server is running on 1.7.10, you can't run SpongeForge.

💠 How to find Sponge plugins?

You can get all Sponge plugins on Sponge's official website.

💠 I have just installed SpongeForge but I can't find my /plugins directory. What should I do?

As we learned together above. It is impossible to run plugins and mods at the same time. But we can use Sponge "plugins" (because they are mods) for this.
So every Sponge "plugin" that you can download at Sponge Plugins page must be placed in your server's /mods directory.

🔌 SpongeForge Installation 🔌

If you wish to install SpongeForge on your server, no worries because it is easy.

First make sure which modded version your server is running on.


To install SpongeForge please do the following:

Log in to your Multicraft here and stop your server.


Download SpongeForge at Sponge's website and rename it to _aaspongeforge-1.12.2-XXXX ( the XXXX depends on the version you downloaded). Basically, you just add _aa before the sponge mod name.



NOTE: You rename the sponge mod for it to be loaded the first one.


Use FileZilla to upload the SpongeForge file you just renamed to your server /mods folder.



Here you can find our guide for using FileZilla.


Start your server.

Done!
Your server is now running with SpongeForge!

💭 Hint:

Every Sponge "plugin" you have downloaded, must be uploaded to your '/mods' directory.
Just make sure to restart your server after you uploaded it, so then your server will be able to load it properly.

🔌 Installing Sponge in a Pre-Existing Modpack 🔌

Have you just installed SpongeForge on your server and now it is not starting?

This probably means that your server is running a modpack that contains a mod that is preventing the server from starting properly like FoamFix or HammerCore.

💠 What is FoamFix ?

In few words, FoamFix is a mod that was done to optimize modded Minecraft using simple, targeted optimizations.

💠 Where can I find FoamFix ?

You can find the FoamFix mod here.
Feed The Beast modapacks also usually have this mod pre-installed.

💠 How can I have sure if my server is running with FoamFix ?

You can check if your server has or not FoamFix by opening your FTP and going to /mods directory.
If FoamFix is there, then your server is trying to execute SpongeForge but FoamFix is preventing it from start.

💠 What is HammerCore?

In a few words, HammerCore is a utility mod that contains really useful code for quite a few mods.

💠 Where can I find HammerCore ?

You can find HammerCore mod here.

💠 How can I have sure if my server is running with HammerCore?

You can check if your server has or not HammerCore by opening your FTP and going to /mods directory.
If HammerCore is there, then your server is trying to execute SpongeForge but HammerCore is preventing it from start.

🔧 FoamFix: How to Fix 🔧

To get all this sorted, we need to firstly open your server files, which you can find in your FTP File Access.

❓ If you don't know what is FTP or how to use it, we suggest you read our How to: Access Your Minecraft Server Files Via FTP article.

So now you need to:

Log in to your Multicraft panel here and stop your server.


Click on Files, then on FTP Files Access, and log in to your FTP.

If you find any issues, here is our guide for accessing your server via FTP.


Open the config directory. (/config folder).




Scroll down and find the foamfix.cfg file, then right-click and then click on Edit.




Now you'll need to find two settings and change both values from true to false. There you'll need to find:

B:optimizedBlockPos and B:patchChunkSerialization.


Once you find them, set both values to false and click on Save.




Go back to your control panel and start your server.

🔨 HammerCore: How to Fix 🔨

To get all this shorted, we need to firstly open your server files, which you can find in your FTP File Access.

❓ If you don't know what is FTP or how to use it, we suggest you to read our How to: Access Your Minecraft Server Files Via FTP article.

So now you need to:

Log in to your Multicraft panel here and stop your server.


Click on Files, then on FTP Files Access, and log in to your FTP.

If you find any issues, here is our guide for accessing your server via FTP.


Open the asm directory (/asm folder).




Find the hammercore.xml file, right-click on it, and then click on Edit.




Now you'll need to find the setting and change the value from true to false. There you'll need to find:

<entry key="World.ITickable.Override">true</entry>


Once you find it, set the value to false and click on Save.




Go back to your control panel and start your server.

Done!
Now your server must execute SpongeForge in your modded server!


If you find any issue regarding SpongeForge please contact us on live chat or via the ticket system.

❕Useful Links ❕

- How to install Mods on your server
- How To: Edit Mod configuration files
- Client-Side Mods

Updated on: 08/31/2023