Game Server Terms Explained: IP, Port, Slots, SFTP and More

New to renting a game server? This page explains the words you will see in the panel and in our guides, in the order you are likely to meet them.

Joining

IP address. The number that identifies your server on the internet, for example 203.0.113.10.
Port. A number after the IP address, such as 25565, that tells the connection which game on that machine to reach. One address can serve many ports.
Server address. The IP address and the port together, written address:port. It is what players type to join. See How to join your server.
Dedicated IP. An address that only your server uses. Because the default port is then implied, players join with the address alone.
Whitelist (allowlist). A list of players allowed to join. Anyone not on it is refused.
Ban. The opposite: a list of players who may not join.
Ping (latency). How long a message takes to reach the server and come back, in milliseconds. Lower is better.

RAM (memory). The working memory your game server can use. More players, bigger worlds and mods need more.
CPU. How much processing power the server gets. Busy worlds and large player counts use more.
Slots. The number of players allowed to be connected at the same time.
Plan. The size you buy: its RAM, slots and options. You can change it later. See How to change your plan or billing cycle.
Billing cycle. How often you pay: monthly, quarterly or yearly.

Panel. The website where you control your server, at panel.playnhost.com.
Console. The live text output of the game, with a box to type commands. See How to use the console and run commands.
Start, stop, restart, kill. Boot the server, shut it down cleanly, stop and boot it again, or end it at once. Kill is a last resort because the game gets no chance to save.
Instance. A saved setup, with its own world and files, that you can switch the server to. See How to use instances to switch worlds.
Server type. The software the server runs, for example Vanilla, or a modded version of the same game.

File manager. The Files tab, where you browse and edit the server's folders in your browser.
SFTP. A secure way to move files between your computer and the server with a program like FileZilla. Best for large uploads. See How to connect to your server files with SFTP.
Backup. A saved copy of your server you can restore later. See How to create, download and restore backups.
Schedule. Steps that run automatically on a timer, such as a backup every day.
World, save, map. The saved game itself. Games use different names for it.

Mod. Changes or additions to the game itself. Players usually need the same mods.
Plugin. Add-ons that run on the server only, so players need nothing extra.
Modpack. A ready-made bundle of mods that work together.
Workshop. A catalogue of mods hosted by a game or platform, such as Steam Workshop.
TPS. Ticks per second. How fast the game world updates. In Minecraft the target is 20, and lower numbers feel like lag.

Invoice. The bill for a period of service. See How to view, pay and download your invoices.
Account credit (balance). Money held on your account. It pays your renewals before a card is charged, and you can choose it when you order.
Two-factor authentication. A second check, a code from an app, on top of your password. See How to set up two-factor authentication.