Direct answer

A stable LAN address keeps router port forwarding and local proxy connections pointed at the correct Minecraft machine. A router DHCP reservation is often easier than setting a manual OS address.

Step-by-step procedure

  1. Find the Minecraft machine’s current private IPv4 address and network adapter MAC address.
  2. In your router, reserve that IPv4 for the adapter; choose an address within the LAN but outside any conflicting static assignment.
  3. Renew DHCP or reboot the adapter at a suitable maintenance time and confirm the machine retains its intended IP.
  4. Update port-forward rules and any same-LAN proxy addresses to the reserved IPv4.

Common mistakes and trade-offs

A LAN reservation does not give you a public IPv4 and cannot bypass CGNAT. A static IP on the wrong subnet or using an occupied address can disconnect the machine.

How to verify it worked

Ping the reserved address from another LAN device, then join the running server using that IP and the configured Minecraft port.

Version and platform differences

Router and OS screens vary. For a remote VPS, do not alter networking without console recovery access.

Official references

These sources were checked for the current MSH revision. Version-sensitive details should always be confirmed against the project documentation for the release you run.

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