FAQ
Setup & Installation
Does ServersPulse replace Spark or Timings?
No. ServersPulse is a continuous monitoring tool that tracks metrics over time and alerts you to problems. Spark and Timings are deep profiling tools for diagnosing specific performance issues. ServersPulse complements them -- it tells you when something went wrong, and Spark/Timings help you figure out why.
ServersPulse can even trigger Spark profiles automatically when an alert fires (Starter plan and above).
How do I get my API key?
Create a server entry in the dashboard, then use the one-time registration code with /serverspulse register <code>. The plugin writes the API key automatically. You do not need to copy or manage the key manually.
Which Minecraft versions are supported?
The plugin supports:
- Bukkit/Paper/Folia -- Any version that supports the Bukkit plugin API
- Fabric -- Current versions with Fabric Loader
- Forge -- 1.16.5, 1.20.1, 1.21.1, 1.21.11+
- NeoForge -- 1.20.6+
Can I use ServersPulse with a proxy (BungeeCord/Velocity)?
ServersPulse monitors individual backend servers, not the proxy itself. Install the plugin on each backend server you want to monitor. Each one gets its own server entry in the dashboard.
Does the plugin affect server performance?
The plugin is lightweight. It reads existing server metrics (TPS, memory, etc.) and sends small HTTP payloads at your configured interval. The overhead is negligible -- comparable to a single player connection.
Metrics & Data
How fast do metrics appear in the dashboard?
Metrics appear within one polling interval after a healthy connection is established. With the default 30-second interval, you should see data within 30-60 seconds of starting the server.
The dashboard receives data in real time via WebSocket, so there is no additional delay beyond the polling interval.
What metrics does ServersPulse track?
- TPS -- Ticks per second (target: 20.0)
- MSPT -- Milliseconds per tick
- Memory -- Used and allocated heap memory (MB and percentage)
- Players -- Online player count
- World metrics -- Per-world entity counts, chunk counts, and player counts
- Player events -- Individual join and leave events with timestamps, platform, and domain
How long is my data retained?
Data retention depends on your plan:
| Plan | Retention |
|---|---|
| Free | 14 days |
| Starter | 30 days |
| Pro | 90 days |
| Multi | 90 days |
Data older than your retention window is automatically cleaned up.
What are the data resolution levels?
When viewing longer time ranges, data is aggregated for performance:
- Raw -- Individual snapshots at your polling interval (short time ranges)
- 5-minute averages -- Used for medium time ranges (multiple days)
- 1-hour averages -- Used for long time ranges (weeks/months)
The dashboard selects the appropriate resolution automatically.
Servers & Capacity
Can I monitor multiple servers?
Yes. The number of servers depends on your plan: Free allows 1, Starter allows 3, Pro allows 10, and Multi allows 25.
What happens if I exceed my server limit?
You cannot create new server entries beyond your plan's limit. Upgrade to a higher plan to add more servers, or delete servers you no longer need.
Can I organize servers into groups?
Yes. Set a group name on each server (e.g., "Survival", "Minigames", "Hub") from the server settings. Servers with the same group are visually grouped together in the sidebar.
Alerts & Incidents
What triggers an incident?
Incidents are triggered by notification rules you configure on each server. When a rule's conditions are met for the required duration, an incident is created. See the Alerts documentation for details on rule types and configuration.
What incident types exist?
| Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
tps_drop | TPS fell below threshold |
crash | Server stopped sending data unexpectedly |
memory_high | Memory usage exceeded threshold |
offline | Server is not reachable |
player_spike | Sudden player count increase |
zero_players | Server has no players |
disconnect_burst | Multiple players disconnected at once |
recovery | Server recovered after an incident |
join_failure | Players failed to join |
Can I get alerts on my phone?
ServersPulse sends alerts to Discord channels and webhook URLs. For phone notifications, configure Discord mobile notifications for the alert channel, or use a webhook integration with a service that supports push notifications.
How do I stop noisy alerts?
- Increase the duration requirement so momentary spikes do not trigger
- Set appropriate cooldown periods (default: 5 minutes)
- Use the
/silenceDiscord command during planned maintenance - Adjust thresholds based on your server's normal operating range
Discord Bot
How do I set up the Discord bot?
- Link your Discord account in the dashboard settings
- Invite the bot to your Discord server
- Use
/linkto connect a ServersPulse server to the guild - Set an alert channel
See the Discord Bot guide for detailed setup instructions.
Is the Discord bot available on the Free plan?
No. The Discord bot requires a Starter plan or above.
Can I link multiple servers to one Discord guild?
Yes. Use /link for each server you want to connect. Alerts from all linked servers will be sent to the configured alert channel (unless individual rules override the channel).
Team Access
Can teammates access the same server?
Yes. Use the sharing controls on the server's Sharing tab to invite people with the appropriate role. See Team Access for details on roles and permissions.
How many team members can I have?
| Plan | Team members |
|---|---|
| Free | 1 (owner only) |
| Starter | 1 (owner only) |
| Pro | 3 |
| Multi | 10 |
Can I transfer server ownership?
Server ownership cannot be transferred through the dashboard. The server is always owned by the account that created it.
Plans & Billing
Can I try paid features before subscribing?
All accounts start on the Free plan with full access to core monitoring features. Upgrade when you need more servers, longer retention, Discord bot integration, or team access.
How do I cancel my subscription?
Access the billing portal from the dashboard account settings and cancel through Paddle. Your paid features remain active until the end of the current billing period, then your account reverts to the Free plan.
What payment methods are accepted?
Payments are processed through Paddle, which supports credit cards and PayPal. Paddle handles tax calculation and invoicing.
Troubleshooting
The dashboard shows no data for my server
- Check that the plugin is loaded: run
/serverspulse status - Verify the API key is set: check
config.yml - Ensure outbound HTTPS access to
api.serverspulse.com - Enable
debug: trueand check server logs for errors - Wait at least two polling intervals for data to appear
Metrics stopped updating
- The server may have crashed or been stopped -- check server status
- The network connection may be interrupted -- check outbound connectivity
- The plugin may have been unloaded -- verify it is in the plugins/mods list
Registration code is not working
- Codes are single-use -- each code can only be redeemed once
- Codes may expire -- generate a new one from the dashboard
- Ensure you are running the command as an operator or from the server console
Contributors
Thanks to everyone who keeps this docs area accurate.
