Applied Energistics 2

Applied Energistics 2 (AE2) solves the biggest problem of every large server: where to put items. A player builds a digital storage (ME system) and then keeps all things in one interface — searches through them, moves them, and lets them be crafted automatically.

Instead of hundreds of chests, the player has one terminal. When they need to craft a complex item, they enter it and the system itself calculates what to craft and in what order. It also adds meteorites, which need to be found and mined — without them the cornerstone of the system cannot be built.

For a server, AE2 is interesting twice. On the one hand, it saves players space in the world (fewer chests means a smaller world), and on the other hand it brings with it the concept of channels: each part of the system has a limited number of connections and the player has to learn to plan them. By default, this tends to be the most common reason players write that their system does not work.

The good news is that channels can be turned off or simplified in the configuration. If you mainly have builders and not technicians on your server, it is a reasonable decision — you will save a lot of questions. Conversely, on a technical server, leave them enabled, it is part of the challenge.

AE2 belongs on both sides and exists for Forge/NeoForge and Fabric. Before installing, check your backup: with technical mods, a wrong version is only discovered when the server starts.

1. AE2 belongs on the server and with players — the same version on both sides.
2. Find out the server loader (Forge, NeoForge or Fabric) and download AE2 from modrinth.com/mod/ae2 for your game version.
3. Stop the server and make a backup of the world.
4. Upload the .jar to the mods folder on the server; players do the same on their end.
5. Start the server and check the console that the mod loaded without errors.
6. Decide whether you will leave channels enabled. If you disable them, the system will be simpler and players will build more; they are enabled for technical servers.
7. Connect and find a meteorite — without it you cannot build the foundation of the system. A meteorite compass will help.
8. Build the basic system: energy acceptor, controller, and terminal. Verify that the terminal can see stored items.
9. Add storage disks and try searching — that is a feature players will use every day.
10. Try automatic crafting (crafting) on a simple item so you know the whole system works.
11. Tell players whether channels are enabled, and recommend Just Enough Items (JEI) or EMI for recipes.
12. Monitor the load with large systems: automatic crafting can keep the server busy when a player runs it at scale.

Channels are the most common reason for questions. Make a conscious decision whether to leave them enabled, and tell the players — disabled channels mean simpler building.
It belongs on both sides in the same version. Without the mod on the player's side, the system won't be built.
Meteorites generate into new chunks. They won't be added to an already explored world — when players can't find a meteorite, look for the cause in this.
Automatic crafting can keep the server busy. When a player starts a large order, the rest of the server will notice too.
Digital storage makes the world smaller (fewer chests), but players have to build it first — it's worth advising them at the start.
For the mod, recommend Just Enough Items (JEI) or EMI. Without a recipe viewer, players get lost in AE2 because it has a lot of components.