If you are following along with our Build your own homelab series, we have two separate tutorials to get a Minecraft server up and running. The first is a dedicated Minecraft server via Crafty Controller (running in an LXC container in our Proxmox instance). The second was with Turnkey Linux’s Gameserver, which can run a lot more than just a Minecraft server – there are over 100 games that can be hosted this way. Although Crafty Controller offers us an interface we can use, it is only for Minecraft. And Turnkey Linux offers us other games, but no Game Server Console. So today we look at a new solution called Pterodactyl (https://pterodactyl.io) that we can use that can offer us both.
What Is Pterodactyl?
Pterodactyl is a web-based control panel that lets you manage game servers through a visual interface. Think of it like the dashboard of a car – it lets you control and monitor everything without needing to mess around with the engine (aka the terminal or command line). It is a free and open-source game server management panel that makes it easy to create and manage game servers on your own hardware. Whether you’re a hobbyist or running a community, Pterodactyl helps you do it in a clean, secure, and user-friendly way.
With Pterodactyl, you can:
- Create and delete game servers.
- Assign users to manage servers.
- View server stats and logs.
- Start, stop, and restart servers easily.
And the best part? It supports dozens of games, from Minecraft and CS:GO to ARK and Valheim.
How Does Pterodactyl Work?
Pterodactyl is made up of two main components:
- Pterodactyl Panel – This is the web-based interface where you manage your servers.
- Pterodactyl Wings – This is the backend daemon that actually runs the game servers on your machine.
They work together like this:
- You log into the Panel to create a server.
- The Panel tells Wings to start that server on your machine.
- Wings handles all the behind-the-scenes work—starting the server, managing resources, and keeping everything isolated and secure.
Everything is built using modern web technologies and Docker containers, so each server runs in its own safe environment.
Key Features of Pterodactyl
Here are some of the main reasons people use Pterodactyl:
- Free and Open-Source – No hidden costs or licenses.
- Web-Based Interface – Manage servers from any browser.
- Multi-User Support – Give access to friends or staff with specific permissions.
- Docker-Based Isolation – Keeps servers safe and separated.
- Built-in SFTP Access – Upload and manage files securely.
- Easy Game Server Support – Tons of game server “eggs” ready to go.
- Security First – Uses modern tech to keep your system protected.
What Is Pterodactyl Wings?
Pterodactyl Wings is the “engine” that powers everything behind the scenes. While the Panel handles the pretty interface, Wings does the heavy lifting by:
- Running the game servers.
- Monitoring resource usage (CPU, memory, disk).
- Handling commands from the Panel (start, stop, restart).
- Managing networking and file systems securely.
Wings is installed on each node (machine) that will host game servers.
So, if you’re hosting servers on your own PC or a VPS (Virtual Private Server), you install Wings there. It connects securely to your Panel to receive instructions.
How Do Wings and the Panel Work Together?
To make it super simple:
- Pterodactyl Panel is the control center.
- Pterodactyl Wings is the worker.
The Panel sends commands. Wings does the work.
You can even install Wings on multiple machines, and manage them all from a single Panel. This is great for communities that want to split servers across different locations or systems.
Use Cases for Pterodactyl
Here are a few ways Pterodactyl is used:
- Gamers – Easily host Minecraft or other servers for friends.
- Server Hosts – Manage many servers for paying customers.
- Community Admins – Let moderators access certain servers or features.
- Developers – Quickly spin up testing environments for custom game mods.
It works on dedicated servers, cloud VPS instances, or even a powerful home computer.
Installing Pterodactyl
Installing Pterodactyl is quite an extensive task, especially seeing as one needs to install both Pterodactyl Panel and Pterodactyl Wings. We will be installing both as part of our Build your own homelab series, running them inside our Proxmox installation and exposing the server to the world wide web so our friends can join. Going into detail to get these two services up and running is outside of the scope of this article as the article would take forever to read, but if you prefer to get it up and running by yourself, feel free to follow the install instructions:
Pterodactyl Panel – https://pterodactyl.io/panel/1.0/getting_started.html
Pterodactyl Wings – https://pterodactyl.io/wings/1.0/installing.html
Conclusion
Pterodactyl is a powerful yet beginner-friendly way to manage your own game servers. With its sleek Panel and robust Wings system, you can control multiple game servers with ease—whether you’re a casual gamer or running a full-blown hosting business.
To recap:
- Pterodactyl Panel is your control dashboard.
- Pterodactyl Wings runs the game servers.
- Together, they make hosting secure, scalable, and simple.
If you’re tired of paying monthly fees or just want to have more control over your game hosting, give Pterodactyl a try!