Hostname Catcher
by shawnfox
Hostname Catcher lets a server owner check which hostname or domain a player used to join, and restricts entry to a list of whitelisted hostnames.
What it does
Players can reach a server by its domain name, by a hostname, or by a raw IP address such as 192.168.5.64. Hostname Catcher records the address each joining player used, so the owner can see which hostnames are in use. Joins through a hostname on the whitelist go through, while a join through another address is disconnected. This helps when a server should only be reached by its proper domain and not by scanners hitting the IP.
The mod runs on the server alone, and Fabric API is required beside it. A config file is generated the first time the server starts, and its list of whitelisted hostnames and domains is edited there, followed by a server restart to apply the change. An empty whitelist still logs the hostname or IP each player used, so the owner can gather that data before restricting anything.
Hostname Catcher is open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0 only. Files are published for Fabric, covering 26.1 – 26.2, with 0.2 for 26.2 as the latest build.
Key features
Hostname logging
Each joining player's address is recorded, showing which hostname or IP was used to connect.
Hostname whitelist
Only whitelisted hostnames and domains are allowed through, and other joins are disconnected.
Generated config file
A default config file is created on first start and holds the whitelist, which is edited by hand.
Logging without a whitelist
With the whitelist left empty, the server still logs the hostnames and IP addresses players connect with.
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Requirements
Dependencies declared by the latest file for each loader.
Required 1
Use cases
Who it’s for: Server owners who want players to reach the server only through its correct hostname, and who want a record of the addresses used to join.
How it compares
Packet Catcher is client-side only and open source under the MIT License, published for 26.2, so it runs on the player's side rather than the server. Server Restart Command is server-side only and open source under the MIT License, covering 26.1 – 26.2, and it manages server restarts rather than join addresses.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hostname Catcher | Fabric | 26.1 – 26.2 | Server-side only | 2026-06-11 |
| Packet Catcher | Fabric | 26.2 | Client-side only | 2026-07-16 |
| Server Restart Command | Fabric | 26.1 – 26.2 | Server-side only | 2026-07-08 |
Questions
Does Hostname Catcher need Fabric API?
Does every player need the mod installed?
Where is the whitelist set?
Which versions does Hostname Catcher support?
In the catalog
Hostname Catcher is one of 8,016 Management mods on ModsFinder, and one of 5,930 Management mods for Fabric. 13,894 mods support Minecraft 26.2.
Similar mods
What the author says
This mod is perfect for any server owner that wants to ensure players joins using the right hostname to their server and avoid random people joining via server scanners. When such whitelist is empty, your server will still log what kind of hostnames or even your server IP address is used by your player base to join.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/hostname-catcher
- Owner
- shawnfox
- Published
- 2026-06-06
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-06-11
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15