The companion plugin gives PanelForge an encrypted, outbound-only link to your server. It's more secure than RCON (no password on the wire, no inbound port) and the panel uses it automatically when it's online.
Requirements: a Paper or Spigot server on Java 17+.
1. In PanelForge, open your Minecraft server -> Settings -> Companion plugin -> "Download plugin" (PanelForge.jar).
2. Upload PanelForge.jar into your server's plugins/ folder (host file manager or SFTP).
3. In Settings -> Companion plugin, click "Generate plugin token". Copy the panel-url and token it shows (shown once).
4. Start the server once so it creates plugins/PanelForge/config.yml, then edit that file (or edit it directly over SFTP):
panel-url: "https://your-panel-url"
token: "pfp_..."
5. Restart the server. Within a few seconds the panel shows "Online" and routes the console, players, weather/time, kicks/bans and save through the plugin.
Notes:
- It works alongside RCON — when the plugin is online the panel prefers it; otherwise it falls back to RCON.
- To disconnect: click Disconnect in the panel (this revokes the token), then remove the jar.
- Lost/leaked token? Click "Regenerate token" — the old one stops working immediately.