Your Abyssal Ascent server refuses to start and instantly throws a weird Java error about libXrender.so.1? That message looks scary, but the good news is: your server hardware is fine and you do not need to reinstall Java.

In this guide, you will see what actually causes this crash when hosting the Abyssal Ascent modpack on a Minecraft server, how to fix it in a couple of minutes, and a simple best practice to avoid similar issues with other modpacks.

Understanding the Abyssal Ascent startup error

When you try to start a server with the Abyssal Ascent modpack, you may run into the following blocking error right at startup:

Caused by: java.lang.UnsatisfiedLinkError: /opt/java/openjdk/lib/libawt_xawt.so: libXrender.so.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory

At first glance, this looks like a Java dependency problem: your machine appears to be missing the libXrender graphical library. However, a Minecraft server does not need any graphical libraries to run, which means something else in your Abyssal Ascent setup is actually causing this error.

Root cause: client-side mods on the server

After investigating, the crash is caused by two client-side mods that are included by default in the Abyssal Ascent pack:

1. ExtraGore

2. BetterTags

These mods are designed for the Minecraft client only. When they are present on the server, they try to load graphical components such as AWT and X11, which do not exist in a typical headless server environment. That attempt to load graphics libraries is what triggers the libXrender.so.1 error and makes your Abyssal Ascent server crash on startup.

💡 Tip: As a rule of thumb, any mod focused on visuals, HUD, or client-side effects should not be installed on the server unless explicitly marked as server-compatible.

Fixing the Abyssal Ascent server crash

The fix for this Abyssal Ascent startup issue is very straightforward: remove the two problematic client-side mods from the server’s mods/ folder. You do not need to touch your Java installation or change your operating system.

1. Open your server files and go to the mods/ directory.

2. Delete ExtraGore-x.x.x.jar

3. Delete BetterTags-x.x.x.jar

Once these two files are removed from the server, restart your Abyssal Ascent instance. The server should now launch normally without the libXrender.so.1 error, while players can still keep those mods on their own clients if they wish.

🚨 Important: Only delete these mods from the server. Players are free to keep them on their client; it will not affect server stability.

Best practices for modded Minecraft servers

This kind of crash is quite common with large modpacks like Abyssal Ascent: many packs bundle client-only mods for graphics, HUDs, sound enhancements, minimaps, and more. Those are great for players, but they should never be placed on the server side.

Before launching any new modded Minecraft server, it is a good idea to quickly review the mod list and identify entries marked as client-side only on CurseForge or the mod’s official page. Removing these from the server folder will prevent a lot of strange startup errors similar to what you saw with Abyssal Ascent.

💬 Good to know: Most CurseForge pages clearly indicate whether a mod is client, server or both. Checking this once can save you many restart attempts later.

FAQ

Can I still use ExtraGore and BetterTags as a player?

Yes. These two mods only need to be removed from the server to stop the Abyssal Ascent crash. Players can keep ExtraGore and BetterTags installed on their own Minecraft client without causing issues for the server.

Will removing these mods break the Abyssal Ascent modpack?

No, removing ExtraGore and BetterTags from the server does not break Abyssal Ascent. They are purely client-side enhancements, so the core gameplay and progression of the modpack remain fully intact for everyone connected to the server.

What if my server still crashes after removing the mods?

If your Abyssal Ascent server still fails to start after deleting these two files, check the latest crash log for a new error message. The cause might be unrelated, such as missing RAM or another incompatible mod, and you may need to investigate that specific error.

Conclusion

If your Abyssal Ascent server crashes on startup with a libXrender.so.1 error, do not panic: you are not dealing with a broken Java install. Simply remove ExtraGore and BetterTags from the server’s mods/ folder and restart; your modded Minecraft server should boot correctly.

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