functioning minecraft server

roles/minecraft/tasks/main.yml

@@ -4,22 +4,17 @@
 # External prerequisites (NOT managed by this repo):
 #   - Cloudflare A record mc.boxswapper.io -> public IP (grey-cloud, like vpn.boxswapper.io)
 #   - Router port forwards: TCP 25565 + UDP 19132 -> 10.10.0.45
+- name: Create Minecraft data directory
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: /opt/apps/minecraft/data
+    state: directory
+    mode: '0755'
+
 - name: Deploy Minecraft Server
   containers.podman.podman_container:
     image: docker.io/itzg/minecraft-server:latest
     name: minecraft
-    env:
-      EULA: "TRUE"
-      TYPE: PAPER
-      VERSION: "{{ minecraft_version }}"
-      MEMORY: "{{ minecraft_memory }}"
-      MOTD: "{{ minecraft_motd }}"
-      DIFFICULTY: "{{ minecraft_difficulty }}"
-      GAMEMODE: "{{ minecraft_gamemode }}"
-      MAX_PLAYERS: "{{ minecraft_max_players }}"
-      VIEW_DISTANCE: "{{ minecraft_view_distance }}"
-      ONLINE_MODE: "{{ minecraft_online_mode }}"
-      PLUGINS: "{{ minecraft_plugins | join(',') }}"
+    env: "{{ minecraft_env_base }}"
     restart_policy: always
     recreate: true
     state: started
@@ -32,4 +27,23 @@
       - "19132:19132/udp"
     network:
       - npm_internal
-    ip: '{{ minecraft_ip }}'
+    ip: '{{ minecraft_ip }}'
+  vars:
+    minecraft_env_base:
+      EULA: "TRUE"
+      TYPE: PAPER
+      VERSION: "{{ minecraft_version }}"
+      MEMORY: "{{ minecraft_memory }}"
+      MOTD: "{{ minecraft_motd }}"
+      DIFFICULTY: "{{ minecraft_difficulty }}"
+      GAMEMODE: "{{ minecraft_gamemode }}"
+      MAX_PLAYERS: "{{ minecraft_max_players }}"
+      VIEW_DISTANCE: "{{ minecraft_view_distance }}"
+      ONLINE_MODE: "{{ minecraft_online_mode }}"
+      PLUGINS: "{{ minecraft_plugins | join(',') }}"
+      # Open server (no whitelist). Explicit FALSE so mc-image-helper writes white-list=false
+      # into server.properties on every boot (a stale TRUE would otherwise block all joins).
+      ENABLE_WHITELIST: "FALSE"
+      # Enables /tmp/minecraft-console-in so `podman exec minecraft mc-send-to-console "<cmd>"`
+      # works for admin commands.
+      CREATE_CONSOLE_IN_PIPE: "TRUE"