Server-Side Distant Horizons

by Syntaxvgm on Dec 10, 2025

Note: Currently leading up to map 4, we are testing server DH. I encourage anyone interested to add to the mod now to help make sure this is stable. The generation is a bit out of date as it was rendered at home a couple of weeks ago.

VE now has server-side Distant Horizons. Those who have the mod installed on their client will receive low detail chunks outside of the normal render distance from the server, without first visiting them. Chunks you render naturally will be dealt with by your client mod and wont need to be requested.

What this is:

The server will slowly send you the low level of detail chunks compatible with Distant Horizons, called LODs for some reason even though that's missing a letter in the acronym. The entire overworld plus some extra around the border, the end out to 100k, and the nether to 5k has been pre-generated as low detail chunks for Map 4. Currently for the Map 3 test, just the OverWorld to world border and player generated chunks in nether and end are rendered.

What this is not:

This is not a way to immediately have a large view distance while you are exploring.

Get Distant Horizons for your client here.

Current Server DH Version - 2.3.6-b

FAQ and TroubleShooting

Do I need a specific mod to play VE now?

Entirely optional.

How far away will LODs be sent to me?

Up to 256 chunks/4096 blocks. Using the full range is optional. It takes at least an hour to get a whole spot our to 4096 blocks, and stores about 2.5GB on your device, give or take, for overworld LODs. Chunks are sent nearest first, except when they aren't.

Why are they sent so slow?

LOD sending is limited to 8 megabit per player. The per player limit being so low is because receiving to fast on your client can drop you if you have a bad connection to the server or you have bad internet. Keeping it lower means I get less people randomly telling me the server doesn't work for them when it's an optional mod. Even with a higher bandwidth setting, it still sends very slow. For reference the default is 5MB/s or 40Mb/s.

Are faraway LODs that update because of other players get sent to me?

Yes, the server will send updates for the entire max LOD distance.

I'm standing still. When will I get LODs from the server?

Whenever it feels like, after your client has requested them.

When will my client request LODs?

Whenever it feels like.

I'm AFK. I got LODs for a while, then it stopped.

It'll start again whenever it feels like it. Idk this mod is new to me too.

Can I use another mod aside from Distant Horizons?

Not if you want the server to send you LODs. They are not compatible between mods.

What's the wecommended amount of dedotated wam I should have to a survr?

This is the first mod to bump me over the 2GB default. I'd recommend assigning at least 4GB if you want to render the full 256 chunk distance. Distant Horizons will tell you in your chat box if you are running into a memory problem. Or you'll run out of memory and crash. Shaders might make this number higher. I don't know, I play minecraft like god intended. If you are memory limited, you can try limiting your LOD distance in DH. This will help drastically, even if you shave just a few chunks off. Area of squares and shit. 32 is the lowest possible setting.

My computer sucks.

Try starting with 32 chunk LOD distance and mess with the graphics options. I've gotten this to work well with little performance. Since your computer wont have the load of making the LODs, it helps a lot. Do not set your normal render distance than the server's render distance, which is currently 10 to help performance. DH will move the fog for you based on how much LOD it has for an area.

The LODs look like shit.

In Advanced > Graphics > Quality, I recommend setting 'Max Horizontal Resolution' to '1. Block'. Set vertical quality to at least '4. High'. If you must lower something, horizontal resolution should be the last thing lowered in my opinion. Play with the advanced settings, do not use the presets. Touching the graphics settings in the main DH menu seems to reset these. Turn off 'Tint With Avoided Blocks' and set the 'Lod Dropoff Distance' to at least 'High'. Mess with 'Vanilla Fade Mode' to get rid of that blurry crap near the transition distance. I prefer it to off, but your preference may be different.

Does Distant Horizons work with shaders?

It has limited support with certain shaders. It has Iris support. Your localized unit for measurement of distance may vary, as I don't play with shaders and have little help to give there.

Does Distant Horizons work with texture packs?

Yes

Does toggling 'Enabled Rendering' stop the server from sending LODs?

No, your client will still request LODs with rendering off it appears. If you are trying to stop this, disable 'Distant Generation' under 'World Generator'.

How do I nuke the data Distant Horizons stores.

In your .minecraft folder, there is a folder called 'Distant_Horizons_server_data'. The folders inside that one correspond to servers, depending on how you have your folder naming configured. Delete these. It is not possible to delete just "parts" of the world unless you know how to mess with sqlite databases and want to do surgery on a grape.

If I strategically AFK in every spot I'd need to receive the entire world, how much storage would I need on my device?

Somewhere around 350GB for the overworld, and around 100GB for the end, or a couple of modern Call of Duties.

Can I download the data directly and install it myself so I just have to sync changes in game?

Not yet, but I'm looking into it. This would be all or nothing in each dimension for a direct download.

Does changing graphics quality/textures/shaders/etc need to request new LODs.

No. LOD data is like chunk data, but shittier.

The server is sending far away shit before the close shit. Why is it rendering the corners first?

It just does that sometimes I think.

I freeze for a while when changing dimensions.

This is likely Litematica schematics being loaded. Even if they are not inside your render distance, it still thinks about them. DH just adds more load on top of this. Remove some of your placements.

I'm disconnecting a lot.

You're not worthy of 8Mb/s. Try removing DH or messing with speed settings.

How do I see if my DH and the server's DH are talking to each other at the moment?

Go to logging and set 'Network Events' to 'Chat: Debug'.

What about end raiding?

Though the end is both pre-generated to 100k for chunks and LODs, the Bluemap will only show chunks with inhabited time. DH will not keep up with you flying, but may somewhat at a small range on foot. AFKing for a bit will get you a large area if you're lazy like that.