GTNH Type Based Deployment doesn't work (Error: could not open `java9args.txt)

[MrLuxALot]

Describe the problem

I tried using the type based deployment from the GTNH Wiki but it just fails on me with this error

Error: could not open `java9args.txt'

Container definition

# Based on gtnh example deployment
# Source https://github.com/itzg/docker-minecraft-server/blob/master/examples/gtnh/docker-compose-type-gtnh.yaml
services:
  mc:
    # make sure this java version matches with pack java version
    image: itzg/minecraft-server:java25
    tty: true
    stdin_open: true
    ports:
      - "25565:25565"
    environment:
      EULA: "TRUE"
      TYPE: GTNH
      GTNH_PACK_VERSION: "2.9.0-beta-2"
      # Enable to delete old config backups
      # GTNH_DELETE_BACKUPS: true
      # Use to prevent updates
      SKIP_GTNH_UPDATE_CHECK: true
      MEMORY: 6G
      # Bring in standard extra mods described at https://wiki.gtnewhorizons.com/wiki/Additional_Mods
#      MODS: |
#        https://github.com/Kynake/BetterFoliage/releases/download/1.2.1/BetterFoliage-LegacyEdition-1.2.1.jar
      # Dump content of server.properties file at start (useful for debugging)
      DUMP_SERVER_PROPERTIES: "TRUE"
# Set Whitelist
      WHITELIST: |
        $ME
# Set Administrators
      OPS: |
        $ME
    volumes:
      # attach a managed volume, change to a relative or absolute host directory if needed
      - mc-data:/data

Container logs

[init] Running as uid=1000 gid=1000 with /data as 'drwxr-xr-x 2 1000 1000 4096 Aug 13 11:46 /data'
[init] Image info: buildtime=2026-08-08T21:55:36.399Z,version=java25,revision=9b12eb6a6c02a40b0c5acc643659323f2286cfbb
[init] Applying GTNH optimized server defaults
[init] TYPE=GTNH, setting Minecraft version to 1.7.10
[init] SKIP_GTNH_UPDATE_CHECK=true ... Skipping GTNH Update/Install
[init] Copying any mods from /mods to /data/mods
[init] Copying any configs from /config to /data/config
[init] Enabling whitelist functionality
[mc-image-helper] 12:04:26.270 INFO  : Created/updated 1 property in /data/server.properties
[init] Setting initial memory to 6G and max to 6G
[init] Starting the Minecraft server...
Error: could not open `java9args.txt'
2026-08-13T12:04:32.111Z        WARN    mc-server-runner        Minecraft server failed. Inspect logs above for errors that indicate cause. DO NOT report this line as an error.   {"exitCode": 1}
2026-08-13T12:04:32.111Z        INFO    mc-server-runner        Done

[itzg]

@MrLuxALot thanks for reporting this. Can you set the env var DEBUG to "true" and provide those logs?

@SgtMate can you help look at this?

[SgtMate]

@MrLuxALot why are you using SKIP_GTNH_UPDATE_CHECK? If you enable this during initial setup, it will completely skip the initial installation and is not needed if you dont change the version parameter.

Here is what is says in the documentation: https://docker-minecraft-server.readthedocs.io/en/latest/types-and-platforms/mod-platforms/gtnh/#set-modpack-version

[itzg]

I'm wondering if there's a way to safeguard that by throwing an error if an installation sentinel file isn't present?

[SgtMate]

@itzg sure its possible I think but this might cause issues with some semi DIY solutions so maybe let it just be a warning.

[itzg]

That would be a fair compromise.

[MrLuxALot]

First, thank you and every contributor with this amazing image. I got my first SE Job of learning how this image works.
Second: logs

log.log

[SgtMate]

@MrLuxALot thanks, happy to hear that.
So I think my first diagnosis still holds up as the most likely cause.#

Error: could not open `java9args.txt'

This hints that it might not even exist sinde the install was skipped with setting SKIP_GTNH_UPDATE_CHECK=true
Maybe you try setting this to false and restarting the container.

[MrLuxALot]

Yes now its working. Thank you. I encounterd a diffrent issue now tho. Its unrelated to this one. My config file inside the GregTech config specifically isn't copied over. lootgames and openblocks works fine so im confused