ValueGameNode
Vanilla is Mojangโs server jar. Paper is a drop-in that adds plugin APIs and a busier tick. A proxy (Velocity or BungeeCord) sits in front of more than one Minecraft server and lets players hop worlds on one address. We sell Minecraft plans and a proxy category. This page is which one you actually need.
Vanilla
Use vanilla when you want Mojang-only behaviour: no plugins, snapshots if you chase them, the same bugs and the same redstone as a single-player world. It is the right first server if the group is small and you do not want a plugin list to maintain. The Minecraft page is where the plan lives. The jar flavour is a panel choice, not a different product page.
Paper
Use Paper when you want LuckPerms, a claims plugin, a shop, or just a world that stays playable with more people. Paper is still Java Edition. It is not Bedrock. It is not โcracked.โ Online-mode is a separate switch. Most community servers pick Paper because the plugin ecosystem is there.
If you are unsure, start Paper. Switching a world from vanilla to Paper later is usually fine. Going the other way after plugins have written extra data is not.
When you need a proxy
One world, one address: you do not need a proxy. Two or more Minecraft servers that should look like one network: you do. That is Velocity (current) or BungeeCord (older). It is a small process that only routes connections. Buy it as a proxy plan, not as a second full Minecraft box unless the backends need the RAM.
A proxy does not replace Paper. The backends still run Paper or vanilla. The proxy only answers the first handshake and sends the player on.
How this ties to the tools
After you pick a jar, check the address with the status checker. If you whitelist before launch, convert names with the UUID converter. First-time hosting steps are in what you actually need. A raw machine, if you insist on installing the jars yourself, is /vps/.