Minecraft is a sandbox game that offers endless chances for creativity, exploration, and problem-solving. For players who enjoy automation and keeping things neat, mods are key to turning Minecraft into a place to master technology.
One mod that has recently become a favorite is Simple Storage Network. It’s known for being easy to use, flexible, and simple. It has quickly become popular for making item storage easier and fixing the usual complicated nature of automation systems.
This article looks at why the Simple Storage Network mod is so popular, how it stacks up against more complex systems like Refined Storage or Applied Energistics 2, and why it’s a must-have for any modded Minecraft world.
The Problem with Minecraft Automation Systems
In the world of Minecraft mods, handling storage and automating items can often feel like too much work. When you have huge amounts of items, tons of chests, and many different materials, keeping track of everything can get messy very fast.
Popular storage mods like Refined Storage and Applied Energistics 2 (AE2) offer strong solutions, but they are famously complicated and costly to build. With their complex recipes and need for power, these mods can be off-putting for newer players.
Many people have to get through a difficult learning process just to do simple things like search for an item, sort their stuff, or craft something.
This is where Simple Storage Network comes in. It’s a mod that cuts out the needless complication and offers a simple but powerful way to solve Minecraft’s storage problems.
What Is Simple Storage Network?
The Simple Storage Network mod (often called SSN) is a simple and easy-to-set-up mod made to simplify storage. It does many of the same things as the bigger storage mods but gets rid of the need for power, high-tech parts, or complex wiring.
Basically, Simple Storage Network lets you link your chests and other storage containers into one single system.
You can then see all your items in one place, search for what you need, set up auto sorting, and even craft items directly from the network.
Whether you’re a seasoned Minecraft player or new to mods, SSN is easy to learn and use. It’s the top choice for anyone who wants to try automation without spending hours figuring it out.
How to Get Started with the Mod
Essential Components
To get started with Simple Storage Network, you’ll need two basic blocks:
- Storage Network Root – Think of this as the “CPU” of your system. It is the core block responsible for connecting and managing your network.
- Storage Inventory – This serves as your user interface for browsing all the items in your connected system.
The recipes to make these are simple. If you have a mod like Just Enough Items (JEI) installed, you can easily look up how to craft them. Once you have these two blocks, you’re ready to build your network.
Building a Basic Storage Network
The beauty of Simple Storage Network lies in its simplicity. Setting up a basic network is as easy as:
- Placing a Storage Network Root.
- Linking the root to your inventory block with Network Cables.
- Connecting storage units, such as chests or barrels, using the network cables.
That’s it!
With just that, you can now open your Storage Inventory screen to see every item in every connected chest.
You can search for something like “wood” or “chest” to find it instantly and take it out. You can also put items back into your storage directly from that screen.
Advanced Features and Game-Changing Mechanics
While the basics of SSN are simple, the mod’s advanced features are what truly make it shine. Let’s explore some of its standout options:
1. The Power of Link Cables
To connect multiple chests to your storage network, you use Link Cables. These cables serve as the bridge between your inventory interface and the chests, ensuring all items are accessible through one system.
For example, once a chest is linked, you can take items out or deposit them directly through the Storage Inventory GUI. This eliminates the need to physically open and search each chest manually.
2. Import Cables
The Import Cable is used to automatically pull items into your network. You can attach it to a chest, a hopper, or any other container. It will automatically take items from that container and put them into your storage system for you.
There’s also a Filtered Import Cable. This lets you tell the cable exactly what to grab.
For example, you can set a filter to only pull oak logs into your system. Or, you can set it to ignore certain items, like dirt, so it leaves those behind.
3. Export Cables
Export Cables do the opposite—they move items out of your network and into another container. This is great for automatically keeping a chest stocked with specific supplies.
For instance, you could set it up to always export spruce wood into a chest that feeds your automatic door crafters.
Crafting Functionality and Remotes
Storage Request Tables
One of the best features of SSN is the Storage Request Table. This adds a crafting area to your main storage screen. This means you can craft items using materials that are still in your chests—you don’t have to pull everything out first.
For players with massive setups, there’s also an Extended Request Table with an even larger GUI – ideal for managing large-scale operations.
Remotes: Manage Anywhere, Anytime
A big annoyance with storage systems is having to run back to one central spot to get your items. SSN fixes this with remotes that let you manage your network from anywhere.
For example:
- Storage Remote: Access your entire network on the go.
- Network Picker Remote: Remotely extract specific items by tapping on matching blocks in the world.
- Network Collector Remote: Automatically pick up items and send them directly into your network.
- Network Builder Remote: Place blocks from your storage network into the world without ever manually pulling them out.
These remotes extend SSN’s functionality beyond just chests, drastically improving quality of life for players.
Upgrades and Optimization
Simple Storage Network offers several upgrades to optimize your storage and automation. These include:
- Stack Upgrade: Transfers full stacks of items at once for greater efficiency.
- Speed Upgrade: Boosts the speed of item transfers.
- Operation Upgrade: Configures the number of items processed per operation.
- Stock Upgrade: Ensures a constant stock of items in a designated chest. For instance, you can guarantee that 10 oak logs are always present while allowing the rest to flow into the network.
These modular upgrades give players complete control over how their storage system behaves.
A True Game-Changer for Minecraft Automation
The Simple Storage Network mod changes everything about storage in Minecraft. It fixes the headaches of complicated mods while being incredibly easy to use.
Why is it such a big deal? Here’s a quick list:
- Simplicity: Unlike mods like Refined Storage or AE2, SSN requires no power systems or complex component crafting.
- Efficiency: The ability to link, filter, and automate items makes inventory management a breeze.
- Flexibility: With remotes and upgrades, players can design networks tailored to their playstyle.
- User-Friendly Design: Intuitive GUIs, JEI compatibility, and straightforward recipes ensure that anyone can pick up and use the mod.
Conclusion
Automation has always been a key part of modded Minecraft, but it’s usually been complicated and frustrating to set up. Simple Storage Network removes that frustration, letting you build a powerful storage system without any hassle.
Whether you’re just organizing your chests or building a huge factory, SSN makes automation fun and easy.
If you haven’t tried this mod yet, you should. It will change how you play and show you that managing your items doesn’t have to be a chore.
