OpenSimulator Manual
Welcome to the OpenSimulator manual. OpenSimulator (“OpenSim”) is an open-source virtual-world server platform written in C#. It can run as a single standalone simulator on your own machine, or as part of a large distributed grid.
Pick the path that matches what you want to do:
| Path | Who it is for |
|---|---|
| User / Resident | People who want to log in with a viewer (Firestorm), explore worlds, and pick up tips. |
| Grid & Sim Admin | People who run OpenSim: install .NET, build from source, configure INI files, run a standalone or a grid, and back things up. |
| Developer | People who want to read, modify, or extend the OpenSim source code. |
What is OpenSim?
- Server – the OpenSim process (“the simulator”) hosts one or more regions and talks to viewers.
- Grid services – a separate program called Robust hosts the shared grid services (assets, inventory, grid map, login, etc.) over HTTP.
- Viewer – a client such as Firestorm that connects to a simulator to let you move around, build, and chat.
In standalone mode the simulator and the grid services run in the same process. In grid mode the simulator talks to a separate Robust server (or to someone else’s grid).
Continue to the User path to get started logging in.