Standalone Mode

In standalone mode the simulator and all grid services run in a single process. This is the simplest setup and is ideal for trying OpenSim on your own machine, development, or a small personal world.

Data is stored in a local SQLite database by default – no external database server required.

Steps

1. Build OpenSim first – see Building from source.

2. Go to the bin/ directory:

   cd bin
   

3. Copy the main configuration template:

   cp OpenSim.ini.example OpenSim.ini
   

4. Edit OpenSim.ini and check the [Const] section (it usually needs no change for a first test). Then go to the bottom [Architecture] section and uncomment the standalone include – only one line:

   [Architecture]
   Include-Architecture = "config-include/Standalone.ini"
   

   Use config-include/StandaloneHypergrid.ini instead if you want hypergrid (travel to/from other grids) enabled.

5. Copy the standalone common template into config-include/:

   cp config-include/StandaloneCommon.ini.example config-include/StandaloneCommon.ini
   

   This file defines the database and backend services. The default uses SQLite, which needs no setup. (You can later switch to MySQL by editing the [DatabaseService] section here.)

6. Start OpenSim:

   • Windows: OpenSim.exe
   • Linux/macOS: ./opensim.sh (or dotnet OpenSim.dll)

7. On the first run OpenSim asks a few questions on the console:

   • Region name – pick any name (default OpenSim Test).
   • Grid location (x,y) – accept the default.
   • External host name – use 127.0.0.1 for local testing, or your machine’s IP/hostname if others connect over the network.
   • Estate – choose not to join an existing estate (default) and give an estate name.
   • Estate owner – create a first/last name, password, and (optional) email. This account can manage the region and is your first login.

8. When you see the prompt:

   Region (My region name) #
   

   OpenSim is running.

Logging in

Point a viewer at http://127.0.0.1:9000 (see the User guide – adding a grid). Log in with the estate owner account you just created, or type create user on the console to make more accounts.

Where data is stored

• OpenSim.db (SQLite) in bin/ – regions, assets, inventory, accounts, etc.
• Regions/Regions.ini – region definitions.
• OpenSim.ini and config-include/StandaloneCommon.ini – your configuration.

Shutting down

Type quit (or shutdown) at the console, or press Ctrl+C.

Next

Ready for something bigger? See Grid mode. For tweaking settings, see Advanced INI configuration.