Adding a Grid and Logging In

To connect to an OpenSim grid you must tell your viewer the grid’s login URI, usually a one-time setup. Once added, the grid stays in your viewer’s list.

Method 1 – Preferences → OpenSim (Grid Manager)

This is the standard method in Firestorm.

1. Open Firestorm.
2. From the top menu choose Viewer → Preferences → OpenSim (sometimes labelled Grids / Grid Manager depending on the viewer).
3. Click Add Grid (or Add New Grid).
4. In the Login URI box, type the grid’s login URI, for example:
   • OSGrid: login.osgrid.org
   • A simulator on your own machine: http://127.0.0.1:9000
   • Another grid: whatever the grid operator gave you (it looks like http://server.example.com:8002 or https://grid.example.com:9002).
5. Click Get Grid Info / Apply. The viewer contacts the grid and fills in the rest of the fields (asset, inventory, map, and other service URLs) automatically. The grid must be online at this moment.
6. Click Apply, then OK.
7. Back on the login screen, pick your grid from the grid selector dropdown.
8. Enter your avatar’s first name and last name (e.g. John Smith) and your password, then click Log In.

Tip: If “Get Grid Info” errors or freezes, you can leave the extra fields empty and still usually log in – only some advanced features may be unavailable until the missing URLs are filled in.

Method 2 – One-click hop:// link

Many grids publish a clickable link that adds the grid to Firestorm automatically. It looks like:

hop:///app/gridmanager/addgrid/http%3A%2F%2Fyour-grid.com%3A8002

The last part is the URL-encoded login URI (: → %3A, / → %2F). Clicking it launches Firestorm and adds the grid. The hop:// protocol is registered when Firestorm is installed.

Method 3 – Command-line / viewer parameters

If your viewer has no grid selector, or adding the grid fails, launch the viewer with the --loginuri parameter:

Firestorm.exe --loginuri http://login.osgrid.org/

Common grids to try

• OSGrid – the largest public test grid. Login URI: login.osgrid.org. Create a free account at https://www.osgrid.org/ first.

Troubleshooting login

• Wrong grid selected – the most common mistake. Make sure the grid dropdown on the login screen shows the grid you added.
• “Could not connect” / login URI wrong – double-check the URI spelling and the port. Some grids require the port even when it is the default (e.g. :8002, :9002).
• Grid offline – “Get Grid Info” needs the grid to be reachable. Try again later.
• Firewalled network – some networks block the ports. Try a different network.
• First/last name vs username – OpenSim uses “First Last” (two words) by default, not a single account name. Enter them in the two name boxes.

Once you are in, see Tips & tricks for moving around and building.