OpenSimulator
Open-source server platform for hosting virtual worlds
title: "OpenSimulator" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["free-game-engines", "free-server-software", "second-life", "software-using-the-bsd-license"] description: "Open-source server platform for hosting virtual worlds" topic_path: "general/free-game-engines" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenSimulator" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Open-source server platform for hosting virtual worlds ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox software"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | OpenSimulator |
| logo | Opensimulator logo200x160.png |
| latest_release_version | 0.9.3.0 |
| latest_release_date | |
| operating_system | Cross-platform |
| genre | Server |
| license | BSD |
| website | |
| :: |
| name = OpenSimulator | logo = Opensimulator logo200x160.png | developer = | screenshot = | caption = | latest_release_version = 0.9.3.0 | latest_release_date = | operating_system = Cross-platform | genre = Server | license = BSD | website = | name = Inventory Archive | screenshot = | caption = | extension = .iar | mime = | type_code = | uniform_type = | conforms_to = application/tar | magic = | developer = OpenSimulator | released = | latest_release_version = | latest_release_date = | genre = File archiver | name = OpenSimulator Archive | screenshot = | caption = | extension = .oar | mime = application/oar | type_code = | uniform_type = | conforms_to = application/tar | magic = | developer = OpenSimulator | released = | latest_release_version = | latest_release_date = | genre = File archiver
OpenSimulator is an open-source server platform originally launched in 2007 for hosting virtual worlds and metaverse environments. It is largely compatible with the virtual world Second Life but full compatibility is not a design goal.
Features
OpenSimulator is written in C# and is designed to be easily expanded through the use of plugin modules. OpenSimulator can operate in one of two modes: standalone or grid mode. In standalone mode, a single process handles the entire simulation. In grid mode, various aspects of the simulation are separated among multiple processes, which can exist on different machines.
OpenSimulator uses loadable modules for most of its functionality. These loadable modules can be independently developed to add functionality to the server.
OpenSimulator currently uses a modified Second Life protocol for client to server communication, and requires retrofitting to a suitable virtual world viewer (client) in order to connect. Interoperability with Second Life protocols was initially a design goal. During the OpenSimulator Community Conference 2018, the core developers announced they may not always seek to maintain compatibility with Linden Lab's Second Life Protocols, and may change or add facilities in line with differing aims.
OpenSim has a number of features not available in Second Life. These include virtual world content (OAR) and avatar inventory (IAR) save and load capabilities, extensions to the scripting language that enable saving and retrieval of text data to avatar inventory in notecard format and the creation and management of non-player characters (NPCs).
OpenSim also uses an architecture known as "Hypergrid", which allows users to teleport between multiple OpenSim-based virtual worlds by providing a hyperlinked map which indexes public grids. This allows for public grids to retain teleportation links to each other without having to be on the same grid. The number of hypergrid-enabled OpenSimulator grids fluctuates. As of February 2023, there were just over 400 active hypergrid-enabled services.
References
References
- (2024-11-08). "Download - Current release".
- (2021-06-21). "Configuration".
- (2012-03-12). "Getting Started with Region Modules".
- (2021-12-24). "Hypergrid".
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::