User talk:Yvetteharris

Latest revision as of 08:20, 10 April 2012

[edit] Opensimulator with Windows Server 2008 R2 Install and Basic Setup

DRAFT VERSION April 10, 2012

This document has easy instructions all in one place for installing and configuring a Standalone, Opensimulator version 0.7.3.1 on Windows Server 2008 R2 64-bit machine for LAN only access.

This type of setup is appropriate for education type computer labs and school or college campus virtual learning and building in this virtual environment.

NOTE: OpenSimulator now requires .NET Framework 3.5 when running under Windows. When you run OpenSimulator on Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2, it is already bundled so you can run OpenSimulator 0.7.1 out-of-the-box, as is the SQLLite.

Instructions

1. Start the NET services on your Win Server 2008 R2, set them to Automatic. The default services for NET are not started on the Windows Server 2008 R2.

2. Download opensim-0.7.3.1 from URL http://opensimulator.org/wiki/Download to your Download directory on your PC.

3. Extract this zip file to a new root directory on your PC using the same file name for the folder (c:\opensim-0.7.3.1).

3. From Windows, open a DOS command window.

4. Type cd c:\opensim-0.7.3.1\bin.

5. Type copy OpenSim.ini.example OpenSim.ini in the opened DOS command window and hit enter.

This configures the 3D simulator itself.

6. Type cd c:\opensim-0.7.3.1\bin\config-include.

7. Type copy StandaloneCommon.ini.example StandaloneCommon.ini

This configures the in-process data services used by the standalone configuration.

8. From Windows execute NotePad program.

9. From NotePad open c:\opensim-0.7.3.1\config-include\StandaloneCommon.ini file

10a. From NotePad select the pull-down menu from the top titled Edit, then select Find.

10. Copy and paste Include-Architecture="config-include/Standalone.ini" in the Find box. This is in the [Architecture] section of OpenSim.ini, near the bottom of the file, uncomment the Standalone.ini line. To uncomment a line of code, remove the semi-colon (;) comment symbol preceding the line so that it says: Include-Architecture = "config-include/Standalone.ini"

11. Save file and close NotePad program.

12. Return to your open DOS command window.

13. Type Opensim.32BitLaunch in the opened DOS command window and hit enter. This will start the Opensimulator for the first time. The first time you start this it will prompt you for information as indicated in the below. Be careful for the following and head the warnings for excepting defaults and when to type in something unique!

14. Region UUID: Accept the default This will generate a unique machine type address id.

15. Region Name: Make this unique - Don't leave this blank! Keep the name short like KSUID for Kansas State University.

16. Region Location: Accept the default This is the location of the region on the grid. In standalone mode you can safely leave these as the default (1000,1000). If you were to set up additional regions later on in Regions.ini then they would need different grid co-ordinates (e.g. 1000,1001). OpenSimulator regions can be placed anywhere on a 65536 by 65536 grid, but Hypergrid enabled regions may need special consideration for region location.

17. Internal IP Address: Accept the default In virtually all cases this can be left as 0.0.0.0 (this is a wildcard that allows OpenSimulator to listen for UDP connections on any of the server's network interfaces). If you want to restrict UDP connections to only one network interface then you can specify an explicit IP address.

18. Internal port: Accept the default This address is only used internally - the External host name is the one that is actually passed to the viewer (and hence is the important one). Internal port This is the IP port for all incoming client connections. The name is a bit misleading since it will be used externally (by a Second Life viewer, for instance) as well as internally. You can make this any port you want, but it is safe to leave at the default 9000. Each region on your server must have a unique port.

19. Allow alternate ports: Accept the default This is currently experimental. Please leave it at the default of False.

20. External host name: Accept the default

21. Estate: Type in a unique estate name. Do not leave this blank! I would suggest the schools abbreviated name like for Kansas State University, you would type in KSU.

22. Estate owner first name: Type in a unique owner first name. Do not leave this blank! I would suggest using a generic abbreviation like ADM and not to use personal names, in case the is personnel changes.

Don't forget the account details you use to set up the estate manager Only this user will initially be able to configure the in-world settings for your region. This is also a user account that you can use to perform your initial login test.

23. Estate owner last name: Type in a unique owner last name. Do not leave this blank! I would suggest using a generic abbreviation like ESTOWNER

24. Password: Type in a unique owner password. Do not leave this blank!

25. Email: Type in the email address that you want the above owner associated with. I would suggest using a shared administrator email account and not a personal email address. Do not leave this blank!

26. User ID: Accept default This is a unique id that can be generated, like 101a6fbc-81ce-4655-a76b-d10588e1c1bc

27. Region (KSUID) #: This is what you will see after the first install is complete. With your Region name in the (xxxxx) area.

28. Type terrain level=21 This will setup the terrain and make the entire virtual region an underwater ocean. You can skip this step if you want the student to have see a small piece of land surrounded by ocean.

29. Go back to your Windows interface.

30. Download a virtual Viewer. Here are a few viewer that will work. The Imprudence Viewer version xxxxx and the Second Life Viewer version xxxxx work very good.

31. Install your Viewer from within Windows.

32. Find your Viewer icon and using your mouse, right-click on it. This will open the Properties window for that Viewer.

33. Copy the below by highlighting it first and then press hold down your CTRL+C on your keyboard. -loginuri http://127.0.0.1:9000

32. Toggle back to your Viewer icon, using CTRL+TAB keyboard keys.

33. In the Viewer icon window, using your mouse, click on the command area of this window to make it active.

34. At the very end after 1 space, from your keyboard hold down your CTRL+Y keys to paste, or if you want, you can type in the -loginuri http://127.0.0.1:9000.

35. Save the Viewer icon with these new properties.

36. From Windows, execute, open, your virtual Viewer.

37. Enter the user name and password you set up in the previous step and your new user should login.

38. Go to the World pull-down menu at the top of your Viewer and select Set to Home.

39. Go back to your DOS command window to create the student id.

40. Type create user

Type in the unique information for the student user. Again, I would suggest you use something short like the student's initials, if they do not have a middle initial use X for their middle initial. If they have more then 3 names, use their first and second names, and the very last name for the naming convention.

4n. Type shutdown at DOS command window to shutdown the Opensimulator for the day or week, what your school or college campus standard is.

4n. Create a batch file on each PC that includes the startup DOS commands to start the Opensimulator on a daily basis.

Summary:

This is easy to replicate and for free, you can install Windows Server 2008 R2 and Opensimulator. I would suggest also installing a PhotoShop type software for building, on each PC. Paintshop software is available free on Windows Server 2008 R2.

This configuration provides the ultimate virtual learning experience for those new to virtual environments. They can import and export objects freely without any charges or costs, unlike the commercial internet-based virtual environments like Second Life where you are charged for each upload. The student is not limited on space either and can build large objects with ease.

The student can learn virtual learning basic skills like moving, their avatar, flying, changing their avatar's appearance, and basic building skills.

The Windows Server 2008 R2 is free to download for each student from Microsoft Dreamspark, this installs quickly and easily and will run with Win 7 on the same PC, on a separate partitioned drive.

Students and educators can download this free at URL https://www.dreamspark.com/Product/Product.aspx?productid=8

NOTE: Groups not working in the above, back to drawing board.