⏳ Deadline: Dec 31 2026 at 23:59 UTC — after that everything is wiped. New registrations closed. Final meeting Oct 18 11am at Hurliman Plaza hg.osgrid.org:80:Hurliman Plaza
Without DreamGrid • OpenSim vanilla method
OSGrid shuts down. Save your world in light vanilla (150MB)
Without denigrating DreamGrid, here is a method with files from opensimulator.dev. A clear guide to save your regions, inventory, 10 years of work.
🌿 What does "vanilla" mean? In software/gaming jargon, "vanilla" = official, plain, without added flavors. Here vanilla OpenSimulator = pure official binaries from opensimulator.org (150MB), without DreamGrid installer, without extra modules, without MySQL. Just the engine, as OSGrid uses it. You control everything. DreamGrid is vanilla + all-in-one installer.
Official OSGrid sip, preconfigured. Drop your Regions.ini and launch.
Windows alternative
DreamGrid - All-in-one alternative
DreamGrid is not denigrated: it's an excellent Windows alternative. Installs everything: MySQL, modules, click interface. 2GB, Windows only, manual updates, ideal to host long-term without command line. Perfect if you want turnkey grid.
Developed by Fred Beckhusen / OutWorldz. Windows only, 2GB.
!
Important to understand: what you launch here is NOT OSGrid
Vanilla OpenSim runs at home in Standalone, offline, on your PC/VPS. It is NOT OSGrid, it does not recreate OSGrid. OSGrid closes permanently Dec 31 2026. Your OAR/IAR is your personal local copy for life you can host wherever you want after (self-host, Wolf, Bloodmoon, Kitely...).
Save from OSGrid - OAR/IAR
This step ONLY if your region is still hosted on OSGrid. Useless for local standalone. If you have no console (tenant), ask your owner.
If you are region owner on OSGrid
save oar MyRegion.oar
save iar First Last / * backup.iar mypass
# Files appear in bin/ to retrieve via FTP
# Don't do 30GB IAR at once! 3 days for me...
# Do per folder with quotes if spaces:
save iar First Last "/My Objects/My Builds" builds.iar mypass
save iar First Last "/My Textures" textures.iar mypass
Tip: / * = whole root inventory. With quotes if spaces in folder names, else error.
If you are tenant without console
You have no OSGrid console access?
Ask your owner for save oar of your parcel (he can do OAR of your zone)
In viewer, Take your objects one by one (right click → Take) to save to local inventory
Or ask him to lend you temporarily empty region: see temporary region procedure - primary utility if you have no console: centralize all your scattered objects across several OSGrid regions in one place to make clean OAR before shutdown.
Why create temporary OSGrid region? If you have no console, or builds scattered across 5 different OSGrid regions, or OSGrid inventory 20GB, creating empty temporary region on OSGrid lets you rez everything same place, then do single clean save oar. It's the sandbox before moving.
Install vanilla at home (.NET 8 only, no mono)
Windows
# Unzip
# Install .NET 8 SDK from dotnet.microsoft.com
# In bin/
dotnet OpenSim.dll
# First time questions:
New Region name []: MyRescue
Estate [My Estate]: Rescue
# Choose Standalone + SQLite when asked
SQLite = local file OpenSim.db, perfect to archive. No MySQL needed.
Linux / Mac
# in your home
tar xzf opensim-0.9.3.0.tar.gz
cd opensim-0.9.3.0/bin
dotnet OpenSim.dll
# or
chmod +x OpenSim.sh
./OpenSim.sh
# first time = same questions
# then console: Region MyRescue # ready
Leave window open. To stop properly: shutdown, not red cross. .NET 8 = only runtime since 0.9.3.0.
Reimport and check
# 1 - go to your empty region
change region MyRescue
# 2 - load your OSGrid region (overwrites empty)
load oar C:\Backups\MyRegion.oar
# or: load oar /home/you/Backups/MyRegion.oar
# 3 - wait for "OAR load complete" (can take 10 min)
# 4 - load inventory with --merge to not overwrite
load iar First Last / * C:\Backups\backup.iar mypass --merge
# 5 - check in viewer: map → your local region
Secure (anti-IAR attack)
In standalone you are safe. If you reopen in HyperGrid:
[Economy]
EconomyPriceEnabled=true
PriceUpload=10
[AssetService]
MaxAssetSize=2097152
; 2 MB max per asset, blocks attack that killed OSGrid (5TB → 17TB)
Where to go after OSGrid?
OSGrid closes, but hypergrid continues. 6 serious options. You recreate region, then YOU import your OAR/IAR yourself.
Most free
Self-host (VPS 4GB ~€6) You are root. You unzip vanilla yourself via SSH, launch dotnet OpenSim.dll, load oar.
Community
Wolf Territories Solid, welcomes many ex-OSGrid. OAR import via panel. Can I reimport my OSGrid IAR to Wolf? Yes, via support.
Kitely Pay-as-you-go, Replace World / Upload OAR. Can I reimport my OSGrid IAR to Kitely? Yes, via support.
OSGrid spirit
Alternate Metaverse Associative, close to original OSGrid spirit.
Windows all-in-one
DreamGrid Excellent if you want to host long-term without command line. 2GB, MySQL included. Official site → outworldz.com
FAQ
What is normal OAR size? My OAR is 1.2 GB
Normal. Empty = 2 MB. House + trees + 2000 prims = 80-300 MB. With lots of mesh or 10 years accumulation = 800 MB to 2.5 GB. If >3 GB, duplicate 1024 textures, long to reload but not serious.
SQLite vs MySQL?
SQLite = one file bin/OpenSim.db. You copy folder and everything is inside. Perfect to archive. MySQL = faster if 10 regions 24/7, but need to install DB server. To save OSGrid: take SQLite.
My owner doesn't answer
Wait 48h, email subject 'OSGrid closing - need OAR before 12/20'. If nothing: join Discord 'OSGrid displaced', give region name and owner. OSGrid admins can force save oar until Dec 15.
Do I have to pay .NET 8?
No, free and open source. .NET 8 is official and unique runtime since 0.9.3.0, Windows/Linux/Mac. From dotnet.microsoft.com. Command: dotnet OpenSim.dll or ./OpenSim.sh in bin/. No mono.
Can I reimport my OSGrid IAR to Kitely / Wolf?
Yes. Upload your .iar via console load iar --merge or via support. Warn it comes from OSGrid and can be big. Keep your OSGrid password. Kitely: Replace World / Upload OAR. Wolf: panel → OAR import.