QSims: OpenSim Metavers on QNAP - Start your 3D WebSim Now!

[adnovea]

Hi,

After the Web 2.0 the 3D Web is now affordable and can run on the QNAP servers.
I have succeeded to implement and run several regions on a TS-639 with better performances (time response) than on a AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual 5000+ 2.60 GHz with 2 Go !!!

EDIT: See also viewtopic.php?f=171&t=18865

AdNovea Sim.JPG

objects.png

Multiple regions.png

More to come soon (may be as a QPKG with an admin interface ) !

[adnovea]

Here are some directives to setup your OpenSim metavers on QNAP x86 platforms (I use a TS-639).

NOTE: OpenSim is in Alpha version (but very stable with a very good level of maturity).

[EDIT] I currently use the versions:

• OpenSim 0.6.5 available at http://orgrid.org.
• Mono available at http://www.mono-project.com

1- You need to install Mono to run OpenSim.
This is the mininum version required to run OpenSim.

2- I use OpenSim version0.6.4 r9489 and the Grid mode.
Actually they are 4 ways to run OpenSim:

• Standalone mode: well suited to start and debug (use a SQlite database)
• Grid mode : suited to host your Sims and make them accessible to visitors (use a MySQL database and can benefit from a Web front-end)
• OS-Grid mode : where you connect your own Sims (metavers) to a larger grid and become a piece of a large metavers. One friendly grid to join is OSGRID (http://osgrid.org/). They are very active and open to help. They use the Redux Web front-end (see below)
• Hypergrid mode : in which you can host others Sims

The 2nd mode is the one we are here interested in. Later, you can move to mode 3 and join an grid.

3- To manage your MySQL database, Redux has developed a web interface.
I'm currently working on this dev to create QS-Manager in order to manage QSims (QSims = OpenSim simulator + Mono + QS-Manager based on Redux)
QS-Manager is like Redus plus :

• QSA (Quick Start Assistant)
• Internationalization (support English and French but other translations in the future)
• Captcha to improve security against Bot registration and admin account brute force attack
• Some fixes and improvements as well as a modified Look 'n Feel

That's the state of the art today.

[SOb_S]

Cool. I am SL-er too.

[adnovea]

Hi SOb_S,

They are on going tests to go back and forth between OpenSim and SL with the same avatar.
Once I'll have completed (the testing) of Qs-Manager, I shall have a look at this.

[adnovea]

Dear SL'er and QNAP's 3D web devs,

I have completed two QPKG for Mono (v1.2.6) and QSims (OpenSim v0.6.4 r9489) to implement OpenSim on QNAP (x86 platforms only) with a "nice" ( but support only FF3 & IE7) web front-end to manage the overall (picture attached below)!
This is ALPHA (so don't ask me silly questions about the behavior or the features or whatever) because OpenSim is also Alpha but very stable anyway.

qsmanager.jpg

I have added to the OpenSimWI from Redux several features to make QS-Manager such as:

• QSA (Quick Start Assistant) for configuration (support QNAP servers)
• Internationalization capability (English & French for the time being)
• Captach for visitor registration and admin login
• A search feature with wildcard on the grid
• The server status on Admin page and warning to monitor on-line
• Remote admin console
• Watchdog to restart severs if they fall down
• Help pages
• User management with Banker selection
• OpenSim and UGAIM servers status accessible from QS-Manager
• and some others thing like cosmetic ....

I'm still compatible with the OpenSim and Redux DB but I have completely changed the folder/files organization.

May be we could create a new place to IM between QNAP's developers in a near future adding 3D and the audio ...

[adnovea]

QSims is about to be release. Here is the instructions for installation and the current limitations

WIKI
http://wiki.qnap.com/wiki/Q-Sims_-_The_ ... s_for_QNAP

QPKGs

• Install and Enable Mono QPKG v1.2.6
• Install but DO NOT Enable QSims v1.0 - Run the Quick Start Assistant first (see wiki)

Start/Stop QSims
Click on Home in the QS-Manager menu and check that all servers (OpenSim and UGAIM) are running (grid mode) or the OpenSim server only is up (Standalone mode)
* Should one or two servers goes down, click the Enable button on the QNAP QPKG admin page. This restart only the required servers that have been stopped.
* There is a watchdog to check every 5 minutes that all required servers are up and running.
* To Stop QSIms simply click the Disable button on the QNAP QPKG admin page.

Connect to your new QSims metavers

• Download and install Hippo or realXtend
• Read the instruction regarding the Viewer configuration on the QS-Manager Help pages.

start.jpg

Limitations
They are lot of features I added into QS-Manager regarding the current state of the art to ease the installation on QNAP servers.
One shall understand that these developments are ALPHA ... and be considered kindly.

• The monetary system is implemented but fail to work so far (not a high priority for OpenSim community anyway)
• Remote console is able to send message but cannot yet can read data from the servers (XMLRPC + Curl).
• Last but not least, I do encourage you to play with QSims but don't put too much efforts now to build and customize avatars because you may lose all your work (I have not yet lost any thing but I'm prepared to). You have been warned so don't blame us later on!

Hope you will enjoy QSims ... and feel free to join this project !

[adnovea]

Hi,

We've got now something running well.
Mono has been improved and we can start to build metavers (I'm using the Standalone mode because it's a bit lighter).

I have 4 regions (4x 256 x256 m) and a sandbox (one region outside my sims to built object before import).

Here is attached a snapshot of the arrival area.

3SWS.jpg

[adnovea]

Thanks to the FreeSwitch (IPBX) porting on QNAP x86 srevers, now we have the Voice capability in Q-Sims.
One can talk (voice) to other avatars.

Q-Sims (OpenSim on QNAP servers) supports now:

• Audio Conferencing (thanks to FreeSwitch )
• Virtual Presence Instant Messaging
• Group discussion (Chat)
• WebSims (3D websites)
• Video and movie display streaming)
• Audio and music (Download and background music)
• Games such as Sport, Social and Role Playing (for example soccer match with all gravity effects)
• Links to websites
• Connection to larger grid (OSGRID, etc...)
• and much more

Because OpenSim is Second life compatible (created from Linden Labs source code release to the open source community), SLers have the possibility to train or design new objects before transfer.


FreeSwicth uses SIP technology. There is no restriction to phone your avatars from any cellphones or PSTN (don't have time now to implement this feature). Real and Virtual worlds are connected !!!!

Here is a snapshot of my demonstrator.

[Remmie]

Sorry for my stupid question
But where can i download the QPKG Mono & QSims (I found the optoware)

I have completed two QPKG for Mono (v1.2.6) and QSims (OpenSim v0.6.4 r9489)

[adnovea]

Dear Oser's & SLer's

I have opened a Q-Sims Group on OSGrid to share information between those whose the Sims is attached to OSGrid.
Q-Sims Group is opened to everybody but recommended for people who are running Q-Sims (OpenSim on QNAP servers).
Users who belong to this group share the same Software implementation and are better suited to help people with the same environment.
Feel free to ask for help (beginners are welcomed)

DO NOT FORGET TO SAVE YOUR SIMS AFTER MAJOR MODIFICATIONS

[adnovea]

Q-Sim LITE edition

After some discussions, it turns out that the full implementation* of Q-Sims is too heavy for what most of the users wanted.
Users want to host their Sims on their NAS and join a (free) Public grid to become part of a larger metavers.
Q-Sims LITE Edition will help you to achieve this.

Steps:

• Install Mono QPKG
• Register for an account on a Public grid (list of some public grids http://opensimulator.org/wiki/Grid_List).
• Run the script to Install on your NAS the environment for OpenSim.
• Download, install and initialize OpenSim (unzip the file into the bin folder and run the exe)
• Download, install the Hippo Viewer and connect to your Sims on the Public grid

Instructions are available here.
This has been tested on the osgrid.org Free Public Grid.

You are welcomed to join the Q-Sims Group on osgrid.org Public grid

[pandora]

lol

[adnovea]

Dear Bahnyen,

Hope you'll have soon your own Sims.
All the required pieces of software can be downloaded from this page viewtopic.php?f=171&t=18865
Additional help is avaialble at http://wiki.qnap.com/wiki/Q-Sims_-_The_ ... s_for_QNAP

IMPORTANT : Q-Sims is based on OpenSim which is still in Alpha version (not yet in stable version but very mature already)
To deal with Q-Sims, despite I have tried to ease the installation, I do recommand to have basic Linux background because sometimes we need to fix stuff.

Regarding the Graphic card, check the "Requirement section" on this wiki (http://wiki.qnap.com/wiki/Q-Sims_-_Viewers_setup). You must have a recent GC that fits for Games (WOW, CS, SL, etc...) to run the Viewer (eg Hippo). For example, Portable PC onboard graphic card are not powerful enough.

[raulf145]

I have my own sims

[adnovea]

Congratulations Raulf145,

Feel free to share your experience and Sims' snapshots.
BTW, is you Sims accessible for Public and what is the SURL for it?