# Sauna Driver User Guide This guide provides instructions for installing, configuring, and using the Sauna OpenVR driver. The Sauna driver enhances VR tracking by providing access to IMU data when optical tracking is lost, resulting in a more resilient VR experience. ## Installation Instructions ### System Requirements - Windows 10 or later - SteamVR installed - Compatible VR headset (HTC Vive, Valve Index, or other SteamVR-compatible headset) - At least 50MB of free disk space ### Installation Steps 1. **Download the Driver** Download the latest release of the Sauna driver from the project repository or use the provided installation package. 2. **Install the Driver** There are two ways to install the driver: **Option 1: Automatic Installation** Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. The installer will automatically place the files in the correct location. **Option 2: Manual Installation** a. Locate your SteamVR installation directory: - Typically: `C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\SteamVR` b. Create a new folder for the Sauna driver: - Navigate to the SteamVR installation directory - Open the "drivers" folder (create it if it doesn't exist) - Create a new folder named "sauna" inside the "drivers" folder c. Copy the driver files to the new folder: - Copy "driver_sauna.dll" to the "sauna" folder you just created - Copy "driver.vrdrivermanifest" to the "sauna" folder 3. **Verify Installation** a. Close SteamVR if it's running b. Open SteamVR c. Open SteamVR settings d. Go to the "Startup / Shutdown" section e. Click "Show Log" to open the SteamVR log f. Search for "sauna" in the log g. You should see messages indicating that the Sauna driver has been loaded successfully ### Activating the Driver The Sauna driver is designed to activate automatically when SteamVR starts. No additional steps are required to activate it. If you need to manually activate or deactivate the driver: 1. Open SteamVR settings 2. Go to the "Developer" section 3. Click "Developer Settings" 4. In the "Startup" section, you can enable or disable specific drivers 5. Ensure "sauna" is checked to enable the driver ## Configuration Options The Sauna driver works with default settings out of the box, but you can customize its behavior if needed. ### Driver Settings Currently, the Sauna driver does not have user-configurable settings. It is designed to work automatically with the default configuration. ### SteamVR Integration The Sauna driver integrates seamlessly with SteamVR and does not require any special configuration in SteamVR settings. ### Performance Tuning If you experience performance issues with the Sauna driver: 1. Ensure your system meets the minimum requirements 2. Close unnecessary background applications 3. Update your GPU drivers 4. Verify that no other custom OpenVR drivers are conflicting with Sauna ## Troubleshooting ### Common Issues #### Driver Not Loading **Symptoms:** - No Sauna driver messages in the SteamVR log - IMU fallback tracking not working **Solutions:** 1. Verify that the driver files are in the correct location 2. Check that the driver manifest file is correctly formatted 3. Restart SteamVR 4. Restart your computer #### Tracking Issues **Symptoms:** - Tracking is unstable or jittery when optical tracking is lost - Tracking does not recover properly when optical tracking is restored **Solutions:** 1. Ensure your VR headset and controllers are properly charged 2. Check that your play area is well-lit but not too bright 3. Remove reflective surfaces from your play area 4. Recalibrate your VR setup in SteamVR #### Performance Issues **Symptoms:** - Reduced frame rate - Increased latency - Stuttering in VR applications **Solutions:** 1. Close unnecessary background applications 2. Update your GPU drivers 3. Verify that no other custom OpenVR drivers are conflicting with Sauna 4. Check your system's thermal performance (CPU/GPU temperatures) ### Diagnostic Steps If you encounter issues with the Sauna driver, follow these diagnostic steps: 1. **Check SteamVR Logs** a. Open SteamVR settings b. Go to the "Startup / Shutdown" section c. Click "Show Log" to open the SteamVR log d. Look for messages related to the Sauna driver e. Note any error messages or warnings 2. **Verify Driver Installation** a. Check that the driver files are in the correct location: - Navigate to your SteamVR installation directory - Open the "drivers" folder - Open the "sauna" folder - Verify that "driver_sauna.dll" and "driver.vrdrivermanifest" are present b. Verify that the driver manifest file is correctly formatted 3. **Test with Other Applications** a. Try different VR applications to see if the issue is specific to one application b. Use SteamVR Home to test basic tracking functionality 4. **Reinstall the Driver** a. Remove the driver files: - Navigate to your SteamVR installation directory - Open the "drivers" folder - Delete the "sauna" folder or move it to a backup location b. Restart SteamVR c. Reinstall the driver following the installation instructions ### Reporting Issues If you continue to experience issues with the Sauna driver, please report them to the project maintainers with the following information: 1. Detailed description of the issue 2. Steps to reproduce the issue 3. Your system specifications 4. SteamVR log files 5. Any error messages or warnings ## FAQ ### General Questions #### Q: What is the Sauna driver? A: The Sauna driver is a custom OpenVR driver that provides access to IMU data when optical tracking is lost, creating a more resilient VR experience. #### Q: How does the Sauna driver improve VR tracking? A: When optical tracking is lost (e.g., when base stations are blocked), the Sauna driver uses IMU data to maintain at least rotational tracking, preventing the "frozen in space" effect that typically occurs. #### Q: Does the Sauna driver replace the standard SteamVR drivers? A: No, the Sauna driver works alongside the standard SteamVR drivers. It wraps the existing lighthouse driver and adds additional functionality without replacing it. ### Compatibility #### Q: Which VR headsets are compatible with the Sauna driver? A: The Sauna driver is designed to work with SteamVR-compatible headsets that use lighthouse tracking, such as the HTC Vive and Valve Index. #### Q: Does the Sauna driver work with Windows Mixed Reality headsets? A: The current version is primarily designed for lighthouse-based tracking systems. Support for Windows Mixed Reality headsets may be added in future versions. #### Q: Is the Sauna driver compatible with all VR applications? A: Yes, the Sauna driver works with all VR applications that use the OpenVR API. Applications do not need to be specifically designed to work with the Sauna driver. ### Technical Questions #### Q: How does the Sauna driver access IMU data? A: The Sauna driver wraps the existing OpenVR device drivers and adds functionality to access and process the raw IMU data from the devices. #### Q: Does the Sauna driver affect VR performance? A: The Sauna driver is designed to have minimal impact on VR performance. In most cases, you should not notice any performance difference. #### Q: Can I use the Sauna driver with other custom OpenVR drivers? A: In theory, yes, but compatibility with other custom drivers depends on how those drivers are implemented. Some custom drivers may conflict with the Sauna driver. ### Usage #### Q: Do I need to configure anything to use the Sauna driver? A: No, the Sauna driver works automatically once installed. No additional configuration is required. #### Q: How do I know if the Sauna driver is working? A: When optical tracking is lost, you should notice that your headset and controllers still maintain rotational tracking instead of freezing in place or drifting. #### Q: Can I disable the Sauna driver temporarily? A: Yes, you can disable the driver in the SteamVR Developer Settings under the Startup section.