No data / users / forums after import. Pulling my hair out.

[_Quads_]

I'm having great difficulty in getting an import from phpBB 3.0.1 to vB 3.7.2 Patch 1

I'd appreciate a sanity check if you could! Here are the steps I'm following and the issues I'm having.

Highlights:
Two system OS (Online Server - Host Gator) / and LS (Local Server - Ubuntu)

1. phpBB is up and running on my OS.

2. With MySQL Admin, I back up the database.

3. I then create a blank DB on my LS and restore the DB to the LS because Impex requires the import be done from a local / running DB

4. I install VB on my LS and get a bare installation up and running.

5. Set up the Impex config file to point to the appropriate DB's. (from db / to db / etc.)

6. I perform the import on my LS through the fresh install of VB following the instructions carefully.

7. No errors, all looks well.

8. I log into the ACP on the LS VB installation, everything is there, imported forums, users, etc.

9. I dump the stuff I don't need in old forum (old forums that aren't transferring over) move the threads from the imported forums to the forums I've created in my LS VB install, etc.

10. I run the maintenance tools to clean up cache, rebuild search index, rebuild forums, etc. etc.

11. At this point, I have a VB install on my LS with my imported data, users, etc. All is well.

12. I backup the LS DB now that it has the imported data in it, being sure to do a "Complete Backup" rather than incremental, etc.

13. I log onto my OS, do a fresh install of VB, create a black database for the installation, etc. All is well. I have a functioning VB forum on the OS.

14. Launch MySQL and restore the LS DB to the OS telling it to create tables, etc.

15. MySQL reports errors on a few items about creating custom avatars, which I tell it to ignore. Users can set up their avatars when we get up and running on the new forum.

16. Once the DB restore is complete, I log into the OS VB installation, and see that there is data in the database (from the acp summary page) but none of the forums, users, threads, etc. are there.

17. I then run the rebuild forums, threads, posts, etc. counters. hoping this is the issue. No luck.

I for the life of me can't figure this one out.

In summary. I do the import locally on a server, get everything up and running, snap an image of the DB, restore it to the other server, and it's blank. No forums, users, or anything.

I'm the n00b, trying not to look like the village idiot, and would greatly appreciate any insight.

[Jerry]

1. You don't need a running source forum, just the database, same with the target, just the database, for the sake of just importing.

2. Good idea.

3. ImpEx doesn’t require a local database for source or target, it requires a database that it has read access to for the source and read/write for the target, they can be remote it they have permissions.

4. Target is set.

5. Target and source, ideal.

6 & 7 & 8. Good.

9. Old forum ? target or source.

10. All the steps are here : http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/impex_cleanup

11. Sounds good so far.

12 & 13 & 14 & 15. You don't need to install vBulletin again, you've done that on your LS to get the import done, what you are doing now is effectively a server move :

http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/main/moving_servers

16 & 17. Just restore the database you have after the import onto the new server.

It all looks fine, till the move from what I can see.

[_Quads_]

Thank you Jerry: Replies in bold


1. You don't need a running source forum, just the database, same with the target, just the database, for the sake of just importing.
That's what I meant to say. A running DB that impex can talk to.

2. Good idea.

3. ImpEx doesn’t require a local database for source or target, it requires a database that it has read access to for the source and read/write for the target, they can be remote it they have permissions.

4. Target is set.

5. Target and source, ideal.

6 & 7 & 8. Good.

9. Old forum ? target or source.
Old phpBB forum. Some of the content I'm not brining over.

10. All the steps are here : http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/impex_cleanup
I'll go back through and double check each of these as well.

11. Sounds good so far.

12 & 13 & 14 & 15. You don't need to install vBulletin again, you've done that on your LS to get the import done, what you are doing now is effectively a server move :

http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/main/moving_servers

I'll read up on this to see if there is some insight there. Perhaps this is where I'm missing something.

16 & 17. Just restore the database you have after the import onto the new server.

It all looks fine, till the move from what I can see.

I'll report back with some updates after reviewing the points above and (hopefully) making some progress.

Thank you for the quick reply / input.

[Jerry]

Seems OK, as long as it's all working locally, then do a server move opposed and an install and overwrite.

[_Quads_]

Thank you.
Issue solved.
Problem was with the import in that I was trying to import avatars from the phpBB forum to the VB forum.

Once I performed an import *without* trying to import avatars, snapped an image of that completed DB, pushed it up to the OS, everything seemed to work OK.

Users will have to set up their avatars once they migrate over. :care:

Thank you again for your assistance.