The purpose of this topic is to document changes you will need to make if you are migrating from vBCloud to the download version of VB5 Connect. Experienced users can probably get by with just reading the Overview below. I have included greater detail below that for those new to vBulletin and vBCloud.
Before You Begin
If you have not yet begun first thing you need to do is secure web hosting, purchase your VB5 license, and also purchase a domain name if you are currently using a vbulletin.net domain.
Once all of these are obtained and configured you should go to your vBCloud forum, go to the Admin CP -> Settings -> Options -> Turn your vBulletin On and Off, and set the Site Active to No. In the note explain the site is moving and it may be offline temporarily for some time. Save changes.
Turning your forum off is required because if it is not turned off then you will loose any new posts and users that are created after the database backup is made.
So with the forums turned off now submit a support ticket in the Member's Area requesting a complete backup of your site for purposes of moving to the VB5 Download product OR simply go to the Member's Area and request a backup from the blue link on the right side under License Details & Options.
After your receive the backup you can continue with the instructions below or if you wish us to do the install you can purchase a Professional Upgrade/Install by going to Add-Ons after you have logged into the Customer Area at http://www.vbulletin.com/en/addons.html.
What to expect
You will download 3 zip files. One file includes the database, one file includes the avatars of your users, and the final file includes all other attachments.
Overview
You will need to upload the fresh set of vBulletin 5 files that you download from the Member's Area. You do not run the install.php OR upgrade.php script. Just download the same version of vBulletin as your vBCloud site was running when the backup was made. You should delete or remove the entire /install/ directory (inside /core/) before uploading.
You must rename the front end /config.php.bkp file to /config.php. Then you must open the /core/includes/config.php.new file and enter the correct database settings to point to the database that has been imported to your server. Then save this file as /core/includes/config.php (drop the .new at the end of the file.)
Admin Account Changes
All vBCloud sites have at least 2 Administrator accounts. Userid 1 is the user IBAdmin which is an account created for official VB support purposes. The vBCloud customer does not have access to this account while running on vBCloud, but after the site has been migrated away from vBCloud you should rename and definitely change the password of this account.
Userid 2 will be the original Administrator account created when you initially signed up for vBCloud.
In order to make Userid 2 a "Super Administrator" with the access necessary to do things like change the attachment file path you must once again edit the /core/includes/config.php file.
Find the line
Note - it is set to 1 by default. You need to change this to 2. If you want both 1 and 2 to be Super-Administrators change it to
We recommend just making 2 as the Super Administrator.
While in config.php look through the other settings, you may want to give User ID 2 more privileges such viewing the Admin log or running queries.
We would recommend you make only Userid 2 a Super Administrator, and remove all references to userid 1 from config.php and replace them with userid 2.
Then while logged in as you (Userid 2) go to Admin CP -> Users -> Search for Users, search for the user IBAdmin and on the user settings page you can rename the user by providing a new username. You should also provide a new, complex password and change the primary usergroup to Registered User. Then save changes. You can more or less ignore this account going forward. It will have no special permissions.
Debug Mode
Some of the settings you must change can only be done in Debug Mode. To enable Debug Mode (for the Admin CP) once again edit the /core/includes/config/php file.
Find the line:
And remove the // to make it:
Save changes, upload the new file, and then load (or re-load) the Admin CP. It will not be immediately apparent you are in Debug Mode but you should be.
In Admin CP go to Settings -> Options -> Version Info and Other Untouchables (this is only visible in debug mode)
Find the setting File Attachment Path and change it to the full system path to where you extracted your attachment directories. On most hosts this will be something like /home/username/attachment (assuming you created a folder called attachments in your main account folder.) Note the Attachments directory will usually hold sub-folders named 1, 2,3 .. and so on to 9.If you are not sure your system path you will need to ask your host for it.
Next, in the same place find the setting called Avatar File Path and again enter the new file path here. The path never ends in a slash, /.
Note- You should create a folder called customavatars within your /core/ directory and extract you avatar images into this directory.
Set the Avatar File Path to:
Set the Avatar URL to:
Do not make any other changes this page. When done scroll to the bottom and save changes.
Test that attachments and avatars are working and then go back to the config.php file and turn off debug mode my undoing the change you made earlier. (Replace the // in front of the debug line.)
CSS Served from the Database
In the Admin CP -> Settings -> Options -> Style & Language Settings, find the setting - Store CSS Stylesheets as Files? and set it to No. Save changes.
This is because you will not have a copy of the css files after moving from vBCloud, so serve them from the database. You can change it back later if you wish.
SMTP Email Setup
When on vBCloud you have a choice of using your own SMTP account or using the default email services provided by vBulletin. If you supplied your own custom SMTP email details you may not need to make any changes. If however you were using the default email provider that will no longer work once you have left vBCloud. Instead we recommend you set up an SMTP email account, either with your web host (Often available via cpanel) or with an email provider such a Gmail. Whichever option you choose you must determine the SMTP server name or IP Address, your SMTP username (Often your email address but not always), your SMTP password (your email account password) the Port number of your SMTP server (varies) and whether or not it requires a secure protocol. Options are- None, SSL, or TLS. You provide this info to vBulletin in the Admin CP -> Settings -> Options -> Email Options. The SMTP settings are toward the bottom. Your other option is to turn off SMTP Email in Email Settings, this will send emails via a built in PHP script- but this is not recommended as many receiving servers block such email as spam.
Test and Backup
Once you have completes these steps your site should be running on your new host.
Test the site by registering a new user, make some new posts, make sure you upload photos and attachments, test old avatars are showing and upload a new avatar and make sure it works. Read some old topics and see if you can download attachments.Send a Private Message. Send a test email from the Admin CP -> Maintenance -> Diagnostics -> Email.
Once you are satisfied things appear to be working take a full backup of your site. Make sure you backup both your database and the file system where attachments and avatars are stored. Remember it is now your responsibility to make regular backups of your site. Do not rely on hosts who promise automatic backups. There can and have been sites lost by hosts who had their backups ruined. Even if you only do it every month it is far better to have an old backup than none at all.
Miscellaneous
-Update Image Library
Go to the Admin CP -> Settings -> Options -> Image Settings
Most users will want to make sure the GD library is chosen. The vast majority of servers, especially shared hosts, will have the GD image library already enabled for PHP. Advanced users may wish to use ImageMagick, if so you must provide the update path to it on your server.
-Update Smilie Path
This needs to be done while the Admin CP is still in debug mode.
Go to the Admin CP -> Settings -> Options -> Version Info and Other Untouchables (Safe)
Scroll to the bottom and fine the setting: Smilie Path Prefix and set it to be blank- erase whatever is there, it will be something like: smilies/0/0/1/7/3/1/. Just clear it and save changes.
Before You Begin
If you have not yet begun first thing you need to do is secure web hosting, purchase your VB5 license, and also purchase a domain name if you are currently using a vbulletin.net domain.
Once all of these are obtained and configured you should go to your vBCloud forum, go to the Admin CP -> Settings -> Options -> Turn your vBulletin On and Off, and set the Site Active to No. In the note explain the site is moving and it may be offline temporarily for some time. Save changes.
Turning your forum off is required because if it is not turned off then you will loose any new posts and users that are created after the database backup is made.
So with the forums turned off now submit a support ticket in the Member's Area requesting a complete backup of your site for purposes of moving to the VB5 Download product OR simply go to the Member's Area and request a backup from the blue link on the right side under License Details & Options.
After your receive the backup you can continue with the instructions below or if you wish us to do the install you can purchase a Professional Upgrade/Install by going to Add-Ons after you have logged into the Customer Area at http://www.vbulletin.com/en/addons.html.
What to expect
You will download 3 zip files. One file includes the database, one file includes the avatars of your users, and the final file includes all other attachments.
Overview
- The database must be unzipped and imported/restored onto your server. Your web host should be able to help you do this, it is very easy for them to turn the database file into a database.
- Remove the IBAdmin Super Administrator (userid 1), make your own Admin account (userid 2) a Super Administrator in config.php
- The avatars must be unzipped to a directory and Avatar File Path in vBulletin set to the new directory
- The attachments must be unzipped to a directory and Attachment File path in vBulletin set to the new directory
- You must set CSS files to served from the database
- Setup SMTP Email
- Perform some miscellaneous tasks
- Once everything is working, make your first backup
You will need to upload the fresh set of vBulletin 5 files that you download from the Member's Area. You do not run the install.php OR upgrade.php script. Just download the same version of vBulletin as your vBCloud site was running when the backup was made. You should delete or remove the entire /install/ directory (inside /core/) before uploading.
You must rename the front end /config.php.bkp file to /config.php. Then you must open the /core/includes/config.php.new file and enter the correct database settings to point to the database that has been imported to your server. Then save this file as /core/includes/config.php (drop the .new at the end of the file.)
Admin Account Changes
All vBCloud sites have at least 2 Administrator accounts. Userid 1 is the user IBAdmin which is an account created for official VB support purposes. The vBCloud customer does not have access to this account while running on vBCloud, but after the site has been migrated away from vBCloud you should rename and definitely change the password of this account.
Userid 2 will be the original Administrator account created when you initially signed up for vBCloud.
In order to make Userid 2 a "Super Administrator" with the access necessary to do things like change the attachment file path you must once again edit the /core/includes/config.php file.
Find the line
PHP Code:
$config['SpecialUsers']['superadmins'] = '1';
PHP Code:
$config['SpecialUsers']['superadmins'] = '1,2';
While in config.php look through the other settings, you may want to give User ID 2 more privileges such viewing the Admin log or running queries.
We would recommend you make only Userid 2 a Super Administrator, and remove all references to userid 1 from config.php and replace them with userid 2.
Then while logged in as you (Userid 2) go to Admin CP -> Users -> Search for Users, search for the user IBAdmin and on the user settings page you can rename the user by providing a new username. You should also provide a new, complex password and change the primary usergroup to Registered User. Then save changes. You can more or less ignore this account going forward. It will have no special permissions.
Debug Mode
Some of the settings you must change can only be done in Debug Mode. To enable Debug Mode (for the Admin CP) once again edit the /core/includes/config/php file.
Find the line:
PHP Code:
// $config['Misc']['debug'] = true;
PHP Code:
$config['Misc']['debug'] = true;
In Admin CP go to Settings -> Options -> Version Info and Other Untouchables (this is only visible in debug mode)
Find the setting File Attachment Path and change it to the full system path to where you extracted your attachment directories. On most hosts this will be something like /home/username/attachment (assuming you created a folder called attachments in your main account folder.) Note the Attachments directory will usually hold sub-folders named 1, 2,3 .. and so on to 9.If you are not sure your system path you will need to ask your host for it.
Next, in the same place find the setting called Avatar File Path and again enter the new file path here. The path never ends in a slash, /.
Note- You should create a folder called customavatars within your /core/ directory and extract you avatar images into this directory.
Set the Avatar File Path to:
Code:
./customavatars
Code:
customavatars
Do not make any other changes this page. When done scroll to the bottom and save changes.
Test that attachments and avatars are working and then go back to the config.php file and turn off debug mode my undoing the change you made earlier. (Replace the // in front of the debug line.)
CSS Served from the Database
In the Admin CP -> Settings -> Options -> Style & Language Settings, find the setting - Store CSS Stylesheets as Files? and set it to No. Save changes.
This is because you will not have a copy of the css files after moving from vBCloud, so serve them from the database. You can change it back later if you wish.
SMTP Email Setup
When on vBCloud you have a choice of using your own SMTP account or using the default email services provided by vBulletin. If you supplied your own custom SMTP email details you may not need to make any changes. If however you were using the default email provider that will no longer work once you have left vBCloud. Instead we recommend you set up an SMTP email account, either with your web host (Often available via cpanel) or with an email provider such a Gmail. Whichever option you choose you must determine the SMTP server name or IP Address, your SMTP username (Often your email address but not always), your SMTP password (your email account password) the Port number of your SMTP server (varies) and whether or not it requires a secure protocol. Options are- None, SSL, or TLS. You provide this info to vBulletin in the Admin CP -> Settings -> Options -> Email Options. The SMTP settings are toward the bottom. Your other option is to turn off SMTP Email in Email Settings, this will send emails via a built in PHP script- but this is not recommended as many receiving servers block such email as spam.
Test and Backup
Once you have completes these steps your site should be running on your new host.
Test the site by registering a new user, make some new posts, make sure you upload photos and attachments, test old avatars are showing and upload a new avatar and make sure it works. Read some old topics and see if you can download attachments.Send a Private Message. Send a test email from the Admin CP -> Maintenance -> Diagnostics -> Email.
Once you are satisfied things appear to be working take a full backup of your site. Make sure you backup both your database and the file system where attachments and avatars are stored. Remember it is now your responsibility to make regular backups of your site. Do not rely on hosts who promise automatic backups. There can and have been sites lost by hosts who had their backups ruined. Even if you only do it every month it is far better to have an old backup than none at all.
Miscellaneous
-Update Image Library
Go to the Admin CP -> Settings -> Options -> Image Settings
Most users will want to make sure the GD library is chosen. The vast majority of servers, especially shared hosts, will have the GD image library already enabled for PHP. Advanced users may wish to use ImageMagick, if so you must provide the update path to it on your server.
-Update Smilie Path
This needs to be done while the Admin CP is still in debug mode.
Go to the Admin CP -> Settings -> Options -> Version Info and Other Untouchables (Safe)
Scroll to the bottom and fine the setting: Smilie Path Prefix and set it to be blank- erase whatever is there, it will be something like: smilies/0/0/1/7/3/1/. Just clear it and save changes.
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