Last step before purchase: Conversion Plan

[pjkenned]

Hi,

This has been covered a few times before in older threads but after a reach out or two with no response I am looking for a quick conversion plan for my current site. Here's the setup:

• vB 4.2.1 with vbseo
• ~30k posts and 3k users
• MariaDB backend
• nginx for web server
• CentOS base Linux OS
• Currently no upload capabilities are turned on for users so the db is very small

I think my steps will be:

• New VM on one of the nodes setup with CentOS, nginx + php-fpm (this is fairly easy)
  
• Have third party migrate data from vB server to XF server
• Have third party ensure links are maintained across systems
  
• Hoping this will be transparent to users (e.g. no need to re-enter passwords and etc.) Also hoping to keep many of the permissions that are currently in place.
  
• Live through a bit of pain for a few hours while logos are updated and such
• Start VM replication to get failover setup (super easy)
  
• Copy VM instance to build a dev/ sandbox instance to test addons before moving to production

Any feedback on this or recent similar experiences on third parties that can help do the conversion? I am still looking for that third party. Targeting 14 - 176 March for this. Any experiences with third parties that can do this type of conversion would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Paul B]

I was going to add this to the ticket but it's very easy to do an import using the built in importer.
There's a general guide here: http://xenforo.com/community/threads/importing-guidelines.25325/

Essentially though, the actual import itself is all done via the ACP and just involves entering some data and clicking a few buttons.

 

[rdn]

I can do most of the things you've listed.
Pm me if interested.

 

[pjkenned]

Thank you so much. I saw that. Only part I am (very) worried about is the vbseo part. May just purchase and give it a try.

 

[Claudio]

Thank you so much. I saw that. Only part I am (very) worried about is the vbseo part. May just purchase and give it a try.

We've migrated many vb boards with vbseo installed. Send me a message if you are interested

 

[Carlos]

Thank you so much. I saw that. Only part I am (very) worried about is the vbseo part. May just purchase and give it a try.

You won't need it. Google will find your site fast. Many sites have experienced this. Both with redirects and without.

If your site is on root of the domain; again: You won't need it.

 

[Claudio]

You won't need it. Google will find your site fast. Many sites have experienced this. Both with redirects and without.

If your site is on root of the domain; again: You won't need it.

Broken links have highly negative impact on Google search engine ranking...

 

[Carlos]

Broken links have highly negative impact on Google search engine ranking...

I know, but xenForo comes with redirection scripts of their own, so any "broken" pages will go back to the main page, so whatever you had before - will be rejected and then google will start to look at your new site. I've experienced this already without redirects.

 

[pjkenned]

I tend to want to keep links the same. Google is one component. The other is that we do have links from the main (WordPress) site to the forums.

I am still looking for help with this but have setup a CentOS 6.5 VM with Centminmod to make life a bit easier on the maintenance. Luckily I can checkpoint and revert the VM now.