So, I have a rather old modified vbulletin board I believe I want to migrate to xenforo...

Phaedrus

Phaedrus

Member
How easily will this migrate to the new platform? The database is rather large after being active since 2006 and it being a political forum it just has quite a few posts from the active membership.

While I know many of my mods won't directly transfer, there are equivalences to this software and I look forward to trying. However, I just wonder how easy this will be with such a large dbase. (My latest backup is about 2 GB when it is zipped, maybe that isn't "large" to some so maybe I should just mention that lol).

Anyway, can someone tell me the experience they have had with something that has an equivalent sized database?
 
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@Brogan's right. 2GB should be something you can handle, if you choose to do the import yourself.

I've handled many 100GB+ (and much higher). Imagine a forum with 1.5 million image attachments, and the admin had them stored in the vB database instead of the file system.... its up in the multi TB range!

If the addons used are common addons, chances are I have a custom import/conversion service for them already. If not, I could write one if the data is important enough to keep. Hit me up via Conversation (PM in vB terminology) if you're interested.
 
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Brogan said:
What version of VB is it?

It shouldn't be an issue - we have had customers with tens of millions of posts migrate from other software to XF.
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This sounds promising. It is the last version of vBullentin 4... I'll look it up after my dbase backup is done. LOL. (It's version 4.2.5)

I think I'll be pulling the trigger on this and setting up a test version next time there is a sale on the product.
 
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Brogan said:
You might be waiting a while - sales are very few and far between.
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Then it might be earlier. I am only slow on the trigger because I need to make sure I have time to play with it. Nothing can pass the time like playing with forum software (at least for me). I've started a modification at 3 PM and the next day at 8 AM look up from my computer wondering where the time went...
 
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Phaedrus said:
Then it might be earlier. I am only slow on the trigger because I need to make sure I have time to play with it. Nothing can pass the time like playing with forum software (at least for me). I've started a modification at 3 PM and the next day at 8 AM look up from my computer wondering where the time went...
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You can create a demo version of XF to play with. You can't install addons (to my knowledge) but you can create your own style and export it so its ready to go on your new site. It'll also give you opportunities to explore the backend admin and mod panels.

xenforo.com

Create a XenForo demo

xenforo.com xenforo.com
 
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On large sites the cmd.php command line import can really speed things up and also keep you from having to restart/refresh during the longer parts of the process.

Code: 
php cmd.php xf:import --processes=4

You can also specify the number of processes to run if you have multi-core CPU, etc...
 
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Phaedrus said:
Then it might be earlier. I am only slow on the trigger because I need to make sure I have time to play with it.
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Honestly.. if you can use the core functions and don't need extensive 3rd party add-ons.. pull the trigger.
I was recently waffling between renewing an IPS license (with Pages) and XenForo.. even though XF will ultimately cost me more I chose XF due to the 3rd party add-ons I wanted (not needed).
Realize.. you don't get all the "fun stuff" that IPS or Woltlab offer.. but in the core basic script you get a solid platform. You simply have to be prepared to look elsewhere if you want to "push it" for 3rd party (and pray that they stay around) add-ons.
I was about to the point of migrating an SMF site back over to IPS... but I looked at all the factors (the main one being I want self-hosting) and realized that IPS was a non-starter for me for long term.
 
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So. I purchase this, install Xenforo on my server in a clean install, then before I log in or create IDs I import from the vbulletin database on my server and it brings over the right data and imports it to the right tables for Xenforo?

I have MySql 8.0 installed, and PHP 8.1.28 I think that meets the requirements... (Of course it has made it so my vbulletin no longer functions as both are too new for any vbulletin pre-6..0.4... I should have bought a new server and did this there. Hindsight is 20/20...)
 
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Phaedrus said:
So. I purchase this, install Xenforo on my server in a clean install, then before I log in or create IDs I import from the vbulletin database on my server and it brings over the right data and imports it to the right tables for Xenforo?
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Pretty much the way to do it, yes. If you run into anything along the way just update us.
 
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During the import phase you can "merge" users that have the same email address so on the new Xenforo just use your email as it is at the vbulletin install and during import merge the accounts and you will keep all you post from the start of the VB.

Glad to have you join Xenforo.
 
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RandallC said:
During the import phase you can "merge" users that have the same email address so on the new Xenforo just use your email as it is at the vbulletin install and during import merge the accounts and you will keep all you post from the start of the VB.

Glad to have you join Xenforo.
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Everyone is going to know who the "trolls" are now!

I'm hoping that this will go smoother than a vbulletin upgrade, those are sometimes tough...
 
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