vbNetwork - share forums with other boards
 

Summary

This add-on gives you the ability to share forums with other message boards without having to share any database information. The plugin runs through webservices and uses XML.

Release Notes
Currently the installation is easy but if you want to set up and run your own network it will help if you're familiar with XML. Joining an already existing network is fairly simple.

This plugin is developed using vBulletin 3.8.X and being tested on 3.6.X and 3.8.X. If it works on both of those, I will assume it works on 3.7.X.

If you would like my help writing versions for phpBB, IPB or other message board software, please feel free to contact me.

If you are interested you can join my existing network, but please note that it is mostly a trolling-based community of boards. Feel free to start your own network with other boards.

Product Specifications

1. several plugins
2. one cron job
3. file uploads
4. new DB tables
5. several phrases

Installation
Approx 2-5 mins

See the included installation instructions.

Upgrading/Updating

1. upload all files in the upload directory, overwriting any existing files
2. re-import the XML file, setting "Overwrite" to "Yes"

Configuration

See the included documentation for details.

Support

If you encounter problems or discover any bugs, please create a new issue at: http://code.google.com/p/vbnetwork/issues/list

Change History

• 0.9.0 (2009-02-20) - initial Beta release
• 0.9.2 (2009-05-03) - added (some) logging, fixed bug for 3.8.2
• 0.9.3 (2009-05-03) - added 'Delete' to Network Management, other minor changes
• 0.9.4 (2009-05-08) - added new board and forum management functionality, and some new minor features
• 0.9.5 (2009-05-09) - adds new option to sync network users via email, and added ability to change the network name
• 1.0.0 (2010-06-02) - Version 1.0 for vBulletin 3.8.X

Sample

This is one shared forum on three different boards (the content of this forum may be NSFW).
http://www.anothermessageboard.com/f...splay.php?f=29
http://www.juot.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=50
http://www.drunkensquirrel.net/com/f...splay.php?f=28

This is pretty cool! I can't think of a use for it on my site right now, but I do like the idea.

I agree it sounds pretty cool, wouldn't you worry about duplicate content?

Sounds like a great idea, but how about security risks of incoming packets? Could be exploited by hackers and those who want to flood your site.

I'm not sure how you are merging username etc.... as they show up different on each site.

very interested in this, but I don't see how it's working properly with different boards and different users etc... can each site post to the shared section without having to register?

Sounds good, I installed it on my site here: www.symbiangalaxy.org

Anyone wanna join my network ?

That's Google's problem. :p

Each network has a password which has to be verified before any packets are processed.

Posts from other boards show up on your board as Guest posts would. The username is constructed from the user's name on the other board and the board's "node code". Hence, if someone on another board the username "Fred" and that board's node code is XYZ, then posts from that user will show up on your board as a Guest with name "Fred@XYZ"

thanks for the greate add-on wish the best and the best in developing this add-on and i will show you what i got after installing it :)
wish you visit my website for arabic people only
http://www.sa5tta.net/vb/

i installed the add-on but how to add a network and make it work i need your answer

You should probably find a network you want to join before installing this plugin. Or have another board ready to join a network you want to start.

i already have a ready board with 11000 in but i dont know how to connect them toghether with this add-on

nice... can i have a list of currently supported boards.

Would be very keen to use this is there was a vB to phpBB share forums link :)

Read my mind. If this was an option I would say this was the greatest plugin ever ;)

actually i wanted to hear IPB tooo :) das y i asked for the list...

A very cool addon. Don't have a use for it right now, but will surely have in future :)

All the webservices are XML based, so someone familiar with XML and phpBB should be able to write a phpBB plugin pretty easily.

Yea that doesn't help those phpBB admins who are more clueless than vBulletin admins ;)

I wonder how good phpBB's plugin system is. I may take up the task myself when I have some time over the summer.

Some time this week I'll put together a page for people to 'register' their networks and compile a list of supported messageboard software. Though, this list will be just 'vBulletin' for the time being.

This is an awesome mod! I'm bookmarking this now and seeing how this mod goes along in the dev process. This would only help certain forums, as opposed to hurting them.


I'm wondering if anybody would like to join my network? I run http://zomgstuff.net

It's a closely-knit community that focuses on media, politics, gaming, and technology. We've got 10k members and almost 180k posts. If you run a forum with some related theme, PM me if you're interested.


Edit:
Does this include members online from the other boards on your board?
Can you also select what forum categories you want to share from either board?
Also, how does moderation work? If a mod on one site deletes something or moves it, is it moved/deleted from the other boards?

Hi! Your mod sounds great! But i got a question:

Does it mean, that a combination linke vb 3.7.2 and vn 3.8.2 wont work?

how do you remove a network?

I've got a question.... what about forum permissions? If site A has this shared forum set to be 'private' (only members of a special usergroup may see/post in it), then will this mod work since the posts from the other sites are set to be written as 'guests' and Site A doesn't allow regular guests to post in this forum? (I hope that made sense.)

wow i like this plugin !!

can we get a better example of setting this up in the network management?

board a = slave where posts will go
board b = master where posts originate

i asked earlier on how to remove a network since i am doing alot of trial and error to get this to work to no avail :(

I can't use it right now, but it's a very intresting mod.

really interesting mod ... :)

It should work just fine.

I'll release an update in a few days that will allow you to do this in the 'Network Manager".

Right now you'll have to remove the network in your database under the 'network' table..

I'll update the docs too with some better explanations of how to setup your own network.

Forum permissions do not carry across the network. So yes, you could have a network forum be private on one messageboard and have that same network forum be public on another.

I can't recall which permission it is off hand that allows Guest to post, but if I remember correctly as long as they're allowed to in the Usergroup (not necessarily in any forums) then the plugin should work.

Geez this sounds like a very interesting hack. I am following it. Thanks for dreaming this up.

What a fantastic idea.

I haven't seen anything like this since the old dial-up BBS days and networks like FIDOnet. I am very excited for the potential of this thing when it gets a little more finished and friendly.

I was thinking the same thing.

This is a guaranteed MOTF winner once it comes out of beta.

I added functionality to delete a network in the 'Network Manager'. I also added some explanations to the fields when adding a new network to your board.

this plugin is having a great future
i am sure of it

Exactly what i was thinking! I can't wait!

Looking forward to using this mod once its more stable :)

I've added functionality that makes the configuration and management of networks much much easier. No longer do admins have to edit XML to add/remove boards/forums from their networks.

Any chance of it checking by the user's associated email to marry the accounts up from Board A to Board B instead of always being as a guest?

I've gone ahead and implemented this as an option. This will be out in the next release.