Testing New Forum Ideas...
 

Guys and gals,

Whenever you have a new idea for a forum (I get them like every other day :) ) and you'd like to 'test them out' rather than paying for a brand new license and domain name, etc.... what do you do?

I'd love to test out new skin with a new header and start the process on a forum by adding a couple of mods and then sit back and look at it to see if it works for me. But, I have my funds tied up at the moment and I'd rather not put the money out there if I'm not sure if it's an idea that is going to fly or that I know 'has legs'.

This would be blocked to be used only by me (.htaccess password for me only, would that work?) and it is ONLY for the purposes of seeing my new 'idea' working and seeing if it's something that I want to invest funds into. Could I create a subdomain and test out skins and mods there?

Any ideas on this? What can or should I do? What would you do?

Business is business... ;) There is no success without risk. If you have a good idea, do not be afraid to start it. You should consider whether your idea is unique and interesting to potential users.

You are allowed to set up a test site.

Ref: http://www.vbulletin.com/order/license_agreement.php

Very good Lynne! Thanks!

Now, any instructions on how to set up a test site? Suggestions or how-to guides? :D

Basically just install your vBulletin forums over again which you can do In under 10 minutes then make a .htaccess file to password protect your directory.

<a href="http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252648" target="_blank">Step by Step: Create a test forum based on a 'snapshot' of your live one</a>
There may be other articles written here in the Articles forum about it also.

Do I need a completely new domain name for the test site?

I've heard of subdomains, but haven't done any research on them.

What's the best approach on the test site as far as the domains go?

Create a folder called testvb upload all the new contents there.

Create your new database and enter the details in config.php

Use cPanel to .htaccess password protect the directory from public use.

Do I create the 'testvb' folder at the forum root?

So, in essence, my test site would be located at MyDomain.com/testvb, right? Then, I upload everything (like a fresh install of vB) to that folder. Then, create my database and enter the details in the config.php to 'point' to this new directory. Is this right?

I'm not sure how to use the cPanel to setup the .htaccess password protect yet, but I wanted to make sure that I had the first part down.

You could possibly say that you have like 5 beta testers and a coder or two? That wouldn't be considered general public.

Though when it comes to ideas, I ask my staff if they think it is a good idea and if they give me the go ahead, I do it. I always go to my staff for their advice.