You use a test site to test out new mods, upgrades to software, figure out new template edits/styles, that sort of thing. Then, when you decide to finally upgrade your live site, you turn it off, do the vbulletin upgrade, install the new hacks, import the styles/templates, etc. You must do all the same database changes on your live site that you did on your test site or the hacks that need the database changes will not work (and may break your site).
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