[FearlessWeeder]

Had already determined if I was to “go for it” that I would be purchasing the vB product over the IPB product. Admittedly had some misgivings about starting a forum at all after I began to read thread after thread here about coding and HTML. The vB product will be purchased as soon as I’m incorporated. Not interested in wasting time reviewing software other than vB any longer.

Appears the most reliable means by which to back up is described here-
Backing Up The Database via SSH/Telnet
http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/m...nce_ssh_backup

Other viable options may be-
MySQLDumper:
http://www.mysqldumper.de/en/index.php
MySQLHotxcopy:
http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showt...t=mysqlhotcopy

I will leave the decision of how to back up to my server/host man. This is way out of my league.

I’ve been reading my notes from the AdminZone forums regarding management, privacy, and security. I’ve now taken the time to review vB's available add-ons for 3.7… all 23 pages of them. I have selected the following to start with and others can be added on an as-needed basis after I actually get the forum up:

vB Database Backup (in the event my host doesn’t allow SSH/Telnet)
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=167276

Multiple account login detector (AE Detector)
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=183268

Force Users to Read a Thread (want all members to read the TOS, PP, and rules)
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=172155

Cyb - Advanced Forum Rules
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=177559

NoSpam! for vBulletin 3.7
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=183329

vbAnonymizer
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=184267

Proxy IP to real IP conversion
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=165483

Image Resizer
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=176531

Separate Sticky and Normal Threads
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=165550

Welcome headers - Improve community registration rates
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=165519

Should anyone feel I have chosen poorly, please let me know. Should anyone feel I’m missing an add-on that would ease my forum start-up headaches, please suggest it otherwise I'll be back here at vBulletin.org in a few months after I deal with other issues.

And now that all this coding and HTML is behind me; I need to focus on working with the lawyers to incorporate then onto drafting a TOS, a PP, and basic rules for a different set of lawyers to review. From visiting active forums online, I have a few other concerns that I’m sure the good folk at AdminZone can help me address. From there I need to find a way to change the colors of the vB board to an earthy and light sage green and figure out how to get an eye catching banner up at the top with the name of the .org that looks some semblance of professional. There are other miscellaneous items on my to-do list but you all here wiped out any reservations I had about moving forward.

I thank you ALL for your guidance and patience. Admittedly I am not the type of person who would feel compelled to see what more could be done with the software and am totally relieved there is no need to be sitting through online HTML and coding courses for Dummies

editing to add Digital Jedi's suggestions to my list above-

vBCredits - Ultimate Points System
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=172399

AME (Auto Media Embedding)
?

Download Manager II
?