Running several forums w/the same mods & layout

[guile09]

I currently run 2 vbulletin forums, but I will soon be purchasing 5 or 6 more licenses to launch new forums. All of my forums will be exactly the same (mods, layout, style). The only differences, aside from domain name, will be header graphic, and most of the database stuff such as members, posts, forum names & descriptions, etc...

I am in need of some serious consulting on how to setup this many successful forums without having to install 5 or 6 mods on each of my 8 forums. How could I just install the modifications on just 1 of my forums, then just use those same files for my other 7 forums? Which files would have to be unique for each forum, and which ones could just be copied over. Will I have to run all queries for mods that make database modifications on each of the forums or is there a way to copy the database so it works on all (without copying member data and that type of stuff)

Basically, what is the best way to accomplish this? I can offer a paypal donation to whoever can give me solid advice on how to setup and update this many forums in the easiest possible manner.

Appreciate it,
Mike

[Marco van Herwaarden]

Sorry but this can not really be done. Like you already said, some hacks also change the database. I can not give a general answer because some hacks might add to existing tables, and others would create their own. So not easy to give a general answer on how to duplicate that data.

With 3.5 (as long as you stick to plugins/extensions) installing hacks is not a lot of work, so you might want to think twice before going this way.

To make just 1 version of the scripts you could rename your config.php to config_domain.php. Then create a new config.php, and in this new file load the correct config_domain.php based on the domain.

Styles are not that difficult, just create/edit them on 1 board, export the XML, then import into the other boards.