Major Additions - CERBERUS: 1 vB4: runs multiple domains with custom styles, forums, universal login

***Attention: This product is currently UNSUPPORTED***

We would like to release an Alpha version of the vBulletin4 Cerberus product. This product allows you to create one vBulletin4 installation which can power unlimited number of domains and sub-domains; while allowing to customize each domain differently to make it look like different sites or sections. Domains will have one universal admincp and user login information.

***Example***
www.supercoolautoforum.com - main site, all forums
ferarri.supercoolautoforum.com - custom style and forums, same login
bmw.supercoolautoforum.com- custom style and forums, same login
honda.supercoolautoforum.com - custom style and forums, same login
supercoolmotorcycleforum.com - custom style and forums, same login

*** Why are you releasing this, I want more features?! ***

This is a very simple product; we believe that the basic functionality provided in this product will satisfy a lot of communities - and since the product is simple - it will be easy to extend it and modify it to work for your custom community requirements.

Overview of Current Features:

• One shared installation of vBulletin 4
• One shared user account on all domains
• Custom Style for each domain
• Custom Forum listing for each domain

Known Issues:

• CMS and Blogs are currently not configured to have special domain-specific categories and sections. CMS is shared across all sites although the appearance will be different for each domain.

Project Contributors: s.lauderdale;m.biddle;a.ahn; anders

[sticky]

Originally Posted by KW802

OK, here's the solution...


For those interested, the fix would be to modify your "** Load Config **" plugin and look for...

case 'bbtitle':
     if($ib_in_matching_host) {
          $vbulletin->options['bbtitle'] = $ib_the_spec[1];
     }
     break;

... and then below it add:

case 'keywords':
     if($ib_in_matching_host) {
          $vbulletin->options['keywords'] = $ib_the_spec[1];
     }
     break;
case 'description':
     if($ib_in_matching_host) {
          $vbulletin->options['description'] = $ib_the_spec[1];
     }
     break;

Then in your Cerberus settings (ACP => Options => vBCerberus => Cerberus Definition) add two new entries for 'keywords' & 'description' as needed.

Going by my example URLs I posted earlier, "CinVin.com" is my 'real' site while "LowerPottsgrove.com" is my virtual site I am running off of it using Cerberus. With that in mind, below is my current definition entry after adding the settings for 'hometitle' (see earlier in the thread), 'keywords', and 'description' as described in this post.

Remember, for your main 'real' site you only need to add the definitions for what you are overriding, you don't have to duplicate the settings that are normally in your ACP already.

I think VB needs to start paying you. You are an amazing resource on this board, seriously, your help with this product is better than most supported products.

You have my gratitude and I am in your debt.

[merk_aus]

Originally Posted by KW802

EDIT: Never mind, ignore my original response, I see what is going on.... the "meta name" & "meta description" are not being updated uniquely per domain. I'll experiment a bit tonight to see what I can do.

KW802 can I have your babies? You are a true asset to this board.

[merk_aus]

Originally Posted by BirdOPrey5

Are you sure your domains are properly parked with your web host? (and not on domain forwarding)

Thanks for attempting to help
My forums are at: http://forums.sportainment.com.au - where this is installed - I have attempted to Park the Domain which then points to our main site (WIP) at http://www.sportainment.com.au - then attempted to redirect that to the board however doing that only shows the sportainment forums.

I have attempted with an addon domain however it doesn't work.

Just for information purposes (incase someone else wants to know) I am using cPanel.

EDIT: OKAY I thought I would update everyone. I finally got this installed. I installed a new one on my websites main domain http://sportainment.com.au and once doing that I have turned around and somehow got everything else to work.

My only issue now is (and I will be reviewing this entire thread to see if it is posted here) I am trying to make it that the CMS is only available on domain1.com and so if members type in domain2.com, domain3.com they get taken straight to the forums for that site.

If anyone can help would really be appreciated - in the mean time thank you to all the help from everyone in here so far.

[KW802]

Originally Posted by merk_aus

Thanks for attempting to help
My forums are at: http://forums.sportainment.com.au - where this is installed - I have attempted to Park the Domain which then points to our main site (WIP) at http://www.sportainment.com.au - then attempted to redirect that to the board however doing that only shows the sportainment forums.

I have attempted with an addon domain however it doesn't work.

Just for information purposes (incase someone else wants to know) I am using cPanel.

I'm not following entirely... you're trying to get "forums.sportainment.com.au" and "www.sportainment.com.au" to show different content or the same content?

[merk_aus]

Originally Posted by KW802

I'm not following entirely... you're trying to get "forums.sportainment.com.au" and "www.sportainment.com.au" to show different content or the same content?

Sorry to begin with sportainment.com.au was going to be a WP blog, with forums.sportainment.com.au as our forums - however I just posted while you were typing (I guess) I have altered everything and am now just trying to get it to a point where the CMS only displays when people type in the domain name sportainment.com.au and not when people type in any other domain.

[BirdOPrey5]

Originally Posted by merk_aus

T
My only issue now is (and I will be reviewing this entire thread to see if it is posted here) I am trying to make it that the CMS is only available on domain1.com and so if members type in domain2.com, domain3.com they get taken straight to the forums for that site.

There might be a better way but you could use the conditional I have in post #193 and put code in the header of the CMS template to forward people to another page depending on which domain they are using.

You can redirect with Javascript then...

<script type="text/javascript">
<!--
window.location = "http://www.domain2.com/forums/forum.php"
//-->
</script>

[sticky]

Originally Posted by BirdOPrey5

There might be a better way but you could use the conditional I have in post #193 and put code in the header of the CMS template to forward people to another page depending on which domain they are using.

You can redirect with Javascript then...

<script type="text/javascript">
<!--
window.location = "http://www.domain2.com/forums/forum.php"
//-->
</script>

How do I use this conditional or where do I put it? Forwarding to another page depending on the domain would solve all my issues as I would just forward them to the section ID that sorts the CMS for the domain.

[KW802]

Originally Posted by sticky

How do I use this conditional or where do I put it? Forwarding to another page depending on the domain would solve all my issues as I would just forward them to the section ID that sorts the CMS for the domain.

I have a solution for you coming. Give me a little bit tonight to export the XML and write-up a post.

[sticky]

Originally Posted by KW802

I have a solution for you coming. Give me a little bit tonight to export the XML and write-up a post.

Wow! Thanks.

[merk_aus]

thanks to everyone for their assistance - things are working alright now. If they type in domain2.com it loads the maindomain.com stuff however if they type in domain2.com/forums.php it works how it should - kinda weird but it's liveable.

I will make a post to update their bookmarks or else i will smash them lol