Miscellaneous Hacks - vbNetwork - share forums with other boards

vbNetwork

Summary

This add-on gives you the ability to share forums with other message boards without having to share any database information. The plugin runs through webservices and uses XML.

Release Notes
Currently the installation is easy but if you want to set up and run your own network it will help if you're familiar with XML. Joining an already existing network is fairly simple.

This plugin is developed using vBulletin 3.8.X and being tested on 3.6.X and 3.8.X. If it works on both of those, I will assume it works on 3.7.X.

If you would like my help writing versions for phpBB, IPB or other message board software, please feel free to contact me.

If you are interested you can join my existing network, but please note that it is mostly a trolling-based community of boards. Feel free to start your own network with other boards.

Product Specifications

1. several plugins
2. one cron job
3. file uploads
4. new DB tables
5. several phrases

Installation
Approx 2-5 mins

See the included installation instructions.

Upgrading/Updating

1. upload all files in the upload directory, overwriting any existing files
2. re-import the XML file, setting "Overwrite" to "Yes"

Configuration

See the included documentation for details.

Support

If you encounter problems or discover any bugs, please create a new issue at: http://code.google.com/p/vbnetwork/issues/list

Change History

• 0.9.0 (2009-02-20) - initial Beta release
• 0.9.2 (2009-05-03) - added (some) logging, fixed bug for 3.8.2
• 0.9.3 (2009-05-03) - added 'Delete' to Network Management, other minor changes
• 0.9.4 (2009-05-08) - added new board and forum management functionality, and some new minor features
• 0.9.5 (2009-05-09) - adds new option to sync network users via email, and added ability to change the network name
• 1.0.0 (2010-06-02) - Version 1.0 for vBulletin 3.8.X

Sample

This is one shared forum on three different boards (the content of this forum may be NSFW).
http://www.anothermessageboard.com/f...splay.php?f=29
http://www.juot.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=50
http://www.drunkensquirrel.net/com/f...splay.php?f=28

PLEASE CLICK INSTALL!

[RvG2]

Very Intersting Mod

I wish to see it stable so I use it soon.

[zethon]

Originally Posted by RvG2

Very Intersting Mod

I wish to see it stable so I use it soon.

Once I have added all the phrases I will release this as 1.0. That should happen in the next week or so.

[zethon]

Originally Posted by KW802

Any chance of it checking by the user's associated email to marry the accounts up from Board A to Board B instead of always being as a guest?

I've added this functionality an I've also added code that will allow you to change the name of an existing network.

Tomorrow when I have time in the afternoon, I will go through and add the missing phrases.

I will then add a few forums on my board to coordinate bvBulletin network, giving useful information like "what kind of network" they, admin information and contact info, etc.

What are the rules about setting up another version of he software on a subdomain. That's allowed right?

[quarum]

What is the possibility of adding Blogs to it as well?

For example someone used vBulleting Blog and that Blog is posted as a Blog on the network sites that use vBulleting Blog?

[nutnut]

Great idea! Any idea why this table didn't get created when I installed? I also noticed that when I try uninstalling the product and reinstalling the previous data doesn't get deleted.

Database error in vBulletin 3.8.0:

Invalid SQL:

SELECT * FROM forumnetwork_sub
LEFT JOIN network_node
ON (network_sub.node_code = network_node.node_code)
AND (network_sub.networkid = network_node.networkid)
WHERE (network_sub.networkid = 3) AND (subid = 75)
ORDER BY network_sub.node_code;

MySQL Error : Table 'x_forum.network_node' doesn't exist
Error Number : 1146
Request Date : Sunday, May 10th 2009 @ 11:38:55 PM
Error Date : Sunday, May 10th 2009 @ 11:38:55 PM
Script : http://x.com/forum/admincp/networkforum.php
Referrer : http://x.com/forum/admincp/index.php?do=nav
IP Address :
Username :
Classname : vB_Database
MySQL Version : 5.0.67-community-log

[rule0]

Originally Posted by zethon

That's Google's problem.

i'm concerned about the dupe content too. If google bans or lowers site's rank/value cos of this, then it quickly becomes publisher's problem
i am sick of modifying sites so search engines may like em, but considering google ads is good income, i dont want to risk it.

[zethon]

Originally Posted by rule0

i'm concerned about the dupe content too. If google bans or lowers site's rank/value cos of this, then it quickly becomes publisher's problem
i am sick of modifying sites so search engines may like em, but considering google ads is good income, i dont want to risk it.

If you're so concerned about duplicate content, you can always hide your network forums from Guests. This would prevent Google from crawling the forum and registering duplicate content.

[ZomgStuff]

Originally Posted by zethon

I've added this functionality an I've also added code that will allow you to change the name of an existing network.

Tomorrow when I have time in the afternoon, I will go through and add the missing phrases.

I will then add a few forums on my board to coordinate bvBulletin network, giving useful information like "what kind of network" they, admin information and contact info, etc.

What are the rules about setting up another version of he software on a subdomain. That's allowed right?

Not under a single license, you must have 2 licenses if you want to run vbulletin on 2 diff subs, or 2 installs in general. I know this for a fact because I specifically asked the vb support a while back.

[BlueNinjaGo]

*tagged*

Extremely interested.

Does it cause much server strain?

[zethon]

Originally Posted by BlueNinjaGo

*tagged*

Extremely interested.

Does it cause much server strain?

Doesn't seem to on my network. I have my cron set up to run as a Unix cron, so the users on my board don't see any delay. I know of a couple of boards that use vBulletin's built in Scheduled Tasks and it doesn't seem to be a problem with them either.

Of couse, the largest network this has been tested on is 5 messageboards all with moderate activity at best.