Forum Home Enhancements - Ventrilo Stats Block without needing vBadvanced

This mod has been replaced! https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=240495

This mod does NOT require vbadvanced. So some people liked my vbadvanced mod that displayed the Ventrilo Status, but didn't want vbadvanced.

I have now made this one that doesn't require vbadvanced, but it does require Style changes. I hope you enjoy!

Support Thread: http://www.mmo-mods.com/forum/showthread.php?p=13858

Author:

Crimm - Included because I have been finding my mods all over the internet taken via RSS :P

Description:

This will place a Ventrilo status block in a column on your vbulletin home. It uses some of the files found on Ventrilo.com's download section plus things I have learned to integrate them into vBulletin.

NOTE 1: Debug option may display server information. Hide the block to non-admins when debugging the block or else malicious individuals could get their hands on your server information.

NOTE 2: Style Changes required! To place this on your forum home, you must make some changes to your forumhome template. All styles are not made the exact same. I will offer examples below, but I can NOT support all the styles for vBulletin. If you have trouble I suggest you contact the style developer for your style.

Difficulty:

6/10 - It's mainly normal installs, but it's difficult to debug this ventrilo status script and it requires template edits.

Requirements:

• vBulletin 3.7+
• Ventrilo Server
  
• PHP SAFE MODE OFF http://www.php.net/manual/en/features.safe-mode.php - Edit php.ini and turn off

Safe mode being off is very important and will be the biggest problem people have with this script. To test and see if you pass this requirement follow these steps:

1. Create a file called info.php
2. Put this line inside it:

<?php phpinfo(); ?>

3. Upload it to your website.
4. Visit the new page by going to: http://yoursite.com/info.php or wherever you uploaded it.
5. Look for a line that says: "safe_mode"
6. If that says - On next to it... then contact your host, because you can't go any further.

**I was going to try and implement a check, but can't seem to figure out how to do that.**


Support:

Here or my site: mmo-mods.com I spend the majority of my online time at my site so feel free to stop by and ask for help.

FAQ's:

Q: Yes I have seen this mod: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...age=5&t=113432 Isn't this the same mod?

A: No, it isn't like that. It's a side block. - See screenshots.

Q: I'm getting this: CVentriloStatus->Request() failed. PHP Unable to start external status process. Or this error: (Since friendly errors were turned on in version .2) "Can't find or run ventrilo_status"

A: Please post and I will try to help, best bet is to visit my site where this information is being culminated as a community and where I spend most of my time. http://mmo-mods.com. Experience tells me it has to be one of these three things:

1. Permissions: Make sure to chmod your ventrilo_status to 755 if you are on linux. If you are on Windows, make sure that whatever is running your IIS process can execute ventrilo_status.exe
2. You are in PHP safe mode. This won't work in PHP Safe mode.
3. It's a path problem - I made everything relative. I have included some testing scripts, please use them as directed below.
4. Make sure that you have chosen the correct environment set in your settings.

Q: I'm getting this error: "No response."

A: Check your Server information. You can obtain this from your ventrilo host.

Q: I'm getting this error: "Unknown Error."

A: Copy/Paste the exact error and post it here with your domain so that I can take a look

Q: Whats the best way to debug an issue?

A: I included a debug option in the Ventrilo Status Block Options in vBulletin options, but note be very careful as it displays server information that could be useful to hackers. Make sure to hide the block from non-admins when you have this option checked.

Q: I need to hide this block for non-administrators until I can get it working... What do I do?

A: I was going to show you guys how to do IF statements to hide it from Non administrators but it became to combersome. If you need to hide it. Then do this:

• Go to admincp->Style Manager
• Click add new style
• For title put in: Testing
• Hit save.
• Do the template edits below in the testing style instead of your forum style.
• Once completed go back to admincp->Style manager
• Click the style you just created and you will see what it looks like.
• After you are done testing you can go back to admincp->Style manager and delete the style and click your default style to go back to it.

In future version coming soon ... I will add a way to hide this in the vb options.


Installation:

1. Download the ZIP file attached
2. Upload the includes folder to your forum folder
3. Browse to the includes/ventrilo folder and chmod ventrilo_status to 755 for linux and check execute permissions if you are using Windows.
4. Go to admincp -> Products -> Install the product in the zip file
5. Go to Admincp -> vb options -> Ventrilo Block Settings
6. Put in your server information and check your environment and other settings
7. Now edit go to Styles & Templates -> Edit the FORUMHOME template of your style (MAKE A BACKUP FIRST!!!!!) and input the following information:
   
   Special note: This has been tested and operational on the default style. For other styles, please contact your style author as I can't troubleshoot other people's work in respect of that developer.
   • [For a right column status block do this:]
     • FIND
       
       

       $navbar

     • BELOW ADD:
       
       

       <!-- Ventrilo Status side column -->
       <table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
       <tr>
       <td valign="top">
       <!-- / Ventrilo Status side column -->

     • FIND
       
       

       $footer

     • ABOVE ADD
       
       

       <!-- Ventrilo Status side column -->
       </td>
       <td width="10px"></td>
       <td valign="top" width="160px">
       <table class="tborder" border="0" cellspacing="$stylevar[cellspacing]" cellpadding="$stylevar[cellpadding]" width="100%" align="center">
       <tr>
       <td class="thead">
       <center>Ventrilo Status</center>
       </td>
       </tr>
       <tr>
       <td class="alt1">
       $ventrilo_include 
       </td>
       </tr>
       <tr>
       <td class="alt2">
       <center><font size="-3">$display2</font></center>
       </td>
       </tr>
       </table>
       </td>
       </tr>
       </table>
       <!-- / Ventrilo Status side column -->

   • [For a left column do this:]
     • FIND
       
       

       $navbar

     • ADD BELOW
       

       <!-- Ventrilo Status side column -->
       <table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
       <tr>
       <td valign="top" width="160px">
       <table class="tborder" border="0" cellpadding="$stylevar[cellpadding]" cellspacing="$stylevar[cellspacing]" width="100%" align="center">
       <tr>
       <td class="thead">
       <center>Ventrilo Status</center>
       </td>
       </tr>
       <tr>
       <td class="alt1">
       $ventrilo_include 
       </td>
       </tr>
       <tr>
       <td class="alt2">
       <center><font size="-3">$display2</font></center>
       </td>
       </tr>
       </table>
       </td>
       <td width="10px"></td>
       <td valign="top">
       
       <!-- / Ventrilo Status side column -->

     • FIND
       
       

       $footer

     • ABOVE ADD
       
       

       <!-- Ventrilo Status side column -->
       </td>
       </tr>
       </table>
       <!-- / Ventrilo Status side column -->

   
   
8. If you get an error check the FAQ's above before asking for help.
9. Problems? Post here No problems? Then you are good to go.

Crimm notation on block:

Please leave the notation back to me in the block to help spread the word. I left it small, so it wouldn't bother your site. Us freelancers have to get some fame somehow

Mark as installed:

Please mark as installed if you use this script, and I will assist you with a higher priority than everyone else.

Special Thanks!:

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=119933 - This tutorial and those mods are how I figured out how to add the columns successfully. Thank you very much to Kerry-Anne.

Revisions:

Version 1: Starting to gather scripts together
Version 2: Updated installer and worked on style changes
Version 3: Tested and completed install of product and removed call to global.php
Version 4: Updated Readme and FAQ because of copy/paste mistake :P

Also: Added screenshots

EDIT: Added Product updating code from vb.org

[MasterofWorlds]

getting this error once block is activated.

PHP Code:

Warning: require_once(./includes/ventrilo/ventrilo.php) [function.require-once]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in [path]/global.php(402) : eval()'d code on line 13

Fatal error: require_once() [function.require]: Failed opening required './includes/ventrilo/ventrilo.php' (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/xxxxxxx/public_html/xxxxxx/global.php(402) : eval()'d code on line 13 


thanks for the help

[Crimm]

De-activate and I'll be in touch shortly.

Heading home for the night.

[jesus likes pie]

I'm really getting quite frustrated.

Neither this mod nor the other one are working! I know my server is up (on it right now)....and I have the file chmodded to 755 (if I use the ventrilotest.php files from the ventrilo site the error is "CVentriloStatus->Request() failed. No response from server." so the actual ventrilo_status file is fine).

Ughhh

What is going on?!?!?!

Also, if I enter my vent info on the dozen sites available that do this for you it works fine (such as http://ventrilo.com/status.php)

So it's obviously on the web server side. But what could it be??

edit: host is hostgator.

[araliun]

Quick question to the author:

My Ventrilo configuration is secured with user-authentication. Meaning, you just don't log on with a pre-assigned server password and any-old user name. My Vent requires use of the User-Editor feature with a pre-assigned user name and password (i.e. each user's password is unique and is tied to their pre-assigned user name for authentication to connect). As such - does your configuration file allow the use of a pre-assigned user name and password? or does it just allow a generic password? If the latter - then it will not work for me.

I know - my Vent configuration is not the norm. But I have over 1,000 members - and thus we run a very tight ship in on Ventrilo.

Thanks!
Mark

[Crimm]

Ill be back online tonight and respond to everyone. I'm out of town using my Blackberry right now.

[MasterofWorlds]

no problem, thanks for helping us all. I'm going nuts on my end and can't get a decent answer from my host if it's b/c of there CMOD security.

[jesus likes pie]

Spoke to my host (hostgator). They won't open ports on shared servers.

[Crimm]

Originally Posted by jesus likes pie

I'm really getting quite frustrated.

Neither this mod nor the other one are working! I know my server is up (on it right now)....and I have the file chmodded to 755 (if I use the ventrilotest.php files from the ventrilo site the error is "CVentriloStatus->Request() failed. No response from server." so the actual ventrilo_status file is fine).

Ughhh

What is going on?!?!?!

Also, if I enter my vent info on the dozen sites available that do this for you it works fine (such as http://ventrilo.com/status.php)

So it's obviously on the web server side. But what could it be??

edit: host is hostgator.

Originally Posted by jesus likes pie

Spoke to my host (hostgator). They won't open ports on shared servers.

I'm coming to find out that:

Godaddy
Hostgator
Gameservers

Are all blocking the ports on certain plans. I'm going to add this to the FAQ today.

Thank you and good luck with your webhost.

Originally Posted by araliun

Quick question to the author:

My Ventrilo configuration is secured with user-authentication. Meaning, you just don't log on with a pre-assigned server password and any-old user name. My Vent requires use of the User-Editor feature with a pre-assigned user name and password (i.e. each user's password is unique and is tied to their pre-assigned user name for authentication to connect). As such - does your configuration file allow the use of a pre-assigned user name and password? or does it just allow a generic password? If the latter - then it will not work for me.

I know - my Vent configuration is not the norm. But I have over 1,000 members - and thus we run a very tight ship in on Ventrilo.

Thanks!
Mark

This vent status comes from ventrilo.com. From my knowledge the status can't be blocked with anything other than a simple status password. i.e. Doesn't take user authentication.

I know your security is tight, but if you want you can PM me the following things:

Ventrilo Server address
Ventrilo Server port
Ventrilo Server host

What I have found in the past is that most Ventrilo hosts don't even enable the status password. If nothing else we can punch it into a test. Note: I do NOT need an account to access your ventrilo server to get the status.

If you don't feel comfortable sharing with me. You can go here and give it a shot:

http://ventrilo.com/status.php

Originally Posted by MasterofWorlds

getting this error once block is activated.

PHP Code:

Warning: require_once(./includes/ventrilo/ventrilo.php) [function.require-once]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in [path]/global.php(402) : eval()'d code on line 13

Fatal error: require_once() [function.require]: Failed opening required './includes/ventrilo/ventrilo.php' (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/xxxxxxx/public_html/xxxxxx/global.php(402) : eval()'d code on line 13 


thanks for the help

Did you upload the files that are in the zip? It seems to not be able to find the ventrilo.php file.

[MasterofWorlds]

did some more testing and changing the CHMOD and now got this error

PHP Code:

Fatal error: Cannot redeclare strkey() (previously declared in /home/xxxxxx/public_html/xxxxxx/includes/ventrilo/ventrilostatus.php:21) in /home/xxxxxx/public_html/xxxxx/includes/functions_ventrilostatus.php on line 17 


[Crimm]

That's odd.

Do this for me. I'm still out of town ... PM me your site and what steps you took for install. Let's get this fixed.

Thanks