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!

[Undertaker #59]

Do the nodes send and receive their packets to everyone else in the network or do they send their packets up to a hub, which then redistributes them to the other nodes?

[MmS1]

can u make it just for attachments
server one only for forums
server two only for attachments

[zethon]

Originally Posted by Undertaker #59

Do the nodes send and receive their packets to everyone else in the network or do they send their packets up to a hub, which then redistributes them to the other nodes?

All the nodes send and receive packets to and from all the other nodes on the network. There is no "central hub" that distributes packets.

Originally Posted by MmS1

can u make it just for attachments
server one only for forums
server two only for attachments

I don't know what this means.

[ComputerModding]

I got a few simple questions before I have a go with this great little mod.

Lets say that I have two websites in my network and I start a thread on website 1 and after a few days I edit my post on website 1, will the edit also port across to website 2?

On website 1 I have banned a member from the site but they sign up to website 2 and make a post in the networks forum will this post appear on site 1?

A thread is started by a member on site 1 and the administrator on site 2 decides to delete that thread from his website; 1. How will this effect site ones thread and 2. will further posts to the thread on site one be put back onto site 2's forums?

Cheers

[zethon]

Originally Posted by ComputerModding

Lets say that I have two websites in my network and I start a thread on website 1 and after a few days I edit my post on website 1, will the edit also port across to website 2?

Negative. Edits do not propagate to network.

Originally Posted by ComputerModding

On website 1 I have banned a member from the site but they sign up to website 2 and make a post in the networks forum will this post appear on site 1?

There is an option to ban usernames on certain networks in the configuration.

This brings up a good point. If the user signs up with the same email or username on website 2 and is banned on website 1, the post should be blocked. Or perhaps submitted for approval. I'll add this to my todo list.

For now, you can use the settings in vBulletin options.

Originally Posted by ComputerModding

A thread is started by a member on site 1 and the administrator on site 2 decides to delete that thread from his website; 1. How will this effect site ones thread and 2. will further posts to the thread on site one be put back onto site 2's forums?

This is another configuration option. You can have it so that one of two things happen:

1) the posts from the deleted thread get tossed

2) the posts from the deleted (ie. unknown) thead will go into a new thread created automatically with the title of "Unknown Network Thread ID: XYZ"

[rule0]

Originally Posted by zethon

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.

hmm, ok. but installation document says:
"The usergroup "Unregistered / Not Logged" must be given permission to view network forums."

is this only required in installation phase?

[zethon]

Originally Posted by rule0

hmm, ok. but installation document says:
"The usergroup "Unregistered / Not Logged" must be given permission to view network forums."

is this only required in installation phase?

Negative.

AdminCP -> Usergroup Manager -> Unregistered / Not Logged In -> "Can view Forum"

This option must be set to "Yes" for the plugin to work.

Forum permissions override this setting. So you can still block "Unregistered / Not Logged In" users from a specific forum. But the option above must be "Yes" in order for the plugin to work.

[BlueNinjaGo]

Would this mod interfere in any way?
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...t=limit*+guest

[zethon]

Originally Posted by BlueNinjaGo

Would this mod interfere in any way?
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...t=limit*+guest

Probably not. As long as the option mentioned above is set appropiately, the vbNetwork plugin should work just fine.

[abrecher]

I have a network of related forums and I was looking for a solution that would accomplish MANY of the items this mod accomplishes. Fantastic work and I really hope to see this product updated and not end up in the grave yard!