What is Sphinx

Can someone please explain exactly what Sphinx does and what are the benefits or cons for using this?

Thanks

[Lynne]

Have you tried google - http://sphinxsearch.com/about/sphinx/

Sphinx is an open source full text search server, designed from the ground up with performance, relevance (aka search quality), and integration simplicity in mind.

Pros... fast, fast, fast.
Cons.... can only run if you have your own dedicated server

[RichieBoy67]

I know it is a search server but I wasn't sure exactly how it relates to VBulletin... Is it meant to replace the built in search function for very large forums or is meant to provide a search function for a whole site?

I have spent some time researching on Google but most of what I found was really far from what I was looking for. Seeing that there is a whole forum dedicated to it I figured it would be a great place to at least find out what it is exactly..

Thanks for your reply..

[Lynne]

It is meant to replace vbulletin's search. You use either vbulletin's search OR sphinx search.

[Boofo]

Originally Posted by Lynne

Cons.... can only run if you have your own dedicated server

Or VPS.

[RichieBoy67]

Does anyone have this up and running so I can test it? I have an application this would be perfect for..

Thanks

[Lynne]

digitalpoint uses it on his forums. This is for forums with a LOT of posts.

[Boofo]

But he uses the vb integration that we wrote which will only work with Sphinx 0.9.9 and above.

[Lynne]

Sure, but it's still Sphinx. If you just want to see how quick it is on a big site, that's a good site to see it put to use.

[Boofo]

True. I just thought you were talking about the vb integration mod from the com. I'll go stand in the corner now.