Site/Foz upgrades

[evolution]

Another vbulletin bug lol looks like the mobile view doesn't show everything unless you click the 'full site"option on the bottom of the page. Another joy of running an outdated version.

Bloody hell years and years of being on this forum and I never knew that was an option

Can see the poll now

[Couscous]

Furns, I think the answer depends on how many users the site has. I don't look at local Newy football talk, so I don't know how busy this place is. What is the approx cost required per active user?

[Couscous]

Bloody hell years and years of being on this forum and I never knew that was an option

Can see the poll now

How do we revert to mobile version? The foz is now unreadable.

[furns]

How do we revert to mobile version? The foz is now unreadable.

Bottom left of the screen is a style drop down box that says default style. Click it and select default mobile style.

[furns]

I have had a quick look around for other Aus-based hosting services with decent reputations and found VentraIP and Crucial.
On comparing what we get with Panthur, an equivalent hosting plan with the others is actually be more expensive.
We can go for an overseas host however servers and support will also be overseas.

[furns]

Have done some behind the scenes tweaking of forum permissions, removed the ability for users to email each other, as I think that's where the spam emails were originating. Have also repaired the databases so hoping that should get rid of the database errors ppl were getting when trying to view the foz. Please let me know if anyone is still getting those errors.
Not sure why private messaging is still not working, will investigate on weekend when I'm off, and I will also be pruning some users as well.

[My2BobsWorth]

I contacted Pasquali on Green and Gold forum re the hosting. He said he uses this mob
https://www.accuwebhosting.com/web-hosting/linux
Said he uses the GoSolo++ but probably not suitable if you're wanting to take the forum history with you.
Personally I don't care either way, take it or leave it

[Bremsstrahlung]

Have done some behind the scenes tweaking of forum permissions, removed the ability for users to email each other, as I think that's where the spam emails were originating. Have also repaired the databases so hoping that should get rid of the database errors ppl were getting when trying to view the foz. Please let me know if anyone is still getting those errors.
Not sure why private messaging is still not working, will investigate on weekend when I'm off, and I will also be pruning some users as well.

Thanks for your efforts Furns.
Appreciated by many here. Even if they don’t know it.

Enjoy pruning some users. This sounds like a fun time.

[Lofty]

Should be an annual fee of $5, something negligible but still inclusive. It might actually reduce some of the trolls that come on here and also users that create more than one account.
Goes towards admin costs and then the balance could go to a nominated local charity or something.

I feel an upgrade would be great and added features like being able to react to posts.

[Jetmaster]

host is Panthur - Australian company with local servers. While $400 a year seems exxy they are top notch to deal with and have been able to provide tech support whenever I've asked for it. I can look around for cheaper, but it's not always better.

Yes I have used Panthur for some years - can't do much better.

Might be worth seeing how these safe kids privacy laws ride out too - the possibility is there that ID "may" be needed for forums as well as socials, but nobody, including eKaren, knows for sure yet..

[380]

Should be an annual fee of $5, something negligible but still inclusive. It might actually reduce some of the trolls that come on here and also users that create more than one account.
Goes towards admin costs and then the balance could go to a nominated local charity or something.

I feel an upgrade would be great and added features like being able to react to posts.

The member would have to take out a loan to cover the cost of all his multi's

[furns]

host is Panthur - Australian company with local servers. While $400 a year seems exxy they are top notch to deal with and have been able to provide tech support whenever I've asked for it. I can look around for cheaper, but it's not always better.
As far as sticking with vbulletin, I was looking at an easy way to keep all our data intact - everyone remembers the GFC (Great Foz Crash) and it would be a death knell to the foz if I somehow effed it all up and we started from scratch again haha
Proboards doesn't have any migration tools to bring across vbulletin databases etc without a lot of backend dicking around and even then apparently some stuff will not transfer. Upon investigation it looks like Xenforo forums do have a migration service for vbulletin and was actually created by former vbulletin ppl so that may be an option. Check out avforums.com they are using Xenforo as their platform. And it seems to have a better reputation than vbulletin especially security-wise.

Xenforo is $195usd which gives you lifetime use and 12 month access to support and updates. If we want to continue the support & updates it's $60usd per year. There are also a bunch of add-ons that can also be purchased to enhance the platform as well as the option ($60usd) for them to handle the install but not the migration as we have a self hosted forum.

Thanks for all the comments everyone, keep them coming. The more input the better, and thanks as well for all the kind words.

so to update a little on this, panthur hosting due in a few weeks - $410. They have also advised the price after this renewal will be increasing to $450.
On current exchange rates $195usd for the xenforo purchase is $280aud.
Im going to hold off on paying for wordfence premium, as I've tweaked the free version we have to hopefully do what we need without requiring the extra level.
I'll hopefully be able to get the upgrade done after I check on the site stability after the recent "downtime".
Once the forum is upgraded and stable I'll launch the donation drive to cover costs. I'll keep everyone updated as to what's going to happen and when.

Cheers 😊

[belchardo]

Cheers Furns. Appreciate the efforts and time. I take back all those times I said furnz and ferns were smarter than you.

[Jeterpool]

Cheers furns. Look forward to the Foz 3.0.

[la bazzle]

Happy to donate, does wordfence premium happen to know how that wilmering hand ball stood?!?!??!