To You Strong vBulletin Users Looking To Switch

[RagingHippieHost]

First of all, I want to congratulate you on deciding to convert your vBulletin forum to a version of SMF. vBulletin is pretty expensive and it takes a lot of trust in SMF to go from a set up where people get paid to help you out, to a place where support is volunteered.

When you first start the conversion, you may ask yourself questions like, "What version of SMF is the best choice for me?" or "Is the version I've chosen the most secure?" Well, this is where, hopefully, this thread comes in.

SMF 1.1.11 or 2.0 RC3?

Facing the Statistics
When choosing which version is right for you, you need to take into account some important factors. Which version has the best security? Are you more interested in compatible mods or themes, or both? Which layout, look, and feel do you enjoy more?

Best Security?
2.0 RC3 is definitely the most up-to-date version and is the product of the hard work the SMF Team has done, and has many more features, but is it the most secure? Here are a few quotes from SMF's users:

..I would suggest that you update your forum there have been MANY security fixes some critical since 1.1 RC3

Converted a site with 25k members and 760k posts from Vbulletin 4  (560 mb database)
90% love it, 10% hate anything different

Things I like
Speed is very very good, much faster than Vbulletin
Easier for user (need this, most of my users are 30-60's)
backup section created before a mod is added (absolutely brilliant, saved my arse already)
Mods are nice, and easy to set the people you do or don't want to use them
wap2 is excellent for my users, most are mobile and really like this

Things I don't like
User can see their ip and email addy on profile (they are paranoid and think their details are exposed to the world even when they are not)
Email Member function... Don't like this at all for spam purposes wish there was an option to delete this or disable

Things that concern me
Updates and Security
SEO (I am #1 and want to stay that way)

I thank you all for your hard work

However, there are a few people that weren't so happy with 2.0 RC3:

Hi i have this website with smf forum:

Code Select Expand

http://aikidoportugal.net/forum/

Yesterday it got hacked, so i checked all different files in the /forum folder, and updated to 2.0 rc3 version hopping it will be safe for good. So today i get to work, and checked my forum and there it was again. If you check my link you'll see who it is.

What do you advise me, what more can i delete or can i block all ips from that country, if so what is the best way to do it and how? Please.

Is there any security mod, or ban country module or something? Is it possible that he left some files i dont know, and defaced again, because he sent bogus files to my forum root, wich i deleted.

Once again thank you very much for your help.

When reading these, you need to take into account the fact that the SMF team cannot be completely perfect (although, most of the time, they're almost there!). I, personally, recommend that you convert to SMF 2.0 RC3 if you are worried about security because they have done many security fixes since the 1.1.x versions. They say so themselves throughout this forum.

Best Mods/Themes?
If you check out the Mod Site, you'll notice that the SMF 2.0 RC3 mods have been multiplying at quite a humongous rate. They're currently at 25 pages worth of mods, and mod developers are continuing to upgrade their mods to be compatible with 2.0 RC3.

But are the mods for 2.0 RC3 the ones you need? I suggest that before choosing which version you want to use, you should browse through the mods and themes for SMF and find the ones that would help your forum out the most. I, personally, have chosen to go with 2.0 RC3 because of certain mods that I felt I needed for my forum (being as it is a support forum for my web hosting site). Plus, I like the new admin cp they have for 2.0 RC3.

Version 1.1.11 also has many mods worth taking a look at, like the [BBCode] LtR and RtL mod by iKorp or the Ad Revenue Sharing Mod by mghq. They have 38 pages worth of mods, but you have to take into account the fact that most mod developers are no longer making mods for 1.1.x versions, and have moved on to making them for 2.0 RC3. If you take a look at the Latest Submissions, you'll notice that what I've stated is true, most submissions are for 2.0 RC3.

Finding Help Before You Ask For It

I've decided to help you guys out and provide you with links to solved threads about converting from vBulletin to SMF. Remember that when you mark a topic as solved, it helps other members of this support forum know that they can look at your thread for answers, and it saves everyone time and energy.

How To Redirect Old vBulletin URLs to new ones
vBulletin 4.0 to 2.0 RC3 Problem
Vbulletin 3.8.3 to SMF 1.1.11 Errors/Questions
Converting VB 3.6.4
survive old vBulletin board crawled URLs
Converter error (vBulletin 3.8 to SMF 2 RC2)
I successfully converted a 3.8.4 VB board to SMF2 RC2, but now I can't login
[RESOLVED]Bulk update of member permissions. this is possible?
[RESOLVED]Zero posts after converting
vBulletin 3.6 to SMF 2.0 RC2 ERROR
[vBulletin 3.8.4 to SMF 2.0 RC2] max_allowed_packet Error with PMs

I strongly suggest that you use the search bar function, found at the top of this site on every page, if you cannot find the answers you need in any of the threads above. I hope this thread is of some help, please post a reply if it was!


Updated Solved Problems (4/12/10):
Problem when convert vbulletin to smf
[PROBLEM] Vbulletin 4.0.1 to SMF 2.0
SMF 2 + SMF 2 - how?
I wanna convert vBulletin 3.8.4 to SMF 2.0 RC3
Vbulletin 3.8.3 to SMF 1.1.11 Errors/Questions
how to redirect old vb urls to new ones?

[Norv]

Thank you for taking the time to write this guide. I'm sure it can be helpful to people, special thanks goes for finding the potentially useful links. There's a lot of information in this forum, but it's not always easy to find.

[RagingHippieHost]

Thank you for taking the time to write this guide. I'm sure it can be helpful to people, special thanks goes for finding the potentially useful links. There's a lot of information in this forum, but it's not always easy to find.

You're welcome. :]

[Liam.]

Great guide I've restarted my only vBulletin forum from scratch onto SMF (it wasn't really big, so...). Great guide, now if there was some way to make it grab attention more...

[RagingHippieHost]

Great guide I've restarted my only vBulletin forum from scratch onto SMF (it wasn't really big, so...). Great guide, now if there was some way to make it grab attention more...

It'd be great if a moderator could sticky this post, but someone else has to ask, not me, because I'm the OP.

[Norv]

I don't see how locking it will make it have more attention... Perhaps you meant sticky?
I wouldn't sticky it as yet, but I will re-read and consider it. (it may depend on the feedback received, too)

[RagingHippieHost]

I don't see how locking it will make it have more attention... Perhaps you meant sticky?
I wouldn't sticky it as yet, but I will re-read and consider it. (it may depend on the feedback received, too)

Yeah, I meant sticky it.

[Antechinus]

Hmm. You're not quite correct about 2.0 RC3 being greatly more secure that 1.1.11. The post you quoted about there being a lot of security fixes was referring to the RC3 version of 1.1, not the 1.1.11 version. Obviously there is a vast difference in terms of which security upgrades have been applied. AFAIK 1.1.11 is as secure as 2.0 RC3. 

[rd]

There are more automated spam bots made to bypass 1.x versions because they have been around for a long time. The 2.x is still new and thus not automated sign up programs.

I have personal issues with 1.1.11, so far I have never used 1.1.11 in any of my sites, not even the business and professional ones.

This topic is pretty good, it looks at the pros and cons... I like that.

[RagingHippieHost]

This topic is pretty good, it looks at the pros and cons... I like that.

Thanks for that, I need it.