Renaming forum and moving forum to a new domain/URL

[JDR]

Hi

I administer a forum, for example https://www.aaa.net/forum. [nofollow]

I want to move the forum, with all its members, posts, modifications etc. to a new domain, for example https://www.bbb.net/forum [nofollow]

Can anyone point me in the direction of how to go about this?

Thanks in advance.

Jonathan

[Illori]

take a look at https://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Hosting_-_How_do_I_move_my_SMF_forum_to_a_different_host

you may not need all steps but it should give you a good idea of what you need to do.

[JDR]

Thanks Illori,

It looks like all I will need to do is Run repair_settings.php as the database and all the files will remain on the same server etc. 

Jonathan

[a10]

Also plan on getting members, guests, google etc to find the new site > keep the old domain for a year or so, 1st informing on coming move, and later a long period with .htaccess (301 Permanent Redirect).

[JDR]

I have tried restoring the databases but the way it has to be done is that a blank database needs to be created and a random name is generated by the host for it and then you can restore the databse into that new empty one. I did that and ran the repair_settings.php and referenced the new database name etc but I could not get it to connect

[Matthias]

Is there an error message?

[JDR]

Something like 'Can't connect to the database'

[Matthias]

Recheck your Credentials.

[Kindred]

what host do you have?   You should be able to RESTORE a backup database to the exact same location and name that you backed up --- that is the entire POINT of a backup.

[JDR]

SiteGround...

[Ricky.]

Something like 'Can't connect to the database'

Depending upon the method you use, you need to have db and username on new site , it could be same if its full restore or you may need to assign new user to db you uploaded.
And as you know, https://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Repair_settings.php to verify.

[JDR]

OK, I managed to get it going.

I had to use their randomly generated DB name and restore the SMF DB backup into that empty shell

I had to create a new user, once again with a 10 digit random username and and use the random password generated at the time of  the user creation.

In put those credentials into the repair_settings.php fields and hit play.

Thanks for all your collective help.

Jonathan

[Matthias]

Could you please mark that topic as solved.