On the road again

[Zeke]

I have some bad news, guys. You may recall that our phpbb was recently exploited by hackers (http://www.fiveminute.net/forums/viewtopic.php?p=67947#67947) to break into the server. Well, it's not just our server and this kind of thing can't be going on. Antony's told me, and I reluctantly agree, that we have to get new forum software.

The problem is, which one? We've tried ikonBoard and it didn't work out; ezboard I just don't like much. phpbb is about the best free forum around. Paying for one is also an option... but, like freedom (http://www.crfh.net/d/20030221.html), security is expensive. If we were to get something like Invision or vBulletin, I'd need you guys to help pay for it, because they cost around $150 (plus a renewal fee each year if you want to keep getting the upgrades).

So let's get some suggestions. What forum systems have you liked elsewhere, and why?

[MaverickZer0]

Ah...I don't know many non-php forums, but there's one I go to...it's hosted by, I think, ForumCo. http://www.forumco.com/
It is free, and it's a fairly good system--low crash, and as far as I know few security holes, but there's a couple of downsides, one of the main ones being that we wouldn't be able to upload our own avatars.
Example of forumco forum here: http://suzaknachan.forumco.com/default.asp

[MmeBlueberry]

ProBoards (http://www.proboards.com) is free, but I've only used them in a very limited way, so I really have no clue whether they'd be a good fit for 5M.net or not.

A board I visit a lot uses vBulletin, and I really like it.

I'm figuring you want one vote per household, so I'm not voting in the poll.

[Gatac]

Figure I can blow a couple bucks on it...no preferences, though.

Gatac

[PointyHairedJedi]

I've got a spare kidney to sell if it comes to that. My knowledge of the pros and cons of forum software is very limited however, so I honestly could not make an informed choice even if I really, really wanted to (and I mean really).

[Chancellor Valium]

Um, don't know much about the subject, but I did find This page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Internet_forum_software)...Hope it helps...

Also, would you be able to transfer threads or would that require manual reposting?

[Zeke]

Heh, how encyclopedic. Wikipedia never fails to suck. Anyway, whatever we decide on, there's probably a database conversion tool I can get -- phpbb is enormously popular.

Antony runs a vBulletin and has recommended it (he says he plans to convert the Trek BBS to that system eventually, in fact). A license costs $180 USD. If we choose vB, it'll definitely take a while to gather the funds...

[Chancellor Valium]

I run a small forum of my own. If the fora and members need a place to stay for a while...

[PointyHairedJedi]

Antony runs a vBulletin and has recommended it (he says he plans to convert the Trek BBS to that system eventually, in fact). A license costs $180 USD. If we choose vB, it'll definitely take a while to gather the funds...
I could afford to chip in half of that amount, if need be.

[Starpaul20]

I might recommend InvisionFree (http://invisionfree.com/), a free forum host. It has a nice set of features, friendly support, and is easy to learn and use.

InvisionFree also offers a Domain Manager, so you can set it to point at a domain you own.

[Zeke]

A license costs $180 USD. If we choose vB, it'll definitely take a while to gather the funds...
I could afford to chip in half of that amount, if need be.

../images/emoticons/jawdrop.gif

Wow. I don't know if I could accept that, but I'll keep the offer in mind.

(And speaking of offers, thanks, Valium, but we can stay here until we have a new board.)

[Scooter]

I could afford to chip in half of that amount, if need be.I'll take the other half but you'll have to name a building after me. (Do you know there's a building at Rutgers called the Nabisco Food Sciences Building? I threw up when I heard about that.)

[e of pi]

Apparently, all we need is a large envelope and a mailing adress.

[KillerGodMan]

Payment can be as simple as all of us getting a Pay-Pal account and converting funds to USD

As for forums, Zeke; I've been part of a few invasion forums, I like them, but I don't know if it'll have what you need

[ijdgaf]

Is this gonna be more euros? I'm not made of euros.

[Sa'ar Chasm]

Is this gonna be more euros? I'm not made of euros.

Relax. It's quatloos.

[Zeke]

IJD is referring to the fact that he paid for this year's fiveminute.net domain renewal. We're registered with GANDI, so we pay in euros.

Scooter, are you serious about paying the other half? As in Jedi's case, I wouldn't actually ask that much of you... but the two of you can certainly cover a large share of it.

[Scooter]

Scooter, are you serious?Yep.

[PointyHairedJedi]

I don't want a building named after me. I will however have to refer to you from now on as Zekey-buns or Zekebob Clockpants, depending on my mood at the time.

[evay]

I'll pony up whatever you don't get from the other two, Z.

[Derek]

I voted "yes" and I'm certainly willing to chip in. Granted it sounds like I don't really need to since everyone else has already volunteered more than enough, but if we decide to split the cost evenly among all those willing (or something like that), then I'm willing to take a share.

[Chancellor Valium]

I'll chip in, but I'm a little skint at the moment...I also don't trust online stuff. Would an envelope and address do?

Will Triganic Pu do?

[PointyHairedJedi]

In that case, Valium, it might be simpler to have me pay your contribution by PayPal and then send me a cheque, else you'd have to send Zeke a money order of some sort.

Of course, it could just be a fiendish plot by myself to learn your true indentity... :twisted:

[Chancellor Valium]

What makes you think you could identify me?

And I could always convert some Sterling into Canadian Dollars at the Post Office, put them in an envelope, and send it 'Par Avion'...

[Sa'ar Chasm]

And I could always convert some Sterling into Canadian Dollars at the Post Office

Or some pence into Canadian dollars...

I can chip in a bit. Might as well do something useful with it while I've still got it.

[PointyHairedJedi]

And I could always convert some Sterling into Canadian Dollars at the Post Office, put them in an envelope, and send it 'Par Avion'...
So you don't trust "online stuff", but you're perfectly willing to send envelopes containing wads of money through the postal system? Oh, you're a funny chap sometimes Valium, you really are. :D

[AntonyF]

Hi everyone,

As I've said to Zeke "No phpBB on the new server", I thought I'd pop in and give a bit of info.

Zeke has explained why I'm anti phpBB, so don't need to go over that. But I am very pro-vBulletin for many reasons.
It's a very good system, adaptable and offers a lot.
Updates are pretty easy for the system.
They update a lot to fix holes, and sometimes not even their holes. They issued a patch recentlly to counter a problem with IE.
I have started to use vBulletin and, also as Zeke says, want to use it more and more. I can more easily manage the server if we're on systems I know and I can even help in keeping vBulletin up to date.
vBulletin allows import from phpBB.
You seem to have some very dedicated and helpful people here Zeke, so if you guys can help then that's very kind and I do recommend vBulletin.

If you need any help in terms of collecting money, Christian or I should be able to help. Otherwise my help will be technical, and I'll do whatever I can to make the process go more smoothly.

Antony

[PointyHairedJedi]

You seem to have some very dedicated and helpful people here Zeke...
I'm especially super. :D

[Zeke]

Wow. You guys are really something.

I've decided to go with vBulletin for simplicity's sake and because Antony will be able to help with it. We have more than enough contributors now, and I've contacted them to organize the payment. The server change is happening on Monday; it shouldn't take long to get the vBulletin running, but don't panic if the forum is down for a day or two.

[ijdgaf]

Question:

Will all the current posts disappear?

[Zeke]

Will all the current posts disappear?

No. Everything in the database should be importable, except mod-based things like country flags, member titles, and such.

[Gatac]

Oh yeah...so a round of new member titles for everyone, then? :)

Gatac

[Ginga]

Oh yeah...so a round of new member titles for everyone, then? :)

Gatac

Hopefully not after waiting for almost a year. :(

[ijdgaf]

Hooray, I do love a set of fora with a substantial quantity of archives to peruse.

Seriously. Damn useful.

[mark726]

I can pitch in a few bucks, but not much, unfortunately. Curse me being a poor college student.

[PointyHairedJedi]

Sell a kidney or something, you hippy. :P

[Chancellor Valium]

Some of us aren't made of kidneys - just 'cause you've got seven...Ruddy freak accidents during regeneration...

:P

[PointyHairedJedi]

Next you'll be telling me that you don't have five hearts either (which is sorta funny anyhow, because people are always telling me I'm all heart).

[Zeke]

Ladies and gents, I have purchased a vBulletin license. Many thanks to all who contributed; you'll be hearing from me about how the distribution shook out.

[Chancellor Valium]

Next you'll be telling me that you don't have five hearts either (which is sorta funny anyhow, because people are always telling me I'm all heart).

Just the two, thank ye.

Zeke: Is there somewhere I can send you some money?

[Zeke]

Actually, Valium, we have enough people paying by PayPal that I think we may as well not bother with anything more involved. Thanks for your willingness to contribute -- and you'll get another chance to pay me for stuff after the move, when I finally get that Fivers On Commission thing started.

[mark726]

Sell a kidney or something, you hippy. :P

Too little too late. I already thought of that to pay off my student loans :-p. I'm also down 1/2 a liver, a lung, and, for some odd reason, 3/5 of my appendix. Some guy just really wanted it...

[PointyHairedJedi]

I just like to collect appendixes (apendices? appendixii?) is all.

[e of pi]

I just like to collect appendixes (apendices? appendixii?) is all.
It's apendices.

[PointyHairedJedi]

Appendixii is so much more fun to say though.

[e of pi]

You've got me there.

[MmeBlueberry]

m-w.com says it can be appendixes or appendices. Not apendices, nor ap(p)endixii. And even if it were the latter, it seems to me that it would either be appendii or appendixi, not appendixii. Radius only becomes radii because the letter right before "us" is i, not because ii is added to it.

Of course, I like to refer to multiple DVDs that arrive in the mail as Netflices, so it's possible that you shouldn't listen to me.

[PointyHairedJedi]

"Netflices"? Now I've heard it all. :P

[Chancellor Valium]

Including both the Answer and the Question?

[PointyHairedJedi]

Yes. I'm not allowed to tell them both to anyone though (and as it turns out, that whole "42" thing was a complete crock).

[Zeke]

Okay folks, it looks like the forum will finally move sometime today. Don't be worried if service is uneven as a result.

[PointyHairedJedi]

Are we there yet?

[Sa'ar Chasm]

Do we have to over those mountains?

[e of pi]

How will this move affect the creation of the new version of the 5M.net skin?

[mudshark]

Are we there yet?
So it would seem.

Edit: 'Twould also seem that I've acquired a couple of extra characters in my signature.

[PointyHairedJedi]

Well, they're certainly unexpected. I wonder who they could be...

[e of pi]

Check the dramatis personae. That should tell what the extra characters are in some kind of detail.

[PointyHairedJedi]

I'm going to have to do something bad to you now, I'm afraid.



NI!

[e of pi]

Me too. *Flinches*

[PointyHairedJedi]

Zeke, you eye-stabber you, you've been reading too much Cyanide & Happiness for your own good!


*Squeeze*

[Celeste]

Nobody wins in gangsta bowls!!!

Ahh, Cyanide and Happiness. I love thee.

[PointyHairedJedi]

And make sure it's full of cream and baby rhinos!



...I think I'm getting my references confused now.