Copying user database from one vb install to another?

[DevilzFan]

Okay, I tried searching the forums, but kept coming up with results for moving from a non-vb forum to a vb forum.

My issue is this. I'm planning on "re-launching" my site within a month or so. I've created a "testvb" password protected directory, as per the vb terms. I want to re-design my forums, styles, test out some modifications and such.

What I'd like to do is just copy my members data from my current forum setup to the test server. That way the users and their passwords are transferred to the new database. Ideally, my plan is to get the test forum setup and working completely how I want it to, then delete the old forum and move the test/new forum where the old one was on the server.

Hopefully I explained that coherently enough.

If anyone can point me to a manual or whatnot that can explain to me how to do this (if possible) I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you in advance!

[Jake Bunce]

You need to copy both the files and database. Copying the files is a matter of downloading and uploading your forum directory using FTP. Copying the database requires backing up the database and then restoring the dump file to a new database on your server:

http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/m...nce_ssh_backup

http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/m...ce_ssh_restore

Then edit the includes/config.php file of the test forum to point to the new database.

Keep in mind that if you just move your test forum in place of the live forum then you will lose any new posts made since the test forum was created. For that reason I recommend you use the test forum as a point of reference in manually applying your tested changes to the live forum when the time comes. The live forum will contain the latest posts and everything.

[TrickyD]

Building off of this question.

I am planning on buying a second license to launch a new, but related website.

The only thing I want to copy from my existing forum is the user database and probably their avatars.

What is the best method to achieve this goal?

[Jake Bunce]

You can use ImpEx (our free importer) to import just the users from vBulletin to vBulletin. ImpEx is downloaded in the member's area:

http://members.vbulletin.com/