How do I know when it's smart to DL vB5?

[MistyMeanor]

So I noticed the new version is out. I just got new forum license set up with a vB4 about a month ago. Since I have added mods to it and just kind of gotten all set up the way I want it for the most part (it will always be a work in progress as I am OCD in that way). I am normally an early adopter of any newly released software and don't worry too much about "bugs" and such, but I was told by all kinds of vBulletin support people that it may be a good idea to get vB4 installed as vB5 had a LOT of missing features from vB4, would not be like what I have been typically used to from when I used to have a vb license about 10 years ago, and without saying quite as such -- was "buggy" ... but it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out because you could find thread after thread of problems with it. Was told the latest version of vB4 was the most robust and stable vb platform.

I am the kind of person that hates being "behind the game" per se... but I have also done the free demo of vB5 back when I was getting ready to buy my new license and I found the admin cp very difficult to use, just to even set up the forums!

Can anyone provide me with some solid feedback regarding this? I know in the end it is up to me, but at the same time, I am not sure when it is deemed a GOOD idea to pull the trigger and upgrade to vB5, and what will that mean for all the mods I have installed as well?

[Mark.B]

Well the honest answer to your question is..."when you think it offers something your current site does not have".
Doesn't matter what that is, could be front end, back end, something major, or something minor.

vB5's system of setting up forums is either virtually identical (if you do it in the AdminCP) or much easier (if you do it using Site Builder) but if you're thinking of an upgrade this isn't really going to be high on your list of considerations, since your forums are all there already.

vB5 is not yet at feature parity with vB4, it probably won't ever be since there's a lot of small things in vB4 that just won't get ported due to being obsolete - threaded view being a good example.

Have you a user base that is loyal and fond of your current set up? They might not like a sudden sharp change, which vB5 is.

Finally, you could always set up a private test copy of your current site, and upgrade that, see what you think. You'll probably know straight away if you want to take it further....

[MistyMeanor]

You are a true gem Mark... My forum is still brand spanking new, and trying to get more registrations daily, so I don't think it would be a HUGE deal if done now. How would one set up a private test copy? Keeping in mind I had the forum professionally installed and just learned well how to use FTP, hence why I have been going a LITTLE mod crazy! LOL!

[Mark.B]

You are a true gem Mark... My forum is still brand spanking new, and trying to get more registrations daily, so I don't think it would be a HUGE deal if done now. How would one set up a private test copy? Keeping in mind I had the forum professionally installed and just learned well how to use FTP, hence why I have been going a LITTLE mod crazy! LOL!

Here's our article on creating a test mirror:

http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/upgrade_testsite

[MistyMeanor]

Oh boy, I started reading just the first part of it. I think it may be over my head. I don't want a ton of downtime with my forum being brand new, because the first step tells me to shut off my forum. Is it necessary to shut it off just to back it up correctly and mirror it?

[IggyP]

you want to turn forums off during changes like that to avoid database errors if people try to access the site. i also find it nice to restore backups with forums off incase any other changes need made before going back live.
it may take some time to go thru your first time, but once u understand what your doing setting a test mirror is easy and fast

[SteedPub]

This is just my opinion.....but wait. I have had vBulletin for over a decade and done several upgrades. I had vb4 running smooth and bulletproof for years up until last month when I thought I would upgrade to vb5. Since then my life has been a living hell. The vB5 is so full of bugs and problems that seems to be unfixable. Granted, vBSupport has been wonderful and helpful and I thank them for their help on a daily basis for the last month. However, at no time in the past decade of running vBulletin upgrades have I ever had to live with support to come and fix my forums daily. Add to this my traffic is down 70% from where it was a month ago on a forum in which advertising dollars pays my mortgage. I am in a very very bad position as a result of upgrading to vb5 and I dont yet know when the fix is coming. I just upgraded from 5.02 to 5.03 and it hasnt fixed anything - if anything has made matters worse. I just wish I could go back to vb4 and forget all this ever happened.

[napy8gen]

I am the kind of person that hates being "behind the game" per se... but I have also done the free demo of vB5 back when I was getting ready to buy my new license and I found the admin cp very difficult to use, just to even set up the forums!

Setting up forums in admincp is just like other software, but when you setting up using front end site builder. Setting up forums is just seconds. not even xenforo can do this.