Looking for ideas on how to change a forum's domain name.

[dan_Vt]

I have an active forum running phpbb. The domain name it currently is on may become "out-of-date" and so I've got a back-up to use later. I'm looking for some ideas on how to move the forum to the new domain name that won't be too difficult, and won't hurt the site's SEO.

1 - I could move the phpbb database to the new domain, then just park the old domain with it, but moving the database seems like a total pain with the possibility of messing it up.

2 - I could keep it where it is and just redesign it so the new domain is highlighted and point new domain to the site. Downside is the url would still be the old domain.

Are there other possibilities? Is there a way to change the url that appears to the new one? (hosting company can't) I really don't want to move the db.

Thanks.

D

 

[bluenoser]

I would move the site to the new domain and 301 the old domain to it.

That should solve the SEO issues. However I would contact as many of your linking partners as you can to change the links to your new domain.

However I think that you should probably keep the "out-of-date" domain, even though it may be out of date today, since the site has some history it adds something to it.

 

[dan_Vt]

I would move the site to the new domain and 301 the old domain to it.

That would mean moving the phpbb database, right? I don't want to mess with that.

 

[bluenoser]

That would mean moving the phpbb database, right? I don't want to mess with that.

NOt if you have the ability to do Addon domains.

Then you just have to add the new domain, and then move the php files to it, and go to the phpBB admin and change the related config lines (IE URL), then you are done.

Then just change the .htaccess file to redirect to the new domain. Just wait a couple of days before you do that though, just to make sure that people have their DNS updated.

That way you will have 0 downtime.

 

[G33K]

just forward your new domain to the phpbb forum.

go to your domain control panel (new domain)and place the name of the forum in your frameforward and bam your done.
it will show up as your new domain.

 

[dan_Vt]

NOt if you have the ability to do Addon domains.

Then you just have to add the new domain, and then move the php files to it, and go to the phpBB admin and change the related config lines (IE URL), then you are done.

Then just change the .htaccess file to redirect to the new domain. Just wait a couple of days before you do that though, just to make sure that people have their DNS updated.

That way you will have 0 downtime.

This seems too complicated for me. How would I then upgrade phpbb? I can add on domains.

Sorry to ask so many questions but I've never tried this before and the last thing I want to do is mess up my forum. Do you know any online tutorials for this kind of stuff?

 

[bluenoser]

This seems too complicated for me. How would I then upgrade phpbb? I can add on domains.

Sorry to ask so many questions but I've never tried this before and the last thing I want to do is mess up my forum. Do you know any online tutorials for this kind of stuff?

It really isn't that hard.

say if your main domain on the host is y.com
you then add your new domain using the addon feature to be z.com

Then you take every file that is in y.com and put it in the new sub-domain folder that was made when z.com was added.

The next step is to set up a redirect using the .htaccess file in y.com and point it to z.com Make sure it is a 301 redirect, if you are not sure how to do this you can probably search this forum and find the answer.

then you will have to access the phpBB admin for your new domain via the sub-domain. Change the homepage URL so that it is pointing to the new site.

That should be it :D

 

[dan_Vt]

Hmm, yeah doesn't sound too hard. I may test it out on a not so popular forum first (not because I don't trust you, but if you knew me and my luck you wouldn't blame me ).

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. You rock.

 

[bluenoser]

Hmm, yeah doesn't sound too hard. I may test it out on a not so popular forum first

Makes perfect sense to me, and a good way to go.

No prob on the help, if I know what is going on I like to help