'vBModder' News.

Our server crashed this morning. Additionally, the bind name server service failed to restart, so even while the server was restarted, the domains wouldn’t resolve properly.

Initially we thought it was a dns propagation problem, and were waiting for it to propagate, hence the big delay in getting back online. Various hours later we found out it was the bind problem.

Apologies for the downtime.

After running Project Tools 2.0.0 Alpha 1 here on vBulletin.com since last month, we’re ready to do the first public beta release. Any customer with an active Project Tools license can now download the beta.

We’d like to thank everyone that has provided suggestions and feedback or reported a bug for the Project Tools. Many of the new features in this version were added specifically because of your requests. We’re sure you like the improvements.

Some of the new features in Project Tools 2 include:

• Project Subscriptions
• Notification of Issue Assignment
• Persistent Read Marking / New Post Indicators
• Issue Closing
• Improved Tracking of Private Issues and Replies
• Milestones

You can read more details in my previous announcement or in my blog.

Note: You must be running vBulletin 3.7.0 or later to install any Project Tools 2.0.0 Beta/Stable release!

Significance of a Beta Release
This is beta software. If you are not fully at home with backing-up and restoring your forum, dealing with bugs and regular upgrades, do not install this beta version.

Customers should bear in mind that this is a public beta, not a certified ’stable’ release so the following caveats apply:

• Beta software is unsupported and you install beta versions at your own risk.
• Some minor bugs remain unresolved at this time, so beta software should not be on production sites.
• You should always back up your database fully before attempting to install beta software.
• If you choose to install this version, you should be aware that we plan to release new beta versions in rapid succession as bugs are fixed and holes are plugged. Do not install this beta version if you are not willing or able to keep up-to-date with new releases.

About Project Tools

Project Tools is a versatile add-on product that enhances vBulletin with project management functionality, empowering your community members to create projects, contribute to tasks, submit issues and view progress of projects. Seamless integration with vBulletin ensures maximum usability, and an administration suite within the vBulletin control panel allows full customization of projects, issues, tasks and user permissions.

Project Tools is ideal for any community that shares a common goal - from developing software, keeping track of servers, writing a play, exhibiting at a trade show or building a car!

• Find out more about Project Tools and watch a video overview
• View the Project Tools’ manual
• See Project Tools in action on the vBulletin.com community forums

Full details available here:
http://www.vbseo.com/f55/vbseo-custo…enewals-25158/

An XSS flaw affecting the vBulletin control panel logging system has been identified, another was found affecting boards running in debug mode. It could allow an attacker to trick an admin into unwittingly performing an action within the control panel that they had not intended. To resolve this issue, it is necessary to release patch level versions of vBulletin 3.7.2 and 3.6.10.

One of the XSS flaws was discovered by Jessica Hope and the other by ourselves.

The upgrade process is the same as previous patch level releases - simply download the patch from the Members Area, extract the files and upload to your webserver, overwriting the existing files. There is no upgrade script required.

As with all security-based releases, we recommend that all customers upgrade as soon as possible in order to prevent any potential damage resulting from the flaw being exploited.

Upgrading from 3.7.2, 3.6.10 or their patch level versions

If you are already running 3.7.2, 3.6.10 or their patch level versions, the process you will be required to follow to make your board immune to the XSS problem is very simple.

There is no need to run an upgrade script if you are already running 3.7.2, 3.6.10 or their patch level versions.

Visit the Patches section of the vBulletin Members’ Area and download either the patch for 3.7.2, or the patch for 3.6.10, according to the version you are currently running, then extract the files from the archive you downloaded, then upload the files to your board via FTP etc., overwriting the existing files. This will update your version to the PL1 or PL3 release respectively.

The 3.6.10 PL3 patch file also includes the PL1 and PL2 fixes.

Upgrading from Versions Earlier than 3.7.2 or 3.6.10

If you are not already running 3.7.2 or 3.6.10, you should download the most latest version from the Members’ Area and perform an upgrade as normal.

Full instructions for upgrading vBulletin are available here.

Download vBulletin 3.7.2 PL1 or 3.6.10 PL3

As usual, both versions released today are available for all customers with valid, active licenses to download from the vBulletin Members’ Area.

vBulletin Members Area

Our vBSEO Google/Yahoo Sitemap Generator, Version 2.2 has been officially released.

Download via vBulletin.org:

• vBulletin 3.7.x vBSEO Google/Yahoo Sitemap Generator v.2.2
• vBulletin 3.6.x vBSEO Google/Yahoo Sitemap Generator v.2.2
• vBulletin 3.5.x vBSEO Google/Yahoo Sitemap Generator v.2.2
• vBulletin 3.0.x vBSEO Google/Yahoo Sitemap Generator v.2.2

Note: Although there is only ONE (1) vBSEO Google/Sitemap Generator product, we ask you to please download (and get support) via the thread corresponding to the vBulletin version you are running. This will allow us to better serve you.

It is recommended that you upgrade your sitemaps to version 2.2 in order to be compatible with all the new features in vBulletin 3.7.x & vBSEO 3.2 GOLD which has just been released.

Updates in vBSEO Google/Yahoo Sitemaps v.2.2:
In the new version of the vBSEO Sitemaps, our primary focus has been adding support for all new features in vBulletin 3.7.0, such as the new enhanced profiles, social groups, new blog URLs and tags. In addition to several bug fixes and code improvements, version 2.2 of our sitemap plugin also includes the following new updates and fixes:

UPDATE: Compatible with vBulletin 3.7.x. Includes the following new settings:

1. Include Member Profile Album Pages
2. Include Social Groups Pages
3. Include Social Groups Picture Pages
4. Include Tag Pages
5. Page Update Frequency - Album
6. Page Update Frequency - Social Groups
7. Page Update Frequency - Group Picture
8. Page Update Frequency - Tags
9. Priority - Member Profile Albums
10. Priority - Social Groups
11. Priority - Social Group Pictures
12. Priority - Tags

UPDATE: vBSEO Promo text no longer appears in sitemap generation notification emails if vBSEO is installed in the forum.

UPDATE: vbseo_query_http() function updated to prevent Ping Fails when allow_url_fopen modification is not an option or user is running on a shared environment.

UPDATE: vBSEO Ads no longer appear in the sitemap reports interface if vBSEO is installed in the forum.

UPDATE: Advanced option to define the default php files extension (like php5 or html) for different vBulletin packages.
In vbseo_sitemap_config.php, replace:

for:

UPDATE: After a manual sitemap execution, a link back to the sitemap interface homepage is now provided.

UPDATE: Sitemap updated for compatibility with the new vBSEO linkback table naming convention. It now works with both, instances where the table is named ‘linkback’ and ‘vbseo_linkback’, preventing the following dB error:

FIX: Update to vbseo_getsitemap.php to prevent a syntax error that would occur under certain circumstances.

FIX: Soft deleted posts would show up in the sitemap under certain circumstances.

FIX: Issue in vbseo_sitemap_functions.php file that would cause the following error:

FIX: Username variable not being replaced for member blogs under certain circumstances

Upgrade Instructions
(1) Follow the installation/upgrade instructions provided in the docs/readme.html file.

(2) For versions of vBulletin 3.6.x only: Open "Schedule Manager" in the vBulletin Admin Control Panel (admincp); Remove existing scheduled task for Sitemap Generator if you have one.
Note: The new task will be automatically setup when you import the XML product file.

Phase 1 - vBSEO 3.2.0 GOLD Lands

The wait is over. vBSEO 3.2.0 GOLD is now available to download for all customers.

After you install vBSEO 3.2.0 GOLD, you can be confident that *your forum* is one of the most optimized forums on the Internet. Your AdSense account will thank-you for it!

When we think of the amazing testing and bulletproofing efforts by our Pre-Release Team and RC testers for vBSEO 3.2.0, we are reminded of the team at NASA who successfully sent a complex piece of engineering like the Mars Phoenix over 400,000 miles through space and landed it on the ground with a perfect landing…

We are 100% confident that the release of vBSEO 3.2.0 will continue to prove that great teams produce great results for YOU.

So please join us in thanking the vBSEO Pre-Release, Global Partners, Moderators, and Total Support Teams who helped vBSEO 3.2.0 GOLD touchdown successfully for your forums. :thumbsup:

Phase 2 - vBSEO 3.5.0 Continues Yesterday!

Check out the new feature/updates/fixes summary below to find out what’s inside the box for 3.2.0 GOLD. But also prepare yourself for what is next. vBSEO 3.5.0 development continues immediately.

While every release of vBSEO is a significant advancement, vBSEO 3.5.0 represents a *leap forward* in our evolution. Expect a new species of vBSEO software that maintains everything you have come to love about vBSEO, and then adds several new wow-inducing-must-have-Search Engine Optimization-features. Expect it to touchdown late 2008/early 2009, FlexETA.

vBulletin 3.7.2 - Maximum Overdrive Synergy

vBSEO 3.2.0 GOLD is fully compatible with vBulletin 3.7.2. vBSEO rewrites over 60+ different URL formats to achieve essential link consensus and maximum link value.

We cover all the great new additions added by the Jelsoft development team including the new enhanced profiles, social groups, new blog URLs and tags.

The result is an amazing synergy making the ultimate forum software also the most Search Engine Optimization optimized publishing software available on the Internet, period.

And when we say "Maximum Overdrive", think of your search long tail and the possibilities that open up for waves of new Web Traffic possible with vBulletin + vBSEO.

As promised last week, today sees the scheduled release of a maintenance version for vBulletin 3.7.x.

vBulletin 3.7.2 contains only bug fixes, details of which can be found in the bug tracker.

The security fixes included in vBulletin 3.7.1 PL1 and PL2 are also included in vBulletin 3.7.2.

Upgrading from Previous Versions

3.7.2 is a maintenance release. We recommend that all customers running prior versions of vBulletin 3.7 upgrade to benefit from bug fixes and stability improvements.

Full instructions for upgrading vBulletin are available here.

PHP and MySQL Requirements

Please note that vBulletin 3.7.x requires at least PHP 4.3.3 and MySQL 4.0.16 or later.

However, we recommend that vBulletin 3.7.x is run on PHP 5.2.6 with APC (or a similar opcode cache) and MySQL 5.0.51 for best performance and stability.

End of Life for PHP 4

The PHP group has announced the end of life for PHP 4. We strongly recommend that customers update their servers to PHP 5.2.6 if they are still running PHP 4. vBulletin 3.7.x supports PHP 5 without any problems, though you may need to disable strict mode for MySQL, see here on how to enable ‘force_sql_mode’.

Note: We will continue to support PHP 4 in the vBulletin 3 series.

Download vBulletin 3.7.2

As usual, vBulletin 3.7.2 is available for all customers with valid, active licenses to download from the vBulletin Members’ Area.

vBulletin Members Area