How to move an SMF forum to a new host or domain

Moving a self-hosted SMF forum means copying two things, the files and the database, and telling SMF where they now live. It works the same whether you’re moving to Traxio, away from Traxio, or to a new domain.

Prepare

• Put the old forum into maintenance mode (Admin › then Configuration › then Server Settings) so no posts are lost during the move.
• Take a full backup of files and database. Backing up SMF

Copy files and database

1. Upload the forum’s files to the new account and extract them. Uploading and extracting a zip
2. Create a database and user on the new account.
3. Import the .sql backup with phpMyAdmin, or over SSH for large databases. Importing a large database

Update Settings.php

Edit Settings.php in the forum folder and update:

• $boardurl: the new web address, with https and no trailing slash
• $db_name, $db_user, $db_passwd and $db_server (usually localhost)
• $boarddir, $sourcedir, $cachedir and any other paths, to the new server’s folder

The free repair_settings.php tool from Simple Machines can detect and fix these paths, plus the theme and attachment URLs, for you. Upload it, run it in your browser, then delete it.

Switch the domain

When the forum works on the new host, point the domain at it. Connecting your domain to Traxio. To check the new copy first, preview it before changing DNS.

Check and reopen

• Log in, open a few boards and topics, and view an attachment.
• Check theme and avatar images load (if not, run repair_settings.php again).
• Register a test account to check email arrives.
• Turn maintenance mode off.

Moving from a hosted forum platform

Hosted forum services don’t usually give you a standard SMF database to import, so the steps above don’t apply. Communities moving from a hosted platform usually start fresh, copy key topics across by hand and invite members over. Hosted forum platforms compared