Forum software updated

[DJet]

Having done several (more than 5!) upgrades on a clone of this server in my virtual environment, I have just tried the same on the active server - and after a bit of unexpected issues, I believe the theme is now sort-of working.  Let me know if you think otherwise.

This is only the FIRST STEP - the next will be to migrate to my new(er) server, which is a major switch in both operating system and web service system - but then the forum softyware can be upgraded to the newest version.


DJet / Lennart Sorth, CAforum admin.

[adinsen]

It's alive 

[DJet]

It's alive 

It is indeed, and I just modified the stylesheet a little so the top bar looks more familiar.

Next step: The major move to a other server .... :-) 

Thanks for testing !

/L

[TobyAnscombe]

Blimey. Even renders well on a phone!

[smokie]

Looks fine to me, what's he eventual goal and purpose? Just updating software?

[smokie]

DJet have you received a private message from me? If not, it's broken!

[DJet]

Looks fine to me, what's he eventual goal and purpose? Just updating software?

PM's indeed work :-)

Well, my last many years at work (I am now retired!!) I was awfully busy in great ways - but it meant I never felt I was on top of the forum software to an extent where I could update and fix any issues that almost inevitably comes along (themes etc)

So we were still running embarrassingly old software - and still are (!). This version 2.0.19 is the newest possible on the old OS on the server itself, but 2.0.19 is a LOT better securitywise than the 1.1.21 we were running up until now.

I have a much newer and much more powerful server installed in the datacentre, more or less ready to take over. This runs current OS and a brand new way of separating the websites (for security reasons).

I have two SMF forums (this and the www.matrasport.dk) on it, and 5-6 more static websites plus some email systems, but once I feel like taking the plunge, I will swap IP address of the servers.

[Kev_mk3]

Was a shock to log in and see all the changes. Several spam bots posted which ill report as I see them.

[smokie]

Yeah thanks Kev, we had a sudden influx of new registrations which must have been bottled up in the old version. I've deleted the accounts but keep reporting if more turn up.

DJet, can we implement two step registration where an application needs to be approved by a mod? Would help with our compliance with the new UK Online Safety Act also.

[Kev_mk3]

No problem here to help

[DJet]

DJet, can we implement two step registration where an application needs to be approved by a mod? Would help with our compliance with the new UK Online Safety Act also.

oh yes we can - in fact that’s how my Matrasport.dk/forum has always run - but it obviously puts more load on you moderators.

Also, the last few years the server has lost its email forwarder, without which it requires admin logging in and checking (rather than receiving an email)

For matrasport I *do* get emails, but that’s because it lives inside the same server - I don’t think the old server can send emails as it is - though I thought I saw evidence of this new version somehow overcoming that. Do you receive emails from the forum when PM’s arrive or similar ?

I prefer completing the switch to the (much) newer physical server and get the email sorted there, before we change the registration stuff. That will also put us on the newest SMF version, where dealing with the newest legislation is easier.

/Djet (aka Lennart)

[Bob U]

DJet, can we implement two step registration where an application needs to be approved by a mod?

Ha ha. In retrospect would you have approved some of the drunken reprobates you had the pleasure/misfortune of meeting over the years?

[DJet]

DJet, can we implement two step registration where an application needs to be approved by a mod?

Ha ha. In retrospect would you have approved some of the drunken reprobates you had the pleasure/misfortune of meeting over the years?

Certainly - though as this old server still has problems sending emails, it means admins  will have to keep looking for new members and approve as required.

We also used to have a couple of benign questions that requires knowing what Club Arnage is about, which had been cleared by the upgrade.

I have thus re-established them - and new members musty answer right to two of the three:

How many hours does the event run for ?
In which country does the event happen ?
What’s the name of the event city ?

I think that keeps a fair bit of automated spam-bots away.

/Lennart

[DJet]

IP test

[DJet]

Yay - I modified Sources/Load.php to force the code to use HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR rather than REMOTE_ADDR, which seems to have fixed the logged IP address on posts at least.

For reference here is a diff:
# diff  Sources/Load.php_ORG  Sources/Load.php
770c770
<             updateMemberData($id_member, array('id_msg_last_visit' => (int) $modSettings['maxMsgID'], 'last_login' => time(), 'member_ip' => $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'], 'member_ip2' => $_SERVER['BAN_CHECK_IP']));
---
>             updateMemberData($id_member, array('id_msg_last_visit' => (int) $modSettings['maxMsgID'], 'last_login' => time(), 'member_ip' => $_SERVER['HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR'], 'member_ip2' => $_SERVER['BAN_CHECK_IP']));
894c894
<       'ip' => $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'],
---
>       'ip' => $_SERVER['HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR'],
4058c4058


There is still a QueryString.php file which has many places I could do the same, but it doesn't seem to be required for what we need.

Lets see if new registrations gets logged with a real IP rather than 127.0.0.1