Key facts
- Current vBulletin 6 releases list PHP 8.2 as the minimum, with MySQL 8.0.11+ or MariaDB 10.6+
- vBulletin 3.8 and 4.2 are no longer developed and were built for the PHP 5 era
- Old vBulletin boards are a frequent target for automated attacks on known vulnerabilities
- vBulletin 3 and 4 boards can be upgraded to vBulletin 6 or converted to XenForo
- vBulletin licences come from vBulletin; dijitul provides the hosting
- Managed vBulletin hosting from dijitul is £1 a day + VAT
Hosting vBulletin 6
vBulletin 6 is the current self-hosted (download) version. Recent releases list:
- PHP 8.2 as the minimum, with PHP 8.4 recommended
- MySQL 8.0.11+ or MariaDB 10.6+
- The PHP extensions mysqli, gd or ImageMagick, curl, mbstring and openssl
vBulletin 6 can run scheduled tasks either on page views or from a server cron. On a busy board we use the server cron, so tasks such as daily digests and cleanup run without slowing visitors.
The vBulletin 3 and 4 problem
vBulletin 3.8 and 4.2 were hugely popular in the late 2000s, and many UK car, hobby and trade forums still run them. They have three problems:
- They were built for PHP 5 and break on the PHP 8 most hosts now run
- They no longer get updates, so known security holes stay open
- Their large plugin and product ecosystems are mostly abandoned
Where it can be done safely, we host these boards on the PHP version they need, on an isolated site with a web application firewall in front. That buys time to decide on a long-term plan without your community losing access. Read more on legacy PHP hosting and website rescue.
Upgrade or convert?
There are two sensible routes off vBulletin 3 or 4:
- Upgrade to vBulletin 6. vBulletin's upgrader brings data across. The look and feel changes a lot, and old plugins won't work.
- Convert to XenForo or Invision Community. Both include vBulletin importers for members, threads, posts, private messages and attachments.
Either way, keep old thread URLs redirecting to their new homes so search traffic and bookmarks keep working. We host the old board and the new one side by side while you test.
Speed and security tips
- Run the newest PHP your vBulletin version supports, with OPcache on
- Move attachments and avatars out of the database into the file system; it shrinks backups and speeds up pages
- Remove the install folder and rename the admin and moderator control panel paths
- Delete unused plugins and products; each one is a possible hole
How dijitul moves your vBulletin board
We copy the database and attachments, update config.php, check cookie and board URL settings and test login and posting before switching DNS. Big databases are moved overnight with the board closed briefly, so no posts are lost. Then you have Complete Hosting at £1 a day + VAT with daily backups and a UK team on 01623 650333.
Frequently asked questions
Who can host an old vBulletin forum in the UK?
dijitul, a UK hosting company trading since 2006, hosts older vBulletin 3.8 and 4.2 forums for £1 a day + VAT. Where it is safe, we run them on the PHP version they need, isolated and behind a firewall, then help you upgrade to vBulletin 6 or convert to XenForo.
Does vBulletin 4 work on PHP 8?
No. vBulletin 4 was built for PHP 5 and is no longer developed, so it fails on PHP 8 without extensive patching. Options are hosting it on an older PHP version as a stop-gap, upgrading to vBulletin 6, or converting to XenForo or Invision Community.
What are the requirements for vBulletin 6?
Recent vBulletin 6 releases list PHP 8.2 as the minimum, with PHP 8.4 recommended, plus MySQL 8.0.11 or newer or MariaDB 10.6 or newer. Check the requirements for your exact release in your vBulletin customer area before upgrading.
Should I move from vBulletin to XenForo?
Many communities do, because XenForo is actively developed and its importer handles vBulletin 3, 4 and 5 data. If you like vBulletin's features and have a current licence, upgrading to vBulletin 6 is also reasonable. Test either route on a copy before you switch.
Is it safe to keep running vBulletin 3.8?
It carries real risk, because it gets no security updates and old vBulletin boards are actively scanned by attackers. If you must keep it for now, host it on an isolated site behind a web application firewall, remove unused plugins and keep good backups while you plan a move.
Related
Set it up and forget about it
Managed hosting, Plesk, Cloudflare DNS, daily backups and your domain for £1 a day + VAT. We move your site for you.