Migrate a XenForo forum to Discourse

Hey guys so after trying for a week or so I decided to import the database on docker app which I hoped it will succeed without any issues. TBH I got some issues at first but it turned to be all easy to solve.

Now I would recommend doing this only once before you deploy your production site, after importing everything take a Discourse backup, wipe everything out and install new Discourse instance then restore the imported db.

Ok let’s begin:

  1. First lets backup your old database from your old server, sign in to your Discourse server then:

     ssh USER@XENFORO_SERVER_IP  # Use -p argument to specify custom port
     mysqldump -u XENFORO_DATABASE_USER -p XENFORO_DATABASE_NAME > xen_db.sql
     exit
    
  2. After installing Discourse start the app:

     ./launcher start app
    
  3. Now lets pull the database backup from xenforo server:

     scp USER@XENFORO_SERVER_IP:~/xen_db.sql /var/discourse/shared/standalone/xen_db.sql
    

    If you changed the ssh port use -P argument

     scp -P 2222 USER@XENFORO_SERVER_IP:~/xen_db.sql /var/discourse/shared/standalone/xen_db.sql 
    
  4. Login to docker machine, install and start mysql:

     docker exec -it app bash
     sudo apt-get update
     sudo apt-get upgrade
    

    During the installation you will be asked to set a root password for mysql

     sudo apt-get install mysql-server mysql-client libmysqlclient-dev
     service mysql start
    
  5. Login to mysql and create new database:

     mysql -u root -p
    

    Enter your mysql root password then

     create database xenforo_db;
     exit;
    
  6. Import your xenforo database into the new one:

     mysql -u root -p xenforo_db < /shared/xen_db.sql
     # Enter your mysql root password and wait until it finish
    
  7. Include the gem in discourse Gemfile:

     echo "gem 'mysql2'" >>Gemfile
    
  8. Run bundle install:

     bundle install --no-deployment
    
  9. Edit the importer script and change the following:

    vi /var/www/discourse/script/import_scripts/xenforo.rb
    XENFORO_DB = "xenforo_db"
    @client = Mysql2::Client.new(
      host: "localhost",
      username: "root",
      password: "Your mysql root password",
      database: XENFORO_DB
    )
    
  10. You are set to go now, run the importer:

    RAILS_ENV=production bundle exec ruby script/import_scripts/xenforo.rb

  11. If you get the error 'Peer authentication failed for user "discourse"':

  12. Edit the file /etc/postgresql/9.5/main/pg_hba.conf

  13. change all ‘peer’ to ‘trust’ and save the file

  14. restart postgres server: service postgresql restart

Run the importer again and this time it should work without any problem, be patient this might take a while based on your database size.

Hope this helps someone. :slight_smile:

19 Likes

What are the list of XenForo Data covered on this import?
I hope to import this list:

XenForo Page Nodes

  • Pages

XenForo

  • Profile Fields
  • Member Groups
  • Members
  • Status Updates / Profile Comments
  • Status Comments
  • Private Messages
  • Private Message Replies
  • Attachments
  • Member Ranks

XenForo Forums

  • Forums
  • Topics
  • Posts
  • Attachments

Got this error:

# bundle install --no-deployment
Don't run Bundler as root. Bundler can ask for sudo if it is needed, and installing your bundle as root will break this application for all non-root users on this machine.
Your Gemfile has no gem server sources. If you need gems that are not already on your machine, add a line like this to your Gemfile:
source 'https://rubygems.org'
Could not find gem 'mysql2' in any of the gem sources listed in your Gemfile.

Different Error now.

root@discourse-app:/var/www/discourse# RAILS_ENV=production bundle exec ruby script/import_scripts/xenforo.rb
No connection to db, unable to retrieve site settings! (normal when running db:create)
No connection to db, unable to retrieve site settings! (normal when running db:create)
No connection to db, unable to retrieve site settings! (normal when running db:create)
No connection to db, unable to retrieve site settings! (normal when running db:create)
No connection to db, unable to retrieve site settings! (normal when running db:create)
No connection to db, unable to retrieve site settings! (normal when running db:create)
Traceback (most recent call last):
	31: from script/import_scripts/xenforo.rb:3:in `<main>'
	30: from script/import_scripts/xenforo.rb:3:in `require'
	29: from /var/www/discourse/script/import_scripts/base.rb:20:in `<top (required)>'
	28: from /var/www/discourse/script/import_scripts/base.rb:544:in `<class:Base>'
	27: from /var/www/discourse/lib/discourse.rb:411:in `system_user'
	26: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.5.0/gems/activerecord-5.2.0/lib/active_record/core.rb:196:in `find_by'
	25: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.5.0/gems/activerecord-5.2.0/lib/active_record/core.rb:196:in `all?'
	24: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.5.0/gems/activerecord-5.2.0/lib/active_record/core.rb:196:in `each'
	23: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.5.0/gems/activerecord-5.2.0/lib/active_record/core.rb:196:in `block in find_by'
	22: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.5.0/gems/activerecord-5.2.0/lib/active_record/model_schema.rb:336:in `columns_hash'
	21: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.5.0/gems/activerecord-5.2.0/lib/active_record/model_schema.rb:456:in `load_schema'
	20: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/2.5.0/monitor.rb:226:in `mon_synchronize'
	19: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.5.0/gems/activerecord-5.2.0/lib/active_record/model_schema.rb:459:in `block in load_schema'
	18: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.5.0/gems/activerecord-5.2.0/lib/active_record/attribute_decorators.rb:51:in `load_schema!'
	17: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.5.0/gems/activerecord-5.2.0/lib/active_record/attributes.rb:234:in `load_schema!'
	16: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.5.0/gems/activerecord-5.2.0/lib/active_record/model_schema.rb:466:in `load_schema!'
	15: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.5.0/gems/activerecord-5.2.0/lib/active_record/connection_handling.rb:90:in `connection'
	14: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.5.0/gems/activerecord-5.2.0/lib/active_record/connection_handling.rb:118:in `retrieve_connection'
	13: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.5.0/gems/activerecord-5.2.0/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:1008:in `retrieve_connection'
	12: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.5.0/gems/activerecord-5.2.0/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:380:in `connection'
	11: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.5.0/gems/activerecord-5.2.0/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:521:in `checkout'
	10: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.5.0/gems/activerecord-5.2.0/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:793:in `acquire_connection'
	 9: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.5.0/gems/activerecord-5.2.0/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:832:in `try_to_checkout_new_connection'
	 8: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.5.0/gems/activerecord-5.2.0/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:853:in `checkout_new_connection'
	 7: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.5.0/gems/activerecord-5.2.0/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:809:in `new_connection'
	 6: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.5.0/gems/activerecord-5.2.0/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/postgresql_adapter.rb:40:in `postgresql_connection'
	 5: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.5.0/gems/activerecord-5.2.0/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/postgresql_adapter.rb:40:in `new'
	 4: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.5.0/gems/activerecord-5.2.0/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/postgresql_adapter.rb:215:in `initialize'
	 3: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.5.0/gems/activerecord-5.2.0/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/postgresql_adapter.rb:684:in `connect'
	 2: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.5.0/gems/pg-1.0.0/lib/pg.rb:56:in `connect'
	 1: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.5.0/gems/pg-1.0.0/lib/pg.rb:56:in `new'
/usr/local/lib/ruby/gems/2.5.0/gems/pg-1.0.0/lib/pg.rb:56:in `initialize': FATAL:  Peer authentication failed for user "discourse" (PG::ConnectionBad)

Yay no idea how long this will take :smiley:

2 Likes

This is correct right?

Guide needs an update I think.
Before running this, directory must be within /var/www/discourse/.
cd /var/www/discourse/

3 Likes

3 posts were split to a new topic: XenForo import script imported banned users and soft-deleted topics and posts

8 posts were split to a new topic: Help migrating Xenforo

14 posts were split to a new topic: Issues while importing attachments from XenForo

5 posts were split to a new topic: Troubles moving from XenForo to Discourse

A post was merged into an existing topic: Troubles moving from XenForo to Discourse

Just gonna ask you guys why you move from xenforo to discourse? Im just started a forum a week now and i’ve seem xenforo runned websites and im impressed because of their plugins including pointing system. I just wanted the cons or reasons of moving. Thankyou

Just finished up a Xenforo → Discourse migration of a million post board on a Digital Ocean droplet. Here’s what worked for me command by command (very similar to what also just did on a different vbulletin board).

Recommend minimum 4 vCPU/8GB for import.

Thanks to everyone in this thread for helping me get through these migrations, definingly been a fun few days reading and rereading…

1 - Install Digital Ocean Discourse 1-click droplet

2 - Finish discourse install through SSH by following prompts

Open SSH console
root
(yourrootpassword)
(enter)
(yourdomain).com
etc

3 - Login to SFTP

sftp root@XXX.XXX.XX.XX
y (if asked for confirmation)
yes
(yourrootpassword)
put db.sql /var/discourse/shared/standalone/db.sql

4 - Login to Website to setup Admin account

5 - Login to SSH - Begin Process

ssh root@XXX.XXX.XX.XX
cd /var/discourse
./launcher start app
docker exec -it app bash
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
y

6 - Install MariaDB (replacement for mysql)

apt-get update && apt-get install mariadb-server-10.3 libmariadbd-dev
y

7 - Mysql Database Setup

service mysql start
mysql -u root -p
password
create database import_db;
exit;

8 - Import Dump -> Mysql Database Transfer**

mysql -u root -p import_db < /shared/db.sql
password

9 - GEM File

echo "gem 'mysql2'" >>Gemfile
echo "gem 'mysql2', require: false" >> /var/www/discourse/Gemfile
echo "gem 'php_serialize', require: false" >> /var/www/discourse/Gemfile
cd /var/www/discourse
su discourse -c 'bundle install --no-deployment --without test --without development --path vendor/bundle'
(ignore red text result)

10 - Configure install script

vi /var/www/discourse/script/import_scripts/xenforo.rb

---Make edits to text file as needed for db name/password, prefix, etc---

(esc)
:wq

11 - Bundle Config

bundle config set path 'vendor/bundle'
bundle config set without 'development:test'
bundle config unset deployment
su discourse -c 'bundle install'

12 - Mysql config (may be possible to do this with previous)

mysql --version
sudo mysql -u root -p
password
ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
exit

13 - Install Script

su discourse -c 'bundle exec ruby script/import_scripts/xenforo.rb'
4 Likes

I am in the process of trying to get this migration complete, however it seems to be throwing an error with the attachments.

RAILS_ENV=production bundle exec ruby script/import_scripts/xenforo.rb
Loading existing groups...
Loading existing users...
Loading existing categories...
Loading existing posts...
Loading existing topics...

creating users
Skipping 407 already imported users

importing categories...
       12 / 12 (100.0%)  [344731 items/min]
creating topics and posts
        2 / 4554 (  0.0%)  [17724 items/min]  Traceback (most recent call last):
        18: from script/import_scripts/xenforo.rb:396:in `<main>'
        17: from /var/www/discourse/script/import_scripts/base.rb:47:in `perform'
        16: from script/import_scripts/xenforo.rb:32:in `execute'
        15: from script/import_scripts/xenforo.rb:174:in `import_posts'
        14: from /var/www/discourse/script/import_scripts/base.rb:866:in `batches'
        13: from /var/www/discourse/script/import_scripts/base.rb:866:in `loop'
        12: from /var/www/discourse/script/import_scripts/base.rb:867:in `block in batches'
        11: from script/import_scripts/xenforo.rb:180:in `block in import_posts'
        10: from /var/www/discourse/script/import_scripts/base.rb:508:in `create_posts'
         9: from /var/www/discourse/script/import_scripts/base.rb:508:in `each'
         8: from /var/www/discourse/script/import_scripts/base.rb:509:in `block in create_posts'
         7: from script/import_scripts/xenforo.rb:186:in `block (2 levels) in import_posts'
         6: from script/import_scripts/xenforo.rb:315:in `process_xenforo_post'
         5: from script/import_scripts/xenforo.rb:324:in `process_xf_attachments'
         4: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/2.7.0/set.rb:328:in `each'
         3: from /usr/local/lib/ruby/2.7.0/set.rb:328:in `each_key'
         2: from script/import_scripts/xenforo.rb:326:in `block in process_xf_attachments'
         1: from /var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.7.0/gems/activesupport-6.0.3.3/lib/active_support/core_ext/string/filters.rb:22:in `squish!'
/var/www/discourse/vendor/bundle/ruby/2.7.0/gems/activesupport-6.0.3.3/lib/active_support/core_ext/string/filters.rb:22:in `gsub!': can't modify frozen String: "\\t\\tSELECT a.attachment_id, a.data_id, d.fil\n\\t\\tFROM xf_attachment AS a\\n\\t\\tINNER JOIN xf_attachment_data d ON a.data_id = d.data_id\\n\\t\\tWHERE attachment_id = 13\\n" (FrozenError)


Does anyone have any thoughts on what could be going on here?  What is the "FrozenError"?

It looks like I had to edit the xenforo.rb file and change

# frozen_string_literal: true

to

# frozen_string_literal: false

2 Likes

Thanks for writing this guide!

Does the importer also import avatars and attachments? Do I simply copy them to the /tmp/attachments folder?

From a quick look at the importer, it appears it only imports uploads to posts. Avatar support would need to be added.

2 Likes

Can confirm. It only imports uploads. Avatars are not included. I just completed a Xenforo migration last week.

3 Likes

Board size?
Post/threads/members.
Congrats :slight_smile:

1 Like