WordPress and vBulletin integration can help enhance the users’ experience, as they don’t have to manage separate logins. However, integration also allows easy sharing of content between WordPress and vBulletin. It allows managing both platforms from a single administration interface, saving time and effort.
With the help of integration, one can easily handle the user’s registration, permissions, and content management more efficiently. Now, the question arises: how to integrate WordPress and vBulletin? The answer is a Single Sign-On (SSO) solution. This article will provide information on SSO solutions for WordPress and vBulletin integration.
So, let’s plunge into the article to know the facts!
What does Single Sign-On (SSO) mean?
Single Sign-On is a technology that allows users to use multiple applications or platforms with a single set of login credentials. It means users don’t have to remember multiple usernames and passwords; instead, they can use all their accounts with just one set of credentials.
What are the benefits of Single Sign-On (SSO)?
Though you are aware of the term SSO, here we are sharing its benefits for your convenience.
Security Enhancement: If you are using a Single Sign-On log-in credential, then you are less likely to forget your passwords or use weak passwords, which helps you reduce the risk of security breaches.
Better Productivity: With the help of SSO, you can easily and quickly access your applications and resources without logging in multiple times.
Improved User Experience: The solutions that SSO provides make it quite easy to use and convenient to log in to multiple applications.
Moving forward, let’s discuss the integration process.
SSO Solutions for WordPress and vBulletin Integration
vBSSO
vBSSO is a free vBulletin Single Sign-On plugin that can allow you access to other platforms like blogs, content management systems (like WordPress), or online stores that utilize a secure Single Sign-On.
It comes with two components; the first one is the vBulletin plugin. It helps to create an interface for authenticating users, managing user profiles, and controlling access. The second one is the WordPress plugin, so that it may communicate with vBulletin and exchange data. It utilizes vBulletin Groups that help allow for an SSO with a custom log-in page and run across multiple sub-domains.
vBulletin Connector
This is another plugin that helps integrate WordPress and vBulletin. It generates matching vBulletin threads in WordPress and permits users to post in vBulletin from WordPress. Additionally, it displays vBulletin comments in WordPress posts and generates a trackback link from a vBulletin thread to your post in WordPress.
SSO solution to integrate vBulletin in your website while designing
Here you will find the sample code for authentication and for beginning the vBulletin session based on a submitted form from another page. Remember, this is just for informational purposes only and to give a quick start guide to direct you in the right direction. Simply understand how vBulletin login works and how you can create a script to log into vBulletin.
Step 1: vBulletin System Initialization
In the vBulletin installation, set a variable with the path.
Code:
vBulletin Start-Up
Code:
Step 2: Send the API request
The initialization of vBulletin is complete; to perform the login, we can send an API request.
Code:
Step 3: Set the Cookies
You need to check if the login was successful while the returned value of the API call ($loginInfo, in this example) contains information about the session. The login was completely successful if $loginInfo[‘errors’] is empty. Once we get a successful login, the next step is to set the correct cookies to keep the user logged in.
Code:
At this stage, the login is complete, and you would redirect the user to your home page or to the page they were on, etc.
Bring it together
We have mentioned below the sample that contains all the above codes. But you need to remember not to copy and paste this code; instead, use this code to learn how the vBulletin login process works and how to create your own login form.
Code:
<?php
// Path to your vBulletin installation
$vbpath = 'path/to/vbulletin';
// Start login script
define('CSRF_PROTECTION', false);
require_once($vbpath . '/includes/vb5/autoloader.php');
vB5_Autoloader::register($vbpath);
vB5_Frontend_Application::init('config.php');
if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'POST')
{
// process the login form
$api = Api_InterfaceAbstract::instance();
$loginInfo = $api->callApi('user', 'login', array($_POST['username'], $_POST['password']));
if (empty($loginInfo['errors']))
{
// set cookies
vB5_Auth::setLoginCookies($loginInfo, '', !empty($_POST['remember']));
// redirect somewhere Also see: vB5_Auth::doLoginRedirect();
header('Location: vb5_external_login.php');
exit;
}
else
{
// there was a problem logging in.
// redirect or display errors here
}
}
else
{
// display a login form
$userid = vB5_Cookie::get('userid', vB5_Cookie::TYPE_UINT);
$hash = vB5_Cookie::get('password', vB5_Cookie::TYPE_STRING);
if (empty($userid) OR empty($hash))
{
?>
<form action="vb5_external_login.php" method="post">
<input type="text" name="username" value="" placeholder="User Name" />
<input type="password" name="password" value="" placeholder="Password" />
<label><input type="checkbox" name="remember" /> Stay logged in?</label>
<input type="submit" value="Log In" />
</form>
<?php
}
else
{
echo 'Already logged in';
}
}Here you will find the sample code for authentication and for beginning the vBulletin session based on a submitted form from another page. Remember, this is just for informational purposes only and to give a quick start guide to direct you in the right direction. Simply understand how vBulletin login works and how you can create a script to log into vBulletin.
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