Subdomains vs directories: which is better for integrated forum/photopost?

[russbo]

I'm considering moving my long running and integrated vbulletin and photopost (and classifieds) to my VPS server. Currently, they are in individual directories on a different hosted server:

www.domain.org/vb/index.php
www.domain.org/photopost/index.php
www.domain.org/classifieds/index.php

Are there any issues regarding the use of subdomains and header/footer integration?? What happens if I put each program into it's own subdomain? What happens to log in capabilities, sharing of avatars, etc?

forum.domain.com/index.php
photopost.domain.com/index.php

(I assume that's what it would look like).

Or is it just better to put the files back into their respective directories, on the new VPS (www.domain.com/photopost/index.php)

Any advantages google wise to use subdomains? Any advantage to using subdomains at all???

Suggestions?

Thanks!
rich

Shaolin Temple Perspective / www.russbo.org/vb/index.php

[Chuck S]

Subdomains are not an issue at all. Provided the programs are all installed correctly on those subdomains. Its mainly just changed urls

Your cookies if they are set to use a sitewide cookie will work fine on subdomains

cookiedomain .domain.com

[russbo]

Thanks Chuck, as always, a quick, professional useful response.

Now personally, do you think subdomains are a better way to go? One subdomain will interact with the other? Does it add a level of security to keep misfits out of the main site? Any search engine benefits?

[Chuck S]

To be honest I think subdomains are the same as regular directories. I mean all it is is a rewrite of the directory url to a subdomain you specify. There is no real pro or con IMO its personal choice. I personally have never used them much. The majority of sites from my experience in installing on thousands of peoples is most people do not use them. its all choice.

[russbo]

Well, I've successfully moved my vbulletin and photopost to forum.russbo.com and photo.russbo.com.

I've set the cookies domain to .russbo.com in two places in the cookies area of photopost admin, and placed the same in the "cookie domain" setting of the vbulletin forum. cookie setting is set to " / " , as it always has been.

I have no problem logging in or bouncing around the gallery or forum or vbcms, etc; and it all acts appropriately. But when I log out, and return to the gallery, I get two things: one, a message suggesting that I register (if this is your first visit...), and below that, a link for the admincp area (as if it still recognizes me as being logged in), and above that, a log in and register area (as if I'm not logged in...).

Bizarre. Any ideas? Maybe using subdomains is complicating this, or I missed something somewhere.

[Chuck S]

have you simply made sure all cookies have been deleted for your browser?

[russbo]

Yes. Cleared them all.

[russbo]

OK Chuck, I deserve to be slapped silly. I didn't clear them all.....
Just cleared ALL the cookies in the browser (and not just the russbo.com ones), and now it works correctly.

Sorry, should have been more thorough.

Thanks!

[Chuck S]

Not a problem glad to point you in the right direction.