Converting the Pelicar SMF Forum from HTTP to HTTPS

Pelicar Forum using HTTPS in Firefox 58.0.1

While it’s not really used anymore, I decided to also convert the Pelicar Forum to use HTTPS. It’s running the Simple Machines v2.0.15 forum software. Before doing anything, I backed up the files and database. I did some Googling, and followed this thread to the repair_settings.php file on SMF’s Tools page. I placed the file in the forum’s main directory and ran it using HTTPS. I then clicked on all the links where it recommended using https://forum.pelicar.info/ in the URL for placement of avatars, themes, and so on. After double-checking everything, applied the settings.

I then tried a test post which ended up not working. It still had http in the URL. It turns out, if you are using the Pretty URLs mod, you need to make an additional change. I found the answer at prettyurls – TroubleShooting.wiki. I had to change the pretty_root_url value in the smf_settings table of the database to https://forum.pelicar.info. After this, creating new posts worked fine. I then deleted the previous post that had the wrong URL.

I also modified the .htaccess file at the top to force redirection to https:

# PRETTYURLS MOD BEGINS
# Pretty URLs mod
# http://code.google.com/p/prettyurls/
# .htaccess file generated automatically on: February 4, 2016, 22:43

RewriteEngine on
RewriteBase /
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301,NE]

# Rules for: actions

Everything seems to be working fine now and hopefully this helps someone else running a Simple Machines forum that needs to do this conversion. 😃

One thought on “Converting the Pelicar SMF Forum from HTTP to HTTPS

  1. mithu

    hi thanks for your useful post
    i have followed all the steps you describe but it is not redirecting to https: automatically and css and image link not working

    any help pls

    Reply