ionCube for non-encrypted vBSEO

I have a somewhat successful 3+ year old vBulletin forum but admit I am new to the whole SEO "thing" so if this is a stupid question, I don't have a problem with anyone telling me it is.

I am assuming ionCube, based on it's purpose, is used to protect vBSEO code. Is this correct? And, if it is, will ionCube still be needed for the non-encrypted vBSEO?

Right now there are two things holding me back from purchasing vBSEO is the requirement that I also purchase (for $199) and install ionCube along with vBSEO. The other is, I would rather not buy and install the encrypted version only to have to then upgrade to the new non-encrypted version of vBSEO.

The ionCube loaders are free. If you were seeing a price, it was probably for the ionCube software that is used to encrypt the code. That is not needed to run the encrypted code.

But, you are correct in assuming that future versions of vBSEO will not need ionCube nor Zend.

Thanks, Keith. Since making that post I noticed that vBSEO had the test script and I found out it was already loaded on my dedicated server. I learn something every day

Now my question is, since I am unfamiliar with vBSEO upgrades, will going to the un-encryoted version from the encrypted version be a big move or just a simple upgrade. I assume the move from one and the other is just a script replacement....

By the way, you guys have already scored big with me for answering my question in only 4 minutes. I'm not used to getting that kind of service. Keep up the good work.

It is really only backup your current settings as a safety precaution. Then upload new files to your ftp, set to overwrite. Then import your new xml and viola. If your vbseo settings did not save then upload the backup through your vbseocp.php, if they did save, they even better

going to un-encrypted will require no "new" steps, unless you want to remove ioncube/zend from your server (if its not needed for anything else)

Thanks for the responses, guys. I think I am about ready to go ahead and see what it will do on my forum.

Welcome aboard Randy.