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IP2Location Database

SmartyURL utilizes the ip2location/ip2location-php library to determine the country of visitors based on their IP addresses. This functionality relies on the IP2Location database provided by IP2Location.com. Since SmartyURL is open-source and freely distributed, we include the "IP2Location™ LITE IP-COUNTRY Database," which is free for both personal and commercial use.

It's important to note that while the IP2Location™ LITE IP-COUNTRY Database is a valuable resource, it's essential to be aware that it may not consistently offer the highest degree of accuracy or the most up-to-date information. If you have plans to extensively employ geographical redirect conditions and demand a more precise and current dataset for IP-based country information, we strongly advise considering the purchase of a licensed version of the IP2Location database from ip2location.com. This paid version ensures you have access to the most accurate and regularly updated data for your geographical redirection needs.

Alternatively, you can continue with the included free LITE version, although it's not fully accurate, it can still be helpful.

If you want to use the paid version of IP2Location database:

The paid IP2Location database offers improved accuracy and regular updates. To obtain your license and database, please visit ip2location.com/database/ip2location.

Once you've obtained the IP2Location™ IP-Country Database, download the .BIN file associated with the database and upload it to your server. Then, specify the path to the uploaded file by configuring the $ip2location_bin_file in app/Config/Smartyurl.php.

public $ip2location_bin_file =  APPPATH . "../datastore/". 'IP2Location/IP2LOCATION-LITE-DB1.IPV6.BIN';

The uploaded BIN file should be the standard version provided by IP2Location.

Warning

When uploading your custom IP2Location BIN file, please do not overwrite the default 'IP2LOCATION-LITE-DB1.BIN' file. Instead, upload it with a new filename and adjust the ip2location_bin_file setting accordingly. This will ensures that your file won't be overwritten when SmartyURL is updated to a new version in the future.

This setup ensures that SmartyURL uses the paid, more accurate, and regularly updated IP2Location database for enhanced country detection.

Note

When using the paid version of IP2Location, please remember to manually update the database (.BIN) file regularly whenever IP2Location announces a database update. This process is not handled automaticlly by SmartyURL, so it's important to stay informed about IP2Location announcements.