Learn how to install a forum board using the free engine phpbb on your server

hi there, we are going to learn how to install a free forum. there is a bunch of different forum engines out there. some cost and some are free. we are going to use phpbb.

first thing you need to check, is if your host supports mysql databases and php. if your asking what is a host. a host holds your files up 24/7 so the world can goto your site all the time. you can also host your own files. if you install a http server, mysql, and php 4 or 5 on your computer or server. but im going to take it as you got a free host, or you bought your own domain. and your host supports php and mysql.

now your going to need to download a couple things. first download phpbb forum engine. i am using version 3.0 if you have a later version the setup process may be a little different. and your going to need a ftp client. get coreftp. it will allow you to upload all the files & directories at once.

next your going to need to unzip the compressed file you downloaded of phpbb and install coreftp.

log into your cpanel of your host. if you dont know how or dont have a cpanel. your going to have to contact your host and ask them how to create a mysql database. but you should be able just to log into your cpanel, and click on mysql databases. create a user for your database, and give it a password. then create a database and assign the user you made to the database. remember the database name and remember the password, your going to need them later. put them in a notepad document.

use coreftp and connect to your host, create a directory forum, unless you want the forum on your front page. and highlight all the files you unziped, in the phpbb3 folder. all the loose files & folders. and copy them to the folder you created on your host, by dragging and dropping. let them all finish transfering before continuing.

now its time to start the installation. open up your browser (ie, firefox) and goto the address. " http://www.domain.com/forum/install/install.php " and it will begin the installation process.

1st question: database server hostname - this should be left at localhost unless your mysql database is on another server then your http server.

2nd - 4th questions: your database name - put the database name you created in your cpanel. or what your host made for you. and the same for database username and database password. put the username you made, that you assigned to the database. and then the password.

5th question: prefix for tables. just leave it as phpbb_. but your welcome to change it to what you want. like myforum_. but this time just leave it how it is.

6th question: admin email - put the email address of the owner of the forum. all error reports is sent here. and to reset the password of the admin username.

7th question: domain name - put yourdomain.com. it should already be there correctly. so just leave it be.

8th question: server port - it should be 80 unless the port is on another server. this too should be correct already. because you had to punch it in to install the forum.

9th question: script path - it should be already filled to the correct path of your forum.

ok the next 3 questions are admin username, admin password, and confirm admin password. this is the first user of your forum. the main administrator username ( the big cheese ). put your desired username you want. it can be changed by you later in the admin panel.

now click finish installation. and the forum is now created and installed. the rest is setting up in the admin panel and picking the skin you want. a skin is the outer shell of the forum. phpbb is your forum engine. but you can have a skin look how you want. you can download many skins already made. at phpbbhacks.

now when you goto your forum you created in the browser it will say. that the install & contrib directories is not deleted. log back into your files of your forum using the coreftp program. and delete both directories and its contents. you can also just simply rename the folders or move them.

and your done. now log into your admin panel and setup your forums and turn the board on. set the limits and boundaries. and your done. you installed your own forum.

if you dont want to go through all this, you can goto google and search up free forums. and there will be links to many free forum sites. but theres usually a banner on it from them. and their host is usually slow because of all the users there is on there. and its free so the hosts are slow as hell to begin with most the time.

" heres some other forum engines "

invision board
vbullitin
simple machines
yet another bulletin board

hope you enjoy your forum. be sure to check mine out at cyberpirate.dittmerdan.net, I use phpbb as well.