How do i install a forum?
Posted on 19 June 2007 at 16:59
Do you want to have your own forum? Well, in this tutorial i will show you the steps to make your own forum.
There are many “bulletin boards” available on the market. Today we will install The Simple Machine Forum a.k.a. SMF.
You have to download the files from the download section of the simplemachineforum.org. Always use the last stable version available.
Now, you have the files on your computer.
Decompress the archive in an folder and rename the folder in : forum or board or bb or whatever do you want. Upload the folder renamed earlier on the host via ftp.
When the transfer is over go to your web browser and type : http://www.your_server.com/name_of_the_folder_uploaded/install.php. Let say the folder name is Board. I have to type http://www.my_server.com/board/install.php .
This page tell’s you that you have to change the permision of some files and folders. You Can change the permision via ftp ( by right clicking the file/folder and selecting properties/chmod and select 777 ) or via the file manager provided by your host.
After you chmoded all the files and folders needed, we find ourself on the config page. Here you set the Forum name.
Generally “Forum URL:” is completed correct by the installer. If it is not, correct the address.
Now we jump directly to the MySQL Server Settings. Now you have to use the information provided by your host. ‘MySQL server name:’ is in general localhost but maybe be diffrent.
Check the documentation from your host. ‘MySQL username:’ - you need to create a database for the board in the phpadmin or Manage databases section of your host. “MySQL password:” and “MySQL database name:” are set at the moment you created the databases earlier so you have the wright that information. leave the “MySQL table prefix:” unchanged. Proceed.
In this step you will set up your account on the forum and also the e-mail account used to communicate with the users of your forum. Finish.
Now, you have you own forum. Before you proceed to create boards you have to delete the install.php file from your host.
