If you would like to start with a forum online at your own domain you can ask your web host to provide one of the forum softwares; phpBB, vBulletin or SMF. A number of the web hosts offer an installing service called “Fantastico”. By using this service, you can build your forum without complications, even if you are not expert in using any software.
To set up a forum website, there are six steps you will need to follow:
Step 1: Register a domain name. A domain name is a name you want to call your website.
Step 2: Purchase a web hosting package providing phpBB, vBulletin or SMF to host your website online. A web hosting service provides you with online space and required softwares. This enables you to get your forum online at your registered domain name. I recommend getting your domain and web hosting plan from the same company. In this way, it is often possible to get your domain for free, because of a few web hosting providers offering a domain as a free gift nowadays.
Step 3: Install your preferred forum software. To do this automatically, install the forum software using Fantastico. At present, nearly all web hosts have phpBB, vBulletin and SMF forum softwares available in their Fantastico. To install, you have to first log into your web hosting account. Then select the blue smiley face (called Fantastico) viewable on cpanel. Click on the preferred forum software; they all look almost the same. While phpBB is great for a new forum and has some great features, vBulletin is easier to use and maintain and is nicer to use. Choose the domain name you would like to install the board to. The “Install in directory” box can be left empty in case you wish to have your forum as the starting page for your website (http://www.yourdomain.com). You can specify a directory, e.g forum, in case you want to have your forum installed at http://www.yourdomain.com/forum.
Step 4: Select the username and the password for the forum administrator.
Step 5: Fill in the Site Name and the Short Description fields which will be appeared in the header of each page of your forum. Continue by clicking Finish installation. You will be taken to a page with the administrative panel of the board.
Step 6: Now, you can simply describe the categories/sub-categories of the forum and administer them as the administrator.
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Sunday, 26. July 2009
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