Getting a forum up.

Ol!ver · 12 Mar 2008 at 20:58

Does anyone have experience of getting a small forum up and running? Is there a free solution?

Cheers

RobH · 12 Mar 2008 at 21:20

Well there is free forum software such as phpBB which you can install on a webserver that runs PHP and has access to a MySQL server. You can also use something like proboards which host the board for you but you have google ads on it.

Ol!ver · 12 Mar 2008 at 21:22

Looking for the easiest solution really. Would pay if it's easy to get running.

Tobes · 14 Mar 2008 at 17:29

For a couple of years a buddy and I have been trying to get a forum going. It's not a easy thing. Installing a forum is a piece of cake and so is setting it up.

phpbb is the best for free. It also has a great admin panel.

vBulletin is the best for cost but it has a ugly and messy admin panel. There is lots a support and mods for it though. It's what made us make the jump to it.

Actually getting members is solid though!

Ol!ver · 14 Mar 2008 at 18:55

Tobes said:
For a couple of years a buddy and I have been trying to get a forum going. It's not a easy thing. Installing a forum is a piece of cake and so is setting it up.

phpbb is the best for free. It also has a great admin panel.

vBulletin is the best for cost but it has a ugly and messy admin panel. There is lots a support and mods for it though. It's what made us make the jump to it.

Actually getting members is solid though!

Like I say, I just want it for blog contributors.

Tobes · 14 Mar 2008 at 18:58

Ya never said that lol.

Ol!ver · 14 Mar 2008 at 19:01

Tobes said:
Ya never said that lol.

Christ knows where I've said that then, definitely somewhere !

Tican · 14 Mar 2008 at 20:19

PHPBB 3 is the best free one IMO

Edit:
If you wanted an ad-free and no cost solution, if you can provide the domain name, I can host it for you? (or i can give you something like http://metalmayhem.org/~web9_oliver )

CliffyBiro · 14 Mar 2008 at 20:24

Google: freeforums.org

Tobes · 14 Mar 2008 at 20:25

skippi90 said:
Google: freeforums.org

Why would you google a web address?

CliffyBiro · 14 Mar 2008 at 20:32

Tobes said:
Why would you google a web address?

To look for reviews. When setting up a website (or forum) you're going to want to make sure your provider is reliable.

Tobes · 14 Mar 2008 at 20:59

I know I am going off topic but what I am getting at is have you told him to go to google and type in freeforums.org?

Or have you yourself gone to google and found that site for him?

Just if its the first... why doesn't he just go to the address bar and type in freeforums.org rather than going to google and typing it in?

CliffyBiro · 14 Mar 2008 at 21:02

I am suggesting that he both takes a look at that site and also searches for reviews on it's service.