Two ways to setup a forum

[Gordon]

Starting a discussion forum can be an exciting adventure and quite a learning experience. There are two popular ways to get started. One is by using a free Forum Host. The other is by using a traditional Internet Host. This post discusses both types.

The Free Forum Host usually offers a generic forum that is already setup and online. All you do is give it a name, modify it into how you want it to look, and then start spreading the word. They pay for everything so you don’t have to. They stand to make a profit by placing affiliate advertising on your forum pages. Anytime your members click those ads, the hosting company collects a few pennies. The more successful your forum becomes, the more money they make.

The other more conventional method is when you install and set up the forum yourself on a Standard Web Host. Most web hosts offer blank disk space with some support software already installed. (This space is actually suitable for any kind of website you wish to build, not just forums.) You then upload and install your own website software at your leisure. You need to register a permanent domain name and maintain the site entirely on your own. This method does however give you more innovative freedom and allows you to collect any revenues for yourself.

Setting up a forum yourself manually is actually easier than you might think. Many people with little or no website experience do it everyday. I’ll try to cover more details in upcoming posts.

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This post is part of a continuing series/tutorial on how to do it yourself.

Two ways to setup a forum
Choosing a Web Host
Where to start with a host
Making a Domain
File Manager vs FTP
Creating a database table
What is CHMOD?
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[ProAux]

I just wanted to point out that registering a domain name usually costs less than $15 for a year. And that the only other expense is whatever your software costs and whatever your host charges each month for the disk space. Mine is like $29 / month for five websites. Some of the software is even free.

So, Hell's bells, if you can make $29 a month by selling ad space, then you are on the air for free!

[poncho62]

I am going the free route right now.......I am somewhat scared to try the other way at the moment, maybe due to cheapness and inexperience. If it draws enough interest, I will probably convert it to a pay site.......I am using http://www.freeforum.ca/ to host my forum.

My forum is...... http://shadetreemechanic.freeforum.ca/

[Overload]

You get what you pay for

I use these guys .. they are great and tons of kewl apps!

Hosting plans as little as $3.95 a month ... under $15 (1 year) for a name as said above

Westhost

[RachelHelps]

I pay 11.95 for my webhosting and I put a free forum on my site, but since I pay for webhosting I have my own name which is myurl/forum. I use phpbb cause it's free and allows you to add great features. Some may not think it is much, but for a free forum it is plenty!

Rachel

[Gallovidian]

Hi everyone

I have a test forum with these good people

I don't say I advocate them, but if you want a portal with a forum, wiki, blog and loads more free in a small amount if time it may be for you.

At the moment they only supply phpbb2 within the portal but I'm sure they'll change soon

Cheers!

[stryder]

My hosting provider actually has a really cheap way to get started. It's not "free", but close enough to it. Most of the time, there is a special on a domain name purchase for $2.99. It won't be a .com, but most likely a .info. What this gives you is actually a whole lot more than just an addy. With the year registration, you also get a credit for some free hosting of 500mbs of disk space. I can't remember what the BW is, but they're usually pretty good about it, (I.E.: I have 100gb disk space and 100,000gb BW). The user control panels are fantastic where you can add in as many domains as you want to your acct, create sub-domains, use their java-based FTP client, add FTP accts for others, and db management is handled very well too. You also have the choice of windows-based or Linux-based hosting.

[wharriso]

My hosting provider actually has a really cheap way to get started. It's not "free", but close enough to it. Most of the time, there is a special on a domain name purchase for $2.99. It won't be a .com, but most likely a .info. What this gives you is actually a whole lot more than just an addy. With the year registration, you also get a credit for some free hosting of 500mbs of disk space. I can't remember what the BW is, but they're usually pretty good about it, (I.E.: I have 100gb disk space and 100,000gb BW). The user control panels are fantastic where you can add in as many domains as you want to your acct, create sub-domains, use their java-based FTP client, add FTP accts for others, and db management is handled very well too. You also have the choice of windows-based or Linux-based hosting.

Yup! I am using that 3rd choice, server in the basement.

[RachelHelps]

Wow, that's cool!

[patricia1023]

I'm with A free forum hosted by SMFfor free.It was the easiest route for me being computer illiterate at the time.Everythings built in and ready to go including add ons such as an arcade, gallery, news box etc.The SMF support members and staff supply tons of CSS and HTML codes to build your themes.I have no complaints at all.You do have adverts unless you pay to block them but the ads seem to blend in with each forums theme.You can check out my theme at http://realitybites.smfforfree2.com Most boards are open and a few are hidden to guests.

[cloudddae]

I use a free site, SMFfor free. It has everything I need already built in.
I used bytethehost once, but that did not work out. Lots of down time, problems accessing my forum.
It was a very bad experience.

[janajanet]

I got my at http://www.simplemachines.org its FREE and its great! hosted by me with me! all you have to do is download it and install it to your webpage, so i dont have problems where search engines cant find it etc. or one of the commen problems i heard of is where somone steals your free forum with all your hard earned members