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I just found the BEST free forum software!

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Hey, before I give a link to the forum software page, you can all see a sample at my new website for my school newspaper:

Pioneer Optimist Forums

I need a top graphic, so if anyone can help out or has any suggestions, I'm all ears.

What's cool about the software (XMB) is that all you need to do is run a script (it's called newinstall.php) and it configures the forums for you - no cryptic "programming" to do after you upload your files.

Tell me all what you think. The website for the forum software is XMBforum.com
 


<< How do I set it up? >>



First, you need a host with php and mysql. I used the UK version of tripod, since they offer it for free.

Then, you download and unzip the XMB folder on your HDD and fill in a couple basic points of info (database name, etc.).

Then you upload all the files in the folder to your webspace, and type in www.myhostwhatever.com/whateverforumis/newinstall.php, and the forum gets installed for you! It was soooooooo cool...and really easy!

Read all the documentation on the xmbforum website - they explain it really well.
 
i've been using phpBB 2.0
it took about 10 minutes to install
here is the install directions
seems to have a bigger support community, and lots of Mods in the works
website just for phpBB mods
 
no, sorry, the admin end of XMB sucks and at this time, upgrading for me has produced nothing but hassles. i'd look elsewhere.



btw, there's no 'cryptic programming' in ANY forum software setup nowadays. it's like advertising a car and saying you don't have to rebuild the engine to start the car in the morning.
 


<< i've been using phpBB 2.0
it took about 10 minutes to install
here is the install directions
seems to have a bigger support community, and lots of Mods in the works
website just for phpBB mods >>



Ill second the phpBB 2.0... I run it and its great.... It is the easiest to use that I have tried so far. I especially like the way you backup your database, all you do is tell it where you want to save the database on your HD and it does the rest...
 


<<

<< i've been using phpBB 2.0
it took about 10 minutes to install
here is the install directions
seems to have a bigger support community, and lots of Mods in the works
website just for phpBB mods >>



Ill second the phpBB 2.0... I run it and its great.... It is the easiest to use that I have tried so far. I especially like the way you backup your database, all you do is tell it where you want to save the database on your HD and it does the rest... >>




A third nomination here for phpBB 2.0 - Absolutely easy to use, and free!
 
THANK YOU ALL! I have been looking for a good and simple forum software for my website, phpBB fit the bill perfectly!
 
Forums look nice. I am also a user of phpbb 2.0, however this one looks good too.

What's REALLY nice to see is that tripod uk gives you php4/mysql and "unlimited" bandwidth" with NO BANNERS!?

wow, i'm signing up for that, hot hot hot!
 
How about... iKonboard? Seems like they have a huge community in terms of support, mad skins to choose from, and they even have a service where they host a forum for you (with advertisements of course)...

Anyone else have any others to recommend? Deciding between iKonboard and phpBB...
 


<< THANK YOU ALL! I have been looking for a good and simple forum software for my website, phpBB fit the bill perfectly! >>




Christ, you sound like a frikkin' commercial! 😛
 
Only use Ikonboard if you intend on using it with a mysql database. Otherwise if you have a lot of users on the board you'll wish you had a better database other than flatline like Ikonboard does by default (which is sluggish might I add).

phpBB2 is overall better than Ikonboard, in my opinion, and vBulletin is even better, though it does cost a little.
 
If you have a forum with about 200 active members and let's say 300 lurking members how much bandwidth per month is that?
 
Anandtech probably averages about that plus some, probably a lot more lurkers, though. Goes up to 600+ registered logins during peak times on up to even more, and during off-peak times down to 150 or so. I remember the number 29Mbps somewhere before from Forum Issues, so I'd say probably 15-20Mbps for that many people average online for a board. You can't really get an exact number though unless if you ask someone who runs a board like that and studies the mrtg graphs daily.

You'd need a cluster setup for a board with that much activity, too...
 


<< Anandtech probably averages about that plus some, probably a lot more lurkers, though. Goes up to 600+ registered logins during peak times on up to even more, and during off-peak times down to 150 or so. I remember the number 29Mbps somewhere before from Forum Issues, so I'd say probably 15-20Mbps for that many people average online for a board. You can't really get an exact number though unless if you ask someone who runs a board like that and studies the mrtg graphs daily.

You'd need a cluster setup for a board with that much activity, too... >>



Thanks for the info.

What's the maximum number of users that a forum could have, so the hosting/forum software remains cheap and easy (under $25/month)?
 
YaBB... forgot about them. I used to have a huge list of all the free forums out there... lost it....
 
i like yabb a lot because it has just so many features, you can insert flash, effects with text, insert charts. it's awesome but a few things i don't like are these:
-in order to have a private board it has to have a private category instead of just an individual hidden board
-you cannot make polls
-you cannot link to categories as main pages. this is what i mean.....
HERE we have the main forum ok, you can see all categories
HERE we can only see the boards under the category i selected
if you go to my forum HERE you can see that you can't select a category, you have to view all boards at once.
editted because i suck at grammer lol
 
for some reason i cant dl phpBB 2.0.0 from the site... says file not found... can someone email it to me? or host it somewhere? id like to try it out.. thanks
 
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