Hey, I'd like to get a free forum, but I can't find any. I just need a neat and tredny looking one for my website, not something like one from bravenet! can anyone help

Thanx, , Vicky

You need PHP/SQL support, then just download PHPBB2, Invision Board, or buy vBulletin.

Then install it and you're good to go.

Do you have to download, I don't know anything about this PHP stuff

www.php.net or org or com

Kk, thanx. So i just download this sutff and thats it?

depends on the distribution, some of them have an installer

I think I'll stick with ezboard, lol.

http://www.invisionboard.com/ is very easy and free. This is what MSFN uses. You will need access to mysql database and know a little about php, of course if you have a host they can and should help you to install it.

Do you need to host it? Because I am using geocities for my host and would it work with that?

No, it doesn't work with Geocities...I know that Tripod UK works with Invision Board...

eep, thanx gh200,,ill just set up a new account with tripod

OK, Ive downloaded the free software now what?

theres an install script within the forum root folder which you have to run from yuor browser, let's say it's phpbb2, then it'll be www.<yoursite url>/phpbb2/install.php, there are install instructions within the forum software folder, it'll be something like README or INSTALL.

You not use ASP Forum you can get free web site here and Forum software here

I'd use phpBB, it's extremely easy to use, and set up plus they have a huge support forum here: http://phpbb.com/phpBB/
and to top that off, here's a guide to install phpBB on tripod: http://phpbb.com/kb/article.php?article_id=15

They also have the most Modifications, and styles to add to your site than any other forum, plus they just reveiled a new pricing plan:
We are pleased to announce a new pricing structure for phpBB! Please see the following for more details:

phpBB 2.x : $0
Database abstraction : $0
Contributed Mods : $0
Support : $0

While other boards alter their licencing, change their pricing structures, reform under new names, phpBB remains as it was 3 years ago ... completely free.
Download *now* and we'll throw in the fabulous subSilver, a 95 dollar value, absolutly free!

I was waiting for 'priceless' somewhere in there

If you can afford it somehow, vBulletin is the best, at least for me.

The next best thing is Invision Board.

Agreed, Invision is the best boards. I eveen have it on my work's network Everyone says that its way easy to use and send private messages and post topics.

u must be blind......... u have to acutally read the posts for ur host u would use Tripod UK and for ur forum u would use invision or phpBB

It's easy to say but HARD to do!!
PHP --- this thing --- Hmmm --- spent me lots of time to understand and install.
MySQL --- this thing --- --- the same result!!!
But, if you have made it, you will feel much happy, of course!
Since I have installed IPB, it's easy for me to install others such as "vBulletin" and "phpBB".
I find IPB really good, really. In my opinion, IPB is better than "vBulletin" and "phpBB". So I suggest you install IPB instead of others.

Try Vanilla forum

Am I the only one here that uses ASP.NET?

thats not That odd, most people get hosted on a linux server, and ASP.NET isn't offered on most *nix servers..

how about phpnuke + phpbb? or maybe mambo?

Personally, I'd run phpBB myself first.

Another up and coming free forum is Simple Machines Forum.

http://www.simplemachines.org/

vBulletin is the best IMO, but SMF is pretty good for a free forum.

phpBB is the most common, but after having used vBulletin for years phpBB just lacks too many features.

Invision ain't free anymore...

It costs $70 for a yearly license and $185 for a perminate license.

As far as installation of PHP and MySQL, you can host it yourself (I don't recommend, however, you doing this for any reason other than testing... ) You can use Xampp. It is preconfigured Apache server w/ php5 or 4 (you choose) and MySQL (to configure it, you press one button and load phpMyAdmin).

Are there any good ASP/ASP.Net forum solutions out there? I don't want this to turn into a PHP -vs- ASP debate, but it kinda shows how people (devs) like php better than asp(.net)

it sounds to me like your pretty inexpierenced. if you don't need PHP/SQL for anything else, then i would highly suggest you bypass any forum s/w that uses a database. do a search for forum s/w that uses a "flat file", as you won't need PHP/SQL. there are plenty of free ones.

There are a few. Snitz is the most common one I see on forums that use ASP though.

http://forum.snitz.com/



It's not that they like it better. It's not even that one is easier to code for than the other, or that help is more readily available for either one...it's about the same for both. It's just that PHP/MySQL are more readily available to people. Developing for ASP.NET will require that you have a Windows Server at your disposal...and it'll require your customers have the same. When you go looking for a hosting company their servers are usually running either some flavor or Linux or FreeBSD. While it's true that there are .NET binaries for BSD (not sure about Linux), most hosting providers don't have them installed.




That would be a big NEGATIVE. Always, always, always use a forum that uses a database. It'll run MUCH faster, be indexed for searching, be easier to backup, easier to recover, etc, etc.

Flat Files = Bad

I think you should go on PHPBB...it has a lot of support and mods. Maybe you can download directly a "modified PHPBB".

Good point.

One I have recently taken a liking to is Simple Machines Forum(SMF). It has nearly all the features of IPB and vBulletin, and I absolutly love the automatic mod-installer.