I have spoken to Neil last evening in regards to the Lada forum.
I have found it to be really useful and helpful over the years, for which I am very greatful from all those that have helped me in the past.
Since I have now become a retired old f*** i now want to channel some my time into my other collectors car which is a Berkeley T60/4, and its enthusiast club.
What these cars lack is a proper forum like this one. Every body is using emails and this does become extensive and difficult to follow.
A forum like this one would be of a wonderful help.
I am trying to setup a forum using the same software as this one, but I would be pleased if there is anybody that can give me a few little helpers on my way into
building up this new forum.
smugsie
Getting a forum to use
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GadgetBoy
Re: Getting a forum to use
Right.
Seeing as I do the techie stuff on this forum I'll be the bod to ask.
Two questions:
1. Do you know what MySQL and phpAdmin are?
2. If yes, have you got access to them via your current host?
This forum needs a backend database server (MySQL usually) to run. If you haven't got that or something to test it on like a local database (MySQL, SQLServer, maybe Access - I'd need to check) you'll be banging your head off a brick wall.
Seeing as I do the techie stuff on this forum I'll be the bod to ask.
Two questions:
1. Do you know what MySQL and phpAdmin are?
2. If yes, have you got access to them via your current host?
This forum needs a backend database server (MySQL usually) to run. If you haven't got that or something to test it on like a local database (MySQL, SQLServer, maybe Access - I'd need to check) you'll be banging your head off a brick wall.
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Neil Chowney
- Administrator
- Posts: 2641
- Joined: Sun May 25, 2003 8:34 pm
- Location: Whitchurch, Hampshire
- Contact:
Re: Getting a forum to use
I thought you might chip in with some wise words......... 
Neil Chowney
Land Rover Discovery Sport (just sold the Freelander)
Cube Agree HTC Di2
Land Rover Discovery Sport (just sold the Freelander)
Cube Agree HTC Di2
Re: Getting a forum to use
Answers to your questions 1 & 2 are difficult for me to give.
I know that phpmyadmin and mysql is back ground sotware that allows you to use the forum which are open source, but how they work is when I become stumped.
I think you are right that I could be banging my head on a brick wall. But before that happens I will hope to conquer it.
I have started to setup the forum and have received via emails several communications from the administrator offering me help when I want it. As far as I can see my forum is not open yet for general use. It has been named as (berkeleycarenthusiast.freeforums.org) which is on www.freeforums.org.
Perhaps the easiest thing is for me to understand how all these forums function is know whether a website is required or not. Is this one within Lada uk
web domain or is it a stand alone. My club does have its own website but is not operational.
I also beleive that they are totally free to use.
Regards
Smugsie
I know that phpmyadmin and mysql is back ground sotware that allows you to use the forum which are open source, but how they work is when I become stumped.
I think you are right that I could be banging my head on a brick wall. But before that happens I will hope to conquer it.
I have started to setup the forum and have received via emails several communications from the administrator offering me help when I want it. As far as I can see my forum is not open yet for general use. It has been named as (berkeleycarenthusiast.freeforums.org) which is on www.freeforums.org.
Perhaps the easiest thing is for me to understand how all these forums function is know whether a website is required or not. Is this one within Lada uk
web domain or is it a stand alone. My club does have its own website but is not operational.
I also beleive that they are totally free to use.
Regards
Smugsie
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GadgetBoy
Re: Getting a forum to use
Right. That gives me an idea what level you're at.
Basic theory.
You have a website, it may be a registered domain or a free service. Your forum front end - the bit the users/moderators/administrators see is a folder or directory within this website. You also have a background database - MySQL (usually on a totally independent server) which stores everything to do with the forum.
To try and make it a little more understandable, the database holds a series of lists. Lists of registered users, lists of posts, lists of topics - that sort of thing. The forum software (phpBB in Lada UK's case) sends requests to this database and receives information back. phpMyAdmin is what you use to administer this database.
This my all sound very complicated but in practical terms it's not. The only time you should have to use phpMyAdmin is to create an empty database for the forum to use. You shouldn't have to do anything more than that.
Personally speaking I would recommend you steer away from "free" forum sites. For two reasons: 1. You don't own anything that is posted. 2. Adverts and marketing. 3. The small print. It doesn't cost huge money to get hosting services that will provide MySql and a proper www.yournamehere.co.uk or whatever. You're talking about £50/yr and I'm sure you and your fellow enthusiasts can come up with that.
Create your database. You can call it anything you like - Roger for example. As long as you write down what it's called and where it is that's fine. You can additionally create a user that the forum will use to access the database but the default administrator user will work just as well. Have a look round phpMyAdmin for "Users".
Once you've created your database copy the forum software complete to your website. Your host will have provided an easy way to do this.
For example: If you download phpBB (as we use here) unzip it to a folder on your computer. Copy the entire contents of this folder to a folder on your website. Normally you would copy it to a folder called "forum".
In your browser go to www.yourdomainhere.co.uk/forum The forum software will recognise this is the first time it's been run and lead you through a series of questions to set itself up. It will want to know where the database is - phpMyAdmin will have given you this information when you created the database. What are the user details to access the database. Finally you will create an Administrator for the forum. This is nothing to do with the Administrator for the database, it is simply a forum user who can manage the forum.
I can't recommend phpBB3 highly enough. It's extremely good, easy to look after and provides everything you will ever need.
Basic theory.
You have a website, it may be a registered domain or a free service. Your forum front end - the bit the users/moderators/administrators see is a folder or directory within this website. You also have a background database - MySQL (usually on a totally independent server) which stores everything to do with the forum.
To try and make it a little more understandable, the database holds a series of lists. Lists of registered users, lists of posts, lists of topics - that sort of thing. The forum software (phpBB in Lada UK's case) sends requests to this database and receives information back. phpMyAdmin is what you use to administer this database.
This my all sound very complicated but in practical terms it's not. The only time you should have to use phpMyAdmin is to create an empty database for the forum to use. You shouldn't have to do anything more than that.
Personally speaking I would recommend you steer away from "free" forum sites. For two reasons: 1. You don't own anything that is posted. 2. Adverts and marketing. 3. The small print. It doesn't cost huge money to get hosting services that will provide MySql and a proper www.yournamehere.co.uk or whatever. You're talking about £50/yr and I'm sure you and your fellow enthusiasts can come up with that.
Create your database. You can call it anything you like - Roger for example. As long as you write down what it's called and where it is that's fine. You can additionally create a user that the forum will use to access the database but the default administrator user will work just as well. Have a look round phpMyAdmin for "Users".
Once you've created your database copy the forum software complete to your website. Your host will have provided an easy way to do this.
For example: If you download phpBB (as we use here) unzip it to a folder on your computer. Copy the entire contents of this folder to a folder on your website. Normally you would copy it to a folder called "forum".
In your browser go to www.yourdomainhere.co.uk/forum The forum software will recognise this is the first time it's been run and lead you through a series of questions to set itself up. It will want to know where the database is - phpMyAdmin will have given you this information when you created the database. What are the user details to access the database. Finally you will create an Administrator for the forum. This is nothing to do with the Administrator for the database, it is simply a forum user who can manage the forum.
I can't recommend phpBB3 highly enough. It's extremely good, easy to look after and provides everything you will ever need.
Re: Getting a forum to use
Many thanks for your reply.
Yes and I am with very basic knowledge on this sort of thing, but it gives me an interest which with luck will help lots of others.
Firstly I will need to get hold of the club website info before I start nd open the forum for use by all
Secondly you refer to the need to create a database for the forum. Would this be like the names of the people who can get on to it or is something.
Regards
Smugsie
Yes and I am with very basic knowledge on this sort of thing, but it gives me an interest which with luck will help lots of others.
Firstly I will need to get hold of the club website info before I start nd open the forum for use by all
Secondly you refer to the need to create a database for the forum. Would this be like the names of the people who can get on to it or is something.
Regards
Smugsie
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GadgetBoy
Re: Getting a forum to use
Think of a database as simply a container to hold information. A filing cabinet if you will. All you need to do is create the database, the forum software will sort out all the files (tables to give them their correct name) for you.
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ladanivabelgium
Re: Getting a forum to use
Gadget already explained the most important items.
In can only advice you, just as gadget did, to stay away from free hosts and tu use phpBB3.
I can also advice you to run 2 different databases and 2 different forums for the first couple of months. The second one could be used to try some stuff on without having the risk to destroy the actual open forum.
In can only advice you, just as gadget did, to stay away from free hosts and tu use phpBB3.
I can also advice you to run 2 different databases and 2 different forums for the first couple of months. The second one could be used to try some stuff on without having the risk to destroy the actual open forum.
Re: Getting a forum to use
Thank you.
I seem to be learning.
I did not quite understand the data base thing. Because I was looking for something going on behind the front page and possibily hidden.
If I am correct the data base you are refering to are the headings on the front page i.e. spares, technical etc.. Once entered it looks after itself from there on. I am used to data base construction which I used for my business i.e. accounts, name and addresses etc.
Having got to the point of me not using the free forums (thanks for pointing that out),I have found one this morning linked to the club but it is full of nasty adverts. Do I have to use say my club web site or is it possible to just get the forum to open on its own. If I can how is that possible.
I know that a fee maybe wanted by the host forum, which I believe will allow us to use the forum advert free.
Many thanks
Smugsie
I seem to be learning.
I did not quite understand the data base thing. Because I was looking for something going on behind the front page and possibily hidden.
If I am correct the data base you are refering to are the headings on the front page i.e. spares, technical etc.. Once entered it looks after itself from there on. I am used to data base construction which I used for my business i.e. accounts, name and addresses etc.
Having got to the point of me not using the free forums (thanks for pointing that out),I have found one this morning linked to the club but it is full of nasty adverts. Do I have to use say my club web site or is it possible to just get the forum to open on its own. If I can how is that possible.
I know that a fee maybe wanted by the host forum, which I believe will allow us to use the forum advert free.
Many thanks
Smugsie
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ladanivabelgium
Re: Getting a forum to use
You can use any adress you like (if it is available) for instance: http://www.Berkeley.com and have it redirected to your forum. Domain names are not for free, they cost in my country 15 euro's a year. If you have domain name and web space / forum with the same hosting copany, you will have fewer problems with redirecting
Don't worry too much about the database. As gadget said the forum software will make and install oine without you havin g anything to do with it. You just have to point out the space where it will be sitting. Your host can advise you on that matter
Don't worry too much about the database. As gadget said the forum software will make and install oine without you havin g anything to do with it. You just have to point out the space where it will be sitting. Your host can advise you on that matter
Re: Getting a forum to use
Many thanks for this answer.
You have confirmed some of my thoughts.
This forum site (FreeForums.org) has provided me with a forum addres http://berkeleycars.freeforums.org.
At this moment in time I am just playing around with it and seeing what I have to do to make it useful for all those that will use it.
The club does have its own website which seems not to be operative but is still having a subscription payment and is on the web. I will be hoping to change that so the forum would be the key for the website to be entred and used.
There is I believe a fee for my forum which is cheaper if it has a domain to be put in. Also an additional fee to stop the adverts. This will then be like this site i.e. Lada UK in its operation.
Regards
Smugsie
You have confirmed some of my thoughts.
This forum site (FreeForums.org) has provided me with a forum addres http://berkeleycars.freeforums.org.
At this moment in time I am just playing around with it and seeing what I have to do to make it useful for all those that will use it.
The club does have its own website which seems not to be operative but is still having a subscription payment and is on the web. I will be hoping to change that so the forum would be the key for the website to be entred and used.
There is I believe a fee for my forum which is cheaper if it has a domain to be put in. Also an additional fee to stop the adverts. This will then be like this site i.e. Lada UK in its operation.
Regards
Smugsie
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ladanivabelgium
Re: Getting a forum to use
Please keep away from stuff like freeforums and the like. The forum and database will NEVER be yours and they can do with it as they please. I think you even can't make a backup from the database sith those guys.Just get some webspace and a domain at a serious hosting company. They will help you set up the forum and database if they do serious bussiness. Always remember: you get what you pay for!
Travel the web and find a serious hosting company first. Find one near by or at least in your own country. Make sure that they provide the possibilitys to run a database. 50 or 100 mb of free space will do nicely the first couple of months. As your forum (and database) gets bigger in time you can always upgrade. Find a hosting company with examples of sites from costumers. Go to those sites and ask the owners trough mail if they are pleased with the hosting company. Don't rush this, get yourself well informed.
If time comes i'm sure gadget will help you set up the forum and database if you ask him very nice . I will also help you. I run a phpBB3 forum also
Travel the web and find a serious hosting company first. Find one near by or at least in your own country. Make sure that they provide the possibilitys to run a database. 50 or 100 mb of free space will do nicely the first couple of months. As your forum (and database) gets bigger in time you can always upgrade. Find a hosting company with examples of sites from costumers. Go to those sites and ask the owners trough mail if they are pleased with the hosting company. Don't rush this, get yourself well informed.
If time comes i'm sure gadget will help you set up the forum and database if you ask him very nice
. I will also help you. I run a phpBB3 forum alsoRe: Getting a forum to use
Thanks for that.
I have been intouch with my internet provider Virgin. They provide me with my broadband, I am well pleased with them and they are always very helpful. I spoke to them earlier today and they have shown me where I can setup my own website with 200mb. Which is double the quantity you said I would need. The bonus here is its free. I will now also kill the freeforums, it was good to get me going and give me a little understanding.
I will try again and use the forum software used on this site, but when I downloaded it I could not make it work. I will try a different tack and see if I have any luck.
The one thing that I want to know is 200mb enough for the long term use of a website if lots of photos get deposited on it.
Regards
Smugsie
I have been intouch with my internet provider Virgin. They provide me with my broadband, I am well pleased with them and they are always very helpful. I spoke to them earlier today and they have shown me where I can setup my own website with 200mb. Which is double the quantity you said I would need. The bonus here is its free. I will now also kill the freeforums, it was good to get me going and give me a little understanding.
I will try again and use the forum software used on this site, but when I downloaded it I could not make it work. I will try a different tack and see if I have any luck.
The one thing that I want to know is 200mb enough for the long term use of a website if lots of photos get deposited on it.
Regards
Smugsie
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GadgetBoy
Re: Getting a forum to use
Virgin will give you web hosting but it won't give you the database end of things. Hang fire for a day or so. I'm moving my mother into a Fold at the moment and I don't have a lot of time to advise you. I'll have more time after the weekend.
Re: Getting a forum to use
Hello
have you had any further thoughts for me to go forward.
It appears that I will need to make a front end page to a website so that I have a place for people to start.
This means that I must design my wesite and have a proper reconisable website domain ending in .com or .co.uk.
Though I have been trawling around and looking a various places for website makers and domain name suppliers, I am confused because I do not want to finish up with an insecure and high jacked place. Where should I go go for the best domain security and desigh maker. Since I will be operating it from my home computer.
Smugsie
have you had any further thoughts for me to go forward.
It appears that I will need to make a front end page to a website so that I have a place for people to start.
This means that I must design my wesite and have a proper reconisable website domain ending in .com or .co.uk.
Though I have been trawling around and looking a various places for website makers and domain name suppliers, I am confused because I do not want to finish up with an insecure and high jacked place. Where should I go go for the best domain security and desigh maker. Since I will be operating it from my home computer.
Smugsie