I would like to set up a web Forum for dirt bike riding enthusiasts.

PHBB comes to mind but I am not sure about any such thing.

Not sure how to approach this.

I really like the way Bleeping Computer works, that style would be my first choice.

well BC is ip.board its not free software, you can find it from:

http://www.invisionpower.com/


are you looking to setup a full web host yourself (pay money)

or are you looking for a free alternative? for free forums, people have been using http://invisionfree.com for years, they have a much older version of this forum (from before it was pay to use) and they offer it free (you dont get a nice url though for free)

More along the lines of a community that is perpuated by the members.

Free to members to use for sharing, chatting, searching for help with repairs.

The ip.board is very reasonable.

I will look at the http://invisionfree.com

Use invision free and your own domain until you grow a bit and then move over to a IPB board. Just make sure you can transfer the posts! I have used them before.

yeah, cowsgonemadd3 has got a point, invisionfree is nice to start, you can even buy a domain through them to host the site off (i think its pretty cheap)

and you can transfer the data later, but beware it is kind of intensive, (and not free) i think a few years ago when i took over a site for an online game i paid them like $50USD and the data was kind of messed up, took a bit to form it to the new database,

good place to start though

this one is free, http://www.simplemachines.org/ and quite extencive, but i've not done much with it yet,
http://www.hallcross.co.uk/forum/index.php you can use it on your own domain too

I would go for PHPBB, I have used it before and the setup is fairly easy. If you want to safely test it before you host it download http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html xampp and run the forum on there.

I downloaded the zip for XAMPP, but have not figured out how to extract it.

I also started an account at invisionfree.com

It was rather easy and I set up a mock site for figuring it out.

I cant figure out how to do the folder tabs yet.

Help yourself and give any suggestions
http://z4.invisionfree.com/Home_Renovation...php?showforum=1

I am going to tinker with that and the XAMPP for now

All you should need to do is extract xampp into your C: drive. In the root dirtectory of Xampp, there is an application called xampp-control.exe. Run that, and then start Apache from there, as well as Mysql. Then open your browser and type in c:\\localhost. It should work.

Is it important where I place that directory of Xampp on my drive?

Meaning must it be located in c:\> or can it be on my desktop or in mydocuments...

You can put it wherever you want, but you will may have to modify the configuration files so that it knows where it is installed.

I moved the XAMPP directory to C:. then ran xampp-control.exe and started Apache and Mysql.

It shows both of them as running.

Next I type c:\\localhost in my browser

The browser cannot find c:\\localhost.....I also tried c:\localhost

It says check the spelling and try again.

Try just typing in localhost

There is no such thing as a local host (which is the server) residing in your C directory. I am curious where in the documentation it told you to use c:\\localhost in your address bar?

That was it...


It opened right up!
http://localhost/

Now I really am in.

Any nudge appreciated.


I am thinking I store webpages in my c:> and they are available to the web if my machine is on.

I am fuzzy on the details.

just to feed your curiosity, you accidentially typed it a few posts ago, you probably mean to type http:// but just thought of a drive when typing

You need to put files in the htdocs folder http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-windows.html scroll down to the Where should I place my web content.

By gosh, I did. My bad.

groovicus
nigglesnush85

Thanks...

I looked in the htdocs folder and found images and folders and an index.

So... if I make a HTML page and place it here with the images in the right place etc... it will be visible from the WWW?


P.S. I changed my passwords for MySQL and PhpMyAdmin.

No problem, glad to help.
If you put a file into the folder it can be viewed from the WWW this depends on setting up port forwarding if you are behind a router.

Yes, I am behind a router.

Would that be port 80?

Yes it would be port 80 for the http protocol, but there are others needed for the other functions. I'll have to review a previous steup to be sure.

Sorry for the delay, I actually found the tutorial that helped me set it up... http://otfans.net/archive/index.php?t-81977.html

nigglesnush85

Thank You, that is fantastic..I will let you know after I get it working.

I have opened ports 80, 8080 and 8000.


Wondering if this is a security issue.

Thats a good point, The security settings in XAMPP can only be changed by localhost. If you have set the security up you should be ok. (in theory)

Yes I set the security up.

I will continue to monkey around with it and reply any news.

Thanks Again,

Martel

No problem, glad to help.

So how is this all going for you?

It is all comming together but I have one major problem.

It seems that in order for this to work you have to use your ip address. see details

So you list your site with your ip address and all is good.

Until your ip address is renewed.

Still pondering that part.

Yes. Any timne that you have ports open other than just the ones that you need, you are giving an attacker a potential toe-hold.


If you are using your own personal computer to host the website, the only way for people to connect to your website will be by using the IP number. If your IP number changes, then they will no longer be able to connect. We get around that by purchasing domain names, and associating our IP address with our domain names, then we use auto-updaters to notify the domain name servers when our IP has changed. Or you could get a static IP from your provider (will cost more).

If you do not want to purchase your own domain, you can go to a site like http://freedns.afraid.org/, and piggyback on someone else's domain. This isn't a site where they are going to hold your hand and help you configure anything though. You will have to use the available information and do it yourself (hence the free part). They also have tools there that will auto-update if your IP address changes.

Or the final option is to have someone host your website and not worry about any of it at all.

On that note I closed all three ports.


I already have it seven bucks per month www dot drfixup dot com (don't laugh too hard)

I think I will use another computer through my lan solely for this Apache Server.
Instead of the ip address I will get a dot com and use auto-updaters.