Forum Software Setups & Advice

[Mednanu]

I'm looking to setup a small online forum ( initially comprised of 25 - 100 users but would like it to be scalable past that point as well ). I quite like the vBulletin format we have here at CPF but wanted advice from anyone in the know on how to go about setting up a small online forum for the first time. I'm a former UNIX sys admin, so I'm comfortable dealing with in depth technical setups and instructions, but I've never installed, configured or scaled a Bulletin Board prior to this or dealt with the setup and maintenance of databases.

Some of the specific questions I have are:

1) Should I expect to need more than 1 instance of the BB Software installed onto the server it will be hosted on for such a small user base ?

2) Are there any decent free BB versions I might be able to start with to see whether the board might be successful prior to purchasing more feature-rich BB software ?

3) Any database ( DB ) configuration tips, advice and caveats you'd care to offer ?

4) What can someone expect to spend per year for a small packaged solution, hosted on an ISP's servers instead of one hosted from a home-based server ?

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Any advice those of you in the know could offer me would be much appreciated ? Thanks in advance, gang !

 

[TigerhawkT3]

I got a hosting package from Startlogic for $120 for two years (averages to $5/month). It's 300GB/3TB, which has been much more than I need. Some packages, including mine, come with free forum software that you can choose to install, like phpBB. You can also get one like IceBB for free, which is what I use. It's been pretty good so far.

My site: www.tigerhawkt3.com
My forum: www.tigerhawkt3.com/forums

Feel free to ask any more questions you have.

 

[da.gee]

Simple Machines has some nice forum software. Free.

 

[Mednanu]

Thanks for the input guys. What sorts of database maintenance and setup duties are required to install it and keep it running healthy ?

 

[Jenova]

i used to run a world of war craft guild website, had a main page forums dkp etc

i found some cheap hosting on the net (cant remember which site)
im pretty sure i used vBulletin

anyway it was REALLY easy to setup and even easier to maintain, the only problems i had as some database issues which quickly were sorted

its going to be easier than you think

Good luck

 

[watt4]

free forum software (SMF) http://www.simplemachines.org/


keep your domain name with a different company than you pay for webhosting

 

[da.gee]

keep your domain name with a different company than you pay for webhosting

May I ask why?

 

[watt4]

so the webhost won't encumber a change to a different webhost.

it gives you more control.

 

[da.gee]

Vengeful or lazy webhosts. Okay thanks.