How to setup a simple forum

Also if you want to set up a test site on a windows box, the web platform installer makes setting up the webserver & php very easy - Download the Microsoft Web Platform

Thank you Sergio and John. I looked at Phb - but since I have never done this before, I have to get into the terminology. Will have a look at SMF. And thanks Sergio for offering help to set it up. Since this is a club, I will now have to discuss it with the club elders. But I first wanted to have an idea what to propose.

whs said:

Thank you Sergio and John. I looked at Phb - but since I have never done this before, I have to get into the terminology. Will have a look at SMF. And thanks Sergio for offering help to set it up. Since this is a club, I will now have to discuss it with the club elders. But I first wanted to have an idea what to propose.

Just let me know if you need anything

Thanks for the input Fantail. My goal is to keep it simple for the setup, maintenance and use. Since I am not here during the summer, someone else will have to look after the server - and that is not obvious. And your observation is right. The average age in the club must be over 70 with a majority of nice little old ladies. I sometimes feel like one of the youngsters - and I am 72. LOL

PS: Sergio, I will, and thanks again.

I run a private forum with PHPBB, and it is not very difficult to set up or run as long as you want to use the off the shelf functionality.

I have mine set up so that nobody sees any messages until they log in, so it is really private.

I remember that a friend of mine, who setup a forum, had a private board within the forum, that required an additional approval to enter. I think that was to keep me out, because he knew that my views wouldn't jive with his on certain subjects. I think that it was simply a place for him to chat with the female members of the forum. However, it did provide both a public and private environment which instead of barring the public, had sort of a "lobby" to his private environment.

whs said:

Thanks for the input Fantail. My goal is to keep it simple for the setup, maintenance and use. Since I am not here during the summer, someone else will have to look after the server - and that is not obvious. And your observation is right. The average age in the club must be over 70 with a majority of nice little old ladies. I sometimes feel like one of the youngsters - and I am 72. LOL

PS: Sergio, I will, and thanks again.

Now, you make me feel like a child...I'm 62.

seekermeister said:

I remember that a friend of mine, who setup a forum, had a private board within the forum, that required an additional approval to enter. I think that was to keep me out, because he knew that my views wouldn't jive with his on certain subjects. I think that it was simply a place for him to chat with the female members of the forum. However, it did provide both a public and private environment which instead of barring the public, had sort of a "lobby" to his private environment.

Well, we have a member file (with email address). My idea was to automatically sign up every member. This would exclude any outsiders.

MyBB is the closest you'll find to vBulletin, and it's completely free.