Hi everyone,
I am heading a nationwide message board project. Basically all of the secondary schools in england will have the chance to have a message board setup for them and just for them as well so its private at the schools discretion.
I have been using phpBB so far and started to wonder whether it really is the best thing to use. Whether its possible with a forum system to have one main and then duplicate ones but private for the different schools or simply install the system again and again for each school.
Baring in mind that we have got no money for this at the moment so it needs to be a free forum system.
What do you think, I would really appreciate if everyone that read this topic would vote at the top. Please.
If you have any questions, post them and I will try to answer.
Many thanks,
Harry

If this is a poll, I don't see any options at the top :)

Just done it, sorry. You should see it now.

I chose SMF for the security and reliability it offers over the others (specifically phpBB). With the proper theme, SMF could be a great backbone for your multi-forum setup.

Ok, thanks. Is phpBB not secure in your mind then ?

The new version of phpbb is pretty well done imo. It's very simple to install and customize, adding your own logo and themes. The admin area is very easy to use also. I have never heard anything about phpbb not being secured.

The new version of phpbb is pretty well done imo. It's very simple to install and customize, adding your own logo and themes. The admin area is very easy to use also. I have never heard anything about phpbb not being secured.
Unfortunately, if we're talking about hosting a nationwide project, I would have to disagree. You need to consider track record, and not so much the current version. phpBB's proven track record on security is for lack of better words, amazing!! :rolleyes: (not). Do a google search for phpBB exploits. With security in mind, I always recommend vBulletin although a leased license is 100$ a year. I understand you said you don't make money off of the site, but if this is a "nationwide project", you may be so incline to place a few ads on your web site to genearate the 100$'s a year for a vBulletin license. (just a thought)

2 strategies:
1) free board: my vote is SMF (I use it myself). Pretty secure, lots of modifications, less exploits than for phpbb
2) paid: vBulletin, as far as I heared, rules.
Two options, both are good for their category.

I personally don't think PHPBB is the most secure forum out there. I would recommend BBPress for a forum. It works great.
All the best,

Thanks alot people, keep your opinions coming.

I recommend phpBB3 if you are looking for open source.
-fin
Thaless

phpbb has a terrible track record. I voted for SMF simply because you stated your budget was zero.
If you had a budget I would have voted for other (vbulletin)

phpbb is the best in my opinion.

I must say that so far I have been working on the project with phpBB and its much easier than SMF.

I must say that so far I have been working on the project with phpBB and its much easier than SMF.
I've always found SMF to be a little confusing when trying to do things. phpBB has a nice interface and is easy to change the layout etc. I don't know how secure phpBB is though although personally, I would say it is pretty secure.

Oh another board to check out would be Vanilla

SMF with a kickass theme, without a doubt. For some reason phpbb always has better themes :-/

phpBB has more themes and on the whole probably a better quality of themes, i can never seem to get the hang of SMF so i think i will stick with phpBB.

Hello,
how about mybb? I use it on one of my sites. It's quite good.

I have never heard of myBB to be honest but I have had a look and it seems to be very similar to phpBB if you know what I mean. I will have a go at installing it and see what it's like. As I said its really alike to phpBB so I am not sure about it. But im up for a go.

I'd say the opposite. :eek:
SMF is far easier (especially the automatic upgrades than phpBB unless they have greatly improved phpBB since I last used it) it also is more efficent on resources (again unless much improved) as far as paid Fusion is my favorite, easy as can be and the best admin panel/included option set I've seen and priced reasonably.

I have never heard of Fusion in your experiance with it, would it be suited for the job in question ?

I won't put a forum up on anything other than vBulletin.
phpBB is a hack magnet.
If you're serious about this project, use real tools (vBulletin, or even free SMF). If this is a hobby or for-fun project where it doesn't matter if your data magically disappears one day, then phpBB is fine. :)
:D Bailey

Idea is quite good, but you've not thought about this. No matter how good your project is, you'll struggle to find any schools willing to jump in without any government backing or even another school to follow, also you've got no USP, you're just setting up a giant forum? If I were you, I'd be setting up a dedicated server and programming my own software. It'd have customizability, which you won't get from any prebuilt software, you'll always have 1 school wanting something to act differently, or they'll want word censors for their forum, but not for another.
Think about this more seriously, if you're not willing to pay out for vbulletin, you'll go nowhere. Schools aren't just going to give away money, or even join up on a free project unless they've got serious proof it's to their advantage.

Hello,
how about mybb? I use it on one of my sites. It's quite good.
Agreed, I use MyBB on my site (http://worldbeyblade.org) and I love it.

I have always used phpBB. It's an amazingly powerful open-source software. I would recommend using phpBB3 for your board.

Hi Guys,
I just thought I would give you an update. I have decided that many of you are right in what you say in that most forums have got people that can hack them and that schools would have to be pushed to limit to accept that it could be hacked very easily so I will be venturing into a project in this one where I shall start on my own forum system that as you said could be better since it could be cusotmized widely accross the board.
I will keep you updated on how things go, cya.

Unfortunately, if we're talking about hosting a nationwide project, I would have to disagree. You need to consider track record, and not so much the current version. phpBB's proven track record on security is for lack of better words, amazing!! :rolleyes: (not). Do a google search for phpBB exploits. With security in mind, I always recommend vBulletin although a leased license is 100$ a year. I understand you said you don't make money off of the site, but if this is a "nationwide project", you may be so incline to place a few ads on your web site to genearate the 100$'s a year for a vBulletin license. (just a thought)
I personally don't think PHPBB is the most secure forum out there. I would recommend BBPress for a forum. It works great.
All the best,You must be kidding.
The sheer size of their community is large enough to be termed secure from all possible exploits.
Oh wait, there is the world's largest warez forum that uses phpBB. Would that change your mind now?
These two sites must have gone through a whole lot of hack attempts and they are still up and running. IPB, vB, SMF, etc wouldn't have stood a chance, atleast from my POV.

These two sites must have gone through a whole lot of hack attempts and they are still up and running.
Right, but those boards are also run by people who know what they're doing, who know how to secure and tightly maintain the software... people who are in the loop on the newest exploits well before the rest of the world finds out about them.
The OP is nowhere near that level of knowledge or experience. Citing experts' success with a piece of software does not at all translate to it being a good solution for a fresh-faced newbie. (No insult to the OP intended) ;)
:D Bailey

I have never heard of Fusion in your experiance with it, would it be suited for the job in question ?
Fusion is a killer of a forum, VB was as fast as greased lightning when it came out to add all the features Fusion had and VB didn't (but have since added...and I mean within 2 month's of Fusion going public)
It is easy on resources and the most easy to administer of any forum I have ever seen.
Easy permission sets & groups, photo forums/posts built in, pay forum option built in, everything you could want and SO easy to set up & use.
If VB had not responded faster than any product I have ever seen in adopting all the features Fusion had that VB didn't it would have been a BIG competitor, but I will say kudos to VB for reacting super-fast and getting their programmers to add all the things they were missing.
I still think Fusion's the better forum (just IMHO) and easier on your host's server but nowadays shop between the two...don't just go for VB because everybody does it. I remember the OLD days when UBB was IT and VB was the up & coming newbie...unlike VB; UBBT didn't react and kicked UBBT into oblivion but Fusion could have been a REAL competitor if VB hadn't acted as fast as they did.
At least take a look (and their default skin is horrible IMHO but the main guy designed it and loves it...they do have other good-looking "stock" skins.)
And as far as security as far as know they have been great, never seen a complaint.
PLUS talk to them, for a major school project like this they could /would probably design some custom "tweaks" for free for you to show off what they can do. They are ULTRA customizable as is but if you needed something I bet they would provide it or one of their mad-modders would...:D

Ok thanks. I have started on the custom one but stuck on variables, not that much though just a formatting problem. Will be done in pup, best in my opinion. Any suggestions for features and security.

I think you should use a script which is easy to be used
and well known by users .
So maybe PHPbb is better in this case .
If you want to have your own software , you have to provide
some many styles ,designs and hacks ...

I think you should use a script which is easy to be used
and well known by users .
So maybe PHPbb is better in this case .
If you want to have your own software , you have to provide
some many styles ,designs and hacks ...
Have you considered actually reading the thread?

LOL, lets all stay friends. ;)
It usually is better when you read whats going on though not just post random things even if they are in context.