I never made a website before and Im planning on making one. I don't want anything complicated I just want a simple forum with a simple homepage like this website or arenajunkies.com

Do I need software? I thought I only had to go to somewhere like dnsmadeeasy.com and buy a host, and it would give samples of the type of website I would want and I could pick it and edit it. Am I dreaming, because I don't have a clue.


My website is going to mainly be a forum, here is something a little more complicated then arenajunkies.

Bodybuilding.com

Do I need to buy a host then buy other things to make something like either of them?

sounds like you want phpbb3 and a phpbb portal. pretty straight forward, you can install phpbb3 via fantastico.

phpbb3 is free and a very resourceful forum with tons of features and modifications avilable plus loads of templates to give your site a kick.

your webhost will need to run mysql 3.23 or above, most run mysql 5.0 thesedays.

One buy a domain name - Do not buy from the same company you wish to host with.
two pick a good host not an unlimited plan you want a good bandwidth aswell.

Running a forum can be pretty hard, but once you get the hang of it, its easy.
P.S if you want any help i would kindly help you.

Regards

Why exactly must I not buy a domain name with the same hosting company? And if I do it separately it will still be cheap too right? Around 20 bucks a year?

Why exactly must I not buy a domain name with the same hosting company? And if I do it separately it will still be cheap too right? Around 20 bucks a year?

Because if anything happens with the hosting you can change the nameservers to point to a different host, Its allways wise to keep domain registration and hosting seperate.

20bucks a year :eek2:, maybe you should be looking at around 10 - 20 bucks amonth, Maybe at first depending on what sort of hosting plan you can get it will be like 10bucks amonth, But once afew members come through your forum door and posts get placed you will need to up the hosting maybe even to a vps if it becomes popular.

Running a forum isnt cheap but its not expensive either.

just to register a domain you will be looking at around 10 - 15bucks a year.

Well at dnsmadeeasy.com It says $15 a year for 1 million queres a month. I think that is good, but Im a noob so Im not exactly sure.

And at Godaddy.com the domain names for .com are $10 a year.

I know some charge ALLOT, though I don't really know why.

Well at dnsmadeeasy.com It says $15 a year for 1 million queres a month. I think that is good, but Im a noob so Im not exactly sure.

And at Godaddy.com the domain names for .com are $10 a year.

I know some charge ALLOT, though I don't really know why.

dnsmadeeasy is for dns services not forum or the likes :D

yes register a domain with godaddy or the likes.

then get a good host, you will need cpanel and fantastico if you wish to install a phpbb3 forum via fantastico.

If you change your settings to awolle pms i will pm you to help you more.

Regards

dnsmadeeasy is for dns services not forum or the likes :D

yes register a domain with godaddy or the likes.

then get a good host, you will need cpanel and fantastico if you wish to install a phpbb3 forum via fantastico.

If you change your settings to awolle pms i will pm you to help you more.

Regards

Idk how to change it so I can pm people, I looked and couldn't find it hahaha.

Really? I went to a website that tells who hosts what and it says dnsmadeeasy hosts arenajunkies..

Likes?




Ohhhhhh, arenajunkies got their domain from dnsmadeeasy

Idk how to change it so I can pm people, I looked and couldn't find it hahaha.

Really? I went to a website that tells who hosts what and it says dnsmadeeasy hosts arenajunkies..

Likes?

probley provides them a dns service.

If you have msn i would happily assist your futher.

PM me your msn if you wish

Regards

I don't have MSN I have aim

I don't have MSN I have aim

PM me your aim , regards

Idk how to pm on this, but AIM: Fatalis222@gmail.com

Idk how to pm on this, but AIM: Fatalis222@gmail.com

my aim is having problems, typical :D

I,ll send you an email
Regards.

Its okay, it would be better to talk in 15-20 mins to be honest.

the email address you gave isnt recgonized in AIM.

arenajunkies.com and bodybuilding.com are not very good examples.

Both sites have been going for many years, get tons of traffic and have very high page rank. You could never catch up with them put it that way.

You will need the following:-

- Domain
- Shared Hosting account (at least to start with anyway)
- CMS, Forum or Portal software. You can choose Free or Paid depending on budget, etc.
- A host that will actually help you setup your site for FREE.

You don't want a host that will setup your hosting account and then just leave you to it. Whenever you ask for help with using your script with a lot of hosts you will just get "We do not offer support for 3rd party scripts". Make sure the host will help you setup the site, etc.

It's best to make a list of questions that you can ask web hosts first, once done that just send each of them an sales email, and well... just go from there really. :D

the email address you gave isnt recgonized in AIM.

Idk man, that should be my aim, Fatalis222@gmail.com

I've added you on AIM

Theirs a good forum over at phpbb if you wish to learn the ropes, maybe you should buy a good book on php coding and html that would help you, Regards

Indeed, phpbb is a good free forum script to use. You may want to get a hosting account with cPanel + Fantastico or DirectAdmin + Installation. Fantastico and Installation helps you install scripts in a few clicks. They may cost more, but the cPanel or DirectAdmin user interface would certainly be useful in the long run.

You may want to get a hosting account with cPanel + Fantastico or DirectAdmin + Installation. Fantastico and Installation helps you install scripts in a few clicks.

I think you meant Installatron NOT Installation. Instllatron is good, but I prefer Softaculous instead.

oops.my error.Softaculous is good too.

you can consider phpbb,it's totally free

Indeed, phpbb is a good free forum script to use. You may want to get a hosting account with cPanel + Fantastico or DirectAdmin + Installation. Fantastico and Installation helps you install scripts in a few clicks. They may cost more, but the cPanel or DirectAdmin user interface would certainly be useful in the long run.

How do I know if a hosting service will have fantastico, cpanel, or directadmin + installation?

How do I know if a hosting service will have fantastico, cpanel, or directadmin + installation?

Most Hosts will have Live chat or a sales email. Email them or live chat to them and ask. Most hosts will give you a rundown on what they offer.

How do I know if a hosting service will have fantastico, cpanel, or directadmin + installation?

Just ask and they will tell you.

Heres a basic running list as per sent to you via pm (ive put it here to help others who may in the future read this thread).

1) get a domain name (100s of companys to choose from)

2) get a host with cpanel and fantastico (ask them before if they provide this)

3) login to cpanel and then locate and click fantastico, then locate phpbb and click on it.

4) follow the on screen instructions to install phpbb.

5) once phpbb is installed you can upgrade to the latest phpbb if you want.

6) now might be a good time to change the nameservers for your domain to point to your hosting account.

7) Once phpbb is installed and your domain has domain propagated, your forum will be available at your domain name i.e (www.mydomain.com)

8) you will then need to change the phpbb template because the phpbb template is their default which says phpbb3 in big letters on it, you will need access to FTP via a ftp client to upload the files to the server.

9) you will then need to sign into your phpbb via ACP to install the template.

10) Then you will need to start creating the forums within the forum on the ADMIN CONTROLL PANEL, plus set up the forum.

their is no easy way to set all this up.

Regards.