What are the requirements for Running a Forum

Hi,

I wanted to know that what are the requirements for running a forum on my website.

Thanks
Akash Kumar

 

Do you mean technical requirements??

That depends on the software. IMO the best is vBulletin. Here is MORE INFORMATION ABOUT VBULLETIN

 

But personal requirements would be a hell of a lot of work from you with moderating, designing, thinking of things for your forum to make it defining. And most of all, spending hours (and may money) on publisizing it.

 

That depends on the kind of forum it is. I have forums I barely have to moderate.

 

I am sure that you started out moderating and stuff first. Along with advertising it or else noone would have known it was there.

 

So will I have to buy the software also for running a forum.

Akash Kumar

 

If you mean hosting requirments, then all you need is PHP and MySQL.

Bandwidth and Storage are not an issue for a new forum.

 

Depends. There are free options and there are paid for options.

 

Are the free options useful?

Akash Kumar

 

Why don't you make a list of what you need and then Google your options? There are software comparion sites out there that list them feature by feature next to eachother with full licensing information.

 

The whole thing is that I wanted to know that is there any way via which I can run the forum for free because I have no experience with programming so are there any free programmes available and if there are so are they effective.

Akash Kumar

 

Of course, you just need a hosting.

There are several excellent free forum script (with good support) around.

Simple machine board, PunBB, Lussimo Vanilla..to name a few.

 

Do they need some extra effort or something because I have no experince with programming. I wanted to create a forum like the Submit Express Forum or like the Webworkshop Forums so will it require some more programming knowledge to do this. Or I just need a MySQL database and PHP support well I have knowledge can you please tell me that will it require any programming knowledge.

Akash Kumar

 

Like I said and will reiterate again. Try Google:

http://www.google.com/search?q=free forum hosting&sourceid=mozilla2&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

You don't even need hosting if you want to go free to the extreme.

 

I dont recommend Phpbb as its vulnerable(i dunno abt 3rd version)but u will get many addons n hacks for it - u decide.
invison is clean and safe - not much of addons.
The bet is a v bulletin - a a paid version highky recomended - yes they have good support and customization options!

 

But Guys I am asking that do I require any programming knwoledge to run a forum because I have no knowledge about programming.

Akash Kumar

 

If you go with phpBB or vB, then no you don't. Unless you wanna hack it ^^;;

 

So for this how much database will I require suppose that the forum is not so big but is big like the Submit Express Forums so how mcuh MySQL database will it require.

Akash Kumar

 

Requirements?

- ton of time
- ton of patient
- excellent interpersonal skills
- more time
- more patience

As for tech specs - most forums can easily run on any shared hosting plan, but be warned some hosts refuse to host even vbulletin, namely because the hosts are almost certainly cramming their servers full as it is.

 

Hey - whoever gave me the red rep -- thanks. But, have the balls to sign it next time..