Tutorial on how to set up a forum (MyBB / Invision / vB) & Guide To Vbulletin Forums

[Jin]

also if u want to find a good host for ur vbulletin post to look in the forum near the bottom as people post reccomendations and also one's to stay away from

Aye I couldnt agree more, vbulletin is not as good if you havnt got an amazing host!

Jin, somebody to a long time to get get all of that info !

+ Rep for your helpnessness :p

Rofl actually thats general knowlege you get to master vbulletin inside out including price plans when you have used it as long as me

[Rix]

Yep and i no what itsd like dunko puts it on my host now i have a 1gb host and no domain

[:Blob]

Yep and i no what itsd like dunko puts it on my host now i have a 1gb host and no domain

Blame it on me when you've sent a fake 3.0.3 to me

[Jin]

Setting Up Vbulletin

Well done you have bought Vbulletin, if you havn't then you are either bored and thought you would read this thread or you are addicted to my guide and havnt gotten around to buying Vbulletin as of yet, I don't mind, come enjoy the show...I mean read.

Key:

Titles - Any titles centred indicate a chapter all left align indicate a chapter section.

Italics - Italics indicate useful information

Bold - Important information.

Getting Started

Right lets assume you are now in the members area and have now downloaded Vbulletin in a Zip format, first you should unzip all the contents of the zip.

You will be displayed with two folders "Upload" and "Do Not Upload" do not upload contains tools for when the forum breaks in the wrong hands it can break the forum so DO NOT UPLOAD IT DUH!

First of all I suggest you edit the config.new.php file, which will be located under Upload---->Includes---->config.new.php
First rename this file "config.php" otherwise it will not work, then open it up.

You should be displayed with something that looks very similar to this

<?php
/*======================================================================*\
|| #################################################################### ||
|| # vBulletin 3.0.7
|| # ---------------------------------------------------------------- # ||
|| # Copyright ©2000–2005 Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. All Rights Reserved. ||
|| # This file may not be redistributed in whole or significant part. # ||
|| # ----------------- VBULLETIN IS A FREE SOFTWARE ----------------- # ||
|| # http://www.vbulletin.com | http://www.vbulletin.com/license.html # ||
|| ############################[DGT-TEAM]############################## ||
\*======================================================================*/

/*-------------------------------------------------------*\
| ****** NOTE REGARDING THE VARIABLES IN THIS FILE ****** |
+---------------------------------------------------------+
| If you get any errors while attempting to connect to    |
| MySQL, you will need to email your webhost because we |
| cannot tell you the correct values for the variables    |
| in this file.                                         |
\*-------------------------------------------------------*/

// ****** DATABASE SERVER NAME ******
// This is the hostname or IP address of the database server.
// It is in the format HOST:PORT. If no PORT is specified, 3306 is used.
// If you are unsure of what to put here, leave it at the default value.
$servername = 'localhost';

// ****** DATABASE USERNAME & PASSWORD ******
// This is the username and password you use to access MySQL.
// These must be obtained through your webhost.
$dbusername = '';
$dbpassword = '';

// ****** DATABASE NAME ******
// This is the name of the database where your vBulletin will be located.
// This must be created by your webhost.
$dbname = '';

// ****** TECHNICAL EMAIL ADDRESS ******
// If any database errors occur, they will be emailed to the address specified here.
// Leave this blank to not send any emails when there is a database error.
$technicalemail = '[email protected]';

// ****** PERSISTENT CONNECTIONS ******
// This option allows you to turn persistent connections to MySQL on or off.
// The difference in performance is negligible for all but the largest boards.
// If you are unsure what this should be, leave it off.
// 0 = Off; 1 = On
$usepconnect = 0;

// ****** PATH TO ADMIN & MODERATOR CONTROL PANELS ******
// This setting allows you to change the name of the folders that the admin and
// moderator control panels reside in. You may wish to do this for security purposes.
// Please note that if you change the name of the directory here, you will still need
// to manually change the name of the directory on the server.
$admincpdir = 'admincp';
$modcpdir = 'modcp';

// ****** USERS WITH ADMIN LOG VIEWING PERMISSIONS ******
// The users specified here will be allowed to view the admin log in the control panel.
// Users must be specified by *ID number* here. To obtain a user's ID number,
// view their profile via the control panel. If this is a new installation, leave
// the first user created will have a user ID of 1. Seperate each userid with a comma.
$canviewadminlog = '';

// ****** USERS WITH ADMIN LOG PRUNING PERMISSIONS ******
// The users specified here will be allowed to remove ("prune") entries from the admin
// log. See the above entry for more information on the format.
$canpruneadminlog = '';

// ****** USERS WITH QUERY RUNNING PERMISSIONS ******
// The users specified here will be allowed to run queries from the control panel.
// See the above entries for more information on the format.
// Please note that the ability to run queries is quite powerful. You may wish
// to remove all user IDs from this list for security reasons.
$canrunqueries = '';

// ****** UNDELETABLE / UNALTERABLE USERS ******
// The users specified here will not be deletable or alterable from the control panel by any users.
// To specify more than one user, separate userids with commas.
$undeletableusers = '';

// ****** SUPER ADMINISTRATORS ******
// The users specified below will have permission to access the administrator permissions
// page, which controls the permissions of other administrators
$superadministrators = '';

// Prefix that your vBulletin tables have in the database.
// For example: $tableprefix = 'vb3_';
$tableprefix = '';

// Prefix that all vBulletin cookies will have
// For example
$cookieprefix = 'vb';

/*======================================================================*\
|| ####################################################################
|| # Downloaded: 11:11, Sat Feb 19th 2005
|| # CVS: $RCSfile: config.php.new,v $ - $Revision: 1.19 $
|| ####################################################################
\*======================================================================*/
?>

On most servers the Database Servername is "localhost"
first thing you will need to do is make a mysql database eg, "forum123"
After this you will need to make a username and password for the database such as "myforum" and "forumpass"

You must now configure the myforum user to the forum database with all priviledges.

Note: If you are unsure how to make a Mysql database then click here.

Editing The Config File

Now these details are ready to be inputted into the config.php file
the database username and password need to be inputted first make sure you input them in between the 's.
The username in this case is "myforum" and the password is "forumpass"

The we are required to enter the database name which is "forum123"

Now you need to change the technical email address this email address will be publically availible when the forum messes up so users can contact you and your forum will automatically notify you, I highly reccomend you do not enter a personal email address.

Leave the persistent connection off, by default it is already set like this

Path to admincp and modcp

Vbulletin incorperates two control panels one for Admins and one for Mods these by default are called the admincp and modcp. Some users who believe their site may be under attack from internet hackers will rename these to directories to something different, if you choose to do that you will also need to rename the section to whatever the change of directory name is.

Users with admin log viewing & pruning permissions

The admin log is a log page of all the Administrators actions, to be safe we limit the people who can view the log book, the way you limit the people who can view it is by entering their user id, if you are going to install the forum then your userid will be 1 as you are the first person to register.

Pruning the admin log means that you can cut and delete some parts of the log file to save space or for whatever reason.

Users with query running permissions

If you do not understand MYSQL queries then I suggest you leave this area blank or you may break something, if you do then enter your user id number.

Undeleatable or Alterable users and Super Administrators

This section of the file is to decide whether a user is a super admin or is deleatable or alterable, if you select a user to be a super admin then the user can alter all the other administrators permissions unless they are protected under the undeletable or unalterable user file.

Undeletable or unalterable means the user cannot be deleted unless you modify the config.php file and you cannot change their settings via Admincp, but however it can be done via usercp!

My Config.php file

This is an example of my config file I have annotated certain setions in [] brackets
Jin = User Id 1
Aleks = User Id 2

<?php
/*======================================================================*\
|| #################################################################### ||
|| # vBulletin 3.0.7
|| # ---------------------------------------------------------------- # ||
|| # Copyright ©2000–2005 Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. All Rights Reserved. ||
|| # This file may not be redistributed in whole or significant part. # ||
|| # ----------------- VBULLETIN IS A FREE SOFTWARE ----------------- # ||
|| # http://www.vbulletin.com | http://www.vbulletin.com/license.html # ||
|| ############################[DGT-TEAM]############################## ||
\*======================================================================*/

/*-------------------------------------------------------*\
| ****** NOTE REGARDING THE VARIABLES IN THIS FILE ****** |
+---------------------------------------------------------+
| If you get any errors while attempting to connect to    |
| MySQL, you will need to email your webhost because we |
| cannot tell you the correct values for the variables    |
| in this file.                                         |
\*-------------------------------------------------------*/

// ****** DATABASE SERVER NAME ******
// This is the hostname or IP address of the database server.
// It is in the format HOST:PORT. If no PORT is specified, 3306 is used.
// If you are unsure of what to put here, leave it at the default value.
$servername = 'localhost';

// ****** DATABASE USERNAME & PASSWORD ******
// This is the username and password you use to access MySQL.
// These must be obtained through your webhost.
$dbusername = 'thebase_forum';
$dbpassword = 'example1234';

// ****** DATABASE NAME ******
// This is the name of the database where your vBulletin will be located.
// This must be created by your webhost.
$dbname = 'thebase_forum';

// ****** TECHNICAL EMAIL ADDRESS ******
// If any database errors occur, they will be emailed to the address specified here.
// Leave this blank to not send any emails when there is a database error.
$technicalemail = 'jin@######.org';
[^^^As I am the forum manager my email address goes there^^^]

// ****** PERSISTENT CONNECTIONS ******
// This option allows you to turn persistent connections to MySQL on or off.
// The difference in performance is negligible for all but the largest boards.
// If you are unsure what this should be, leave it off.
// 0 = Off; 1 = On
$usepconnect = 0;

// ****** PATH TO ADMIN & MODERATOR CONTROL PANELS ******
// This setting allows you to change the name of the folders that the admin and
// moderator control panels reside in. You may wish to do this for security purposes.
// Please note that if you change the name of the directory here, you will still need
// to manually change the name of the directory on the server.
$admincpdir = 'admincp';
$modcpdir = 'modcp';
[This is the directory my control panels reside]

// ****** USERS WITH ADMIN LOG VIEWING PERMISSIONS ******
// The users specified here will be allowed to view the admin log in the control panel.
// Users must be specified by *ID number* here. To obtain a user's ID number,
// view their profile via the control panel. If this is a new installation, leave
// the first user created will have a user ID of 1. Seperate each userid with a comma.
$canviewadminlog = '1,2';
[Me and Aleks Can View The Admin Log]

// ****** USERS WITH ADMIN LOG PRUNING PERMISSIONS ******
// The users specified here will be allowed to remove ("prune") entries from the admin
// log. See the above entry for more information on the format.
$canpruneadminlog = '1,2';
[We can also change and delete it as we wish]
// ****** USERS WITH QUERY RUNNING PERMISSIONS ******
// The users specified here will be allowed to run queries from the control panel.
// See the above entries for more information on the format.
// Please note that the ability to run queries is quite powerful. You may wish
// to remove all user IDs from this list for security reasons.
$canrunqueries = '1,2';
[We can also run MYSQL queries on our database]
// ****** UNDELETABLE / UNALTERABLE USERS ******
// The users specified here will not be deletable or alterable from the control panel by any users.
// To specify more than one user, separate userids with commas.
$undeletableusers = '1,2';
[Me and Aleks are both undeletable or alterable as if one gets hacked then the user may delete the other admin causing us more problems]
// ****** SUPER ADMINISTRATORS ******
// The users specified below will have permission to access the administrator permissions
// page, which controls the permissions of other administrators
$superadministrators = '1,2';
[We are both super admins]

// Prefix that your vBulletin tables have in the database.
// For example: $tableprefix = 'vb3_';
$tableprefix = '';

// Prefix that all vBulletin cookies will have
// For example
$cookieprefix = 'vb';

/*======================================================================*\
|| ####################################################################
|| # Downloaded: 11:11, Sat Feb 19th 2005
|| # CVS: $RCSfile: config.php.new,v $ - $Revision: 1.19 $
|| ####################################################################
\*======================================================================*/
?>

Now save the config file and we are ready to upload it to the server.

Uploading the forum

The easiest way of uploading the forum is by uploading the "Upload" folder to the server under the "www" directory then rename the file "forum" or anything else you choose it to be.

The Installation Process

Vbulletin installs almost like installing software on your pc, after you have uploaded your files visit the url forum---->install---->install.php will reside under for example, www.example.com/forum/install/install.php

This should take you to a screen which looks like this,


Your customer number is the same number which you used to as your username to log into the members area.

If you do not see this screen as step 1 then immediatly stop the installation as it will be a nullfied board and it will be illegal to use it.

simply follow the instructions it is mainly consists of hitting "Next" after every step is complete and occasionally filling in a few details such as your forum link "Eg. www.example.com/forum" and your homepage link these details can be changed again afterwards through the Admin Control Panel.

You will also be required to supply an Admin Username and Password so you will be made User 1 and the config file with initiate your permissions.

Afterwards you will be prompted to delete the Install.php file if you do not you wont be able to even log into your Admin Control Panel so delete it.

This is just the install.php file not the whole folder!


Congratulations you have successfully installed vBulletin.
Unless you have changed the Admin Control Panel directory you can log in by visiting your /forum/admincp/ on your domain.

Troubleshooting

I can't log into the control panel of view the boards

This may be highly likely due to the install.php file still existing under the install folder, Delete it and it should start working again.

I have closed my forum for all but Admins but I cant't get access to login

This is a common mistake people make, if you or another admin has closed the forum and you as an admin are not logged in then you must log in through Admin Cp, which will allow you to log in then click "Forum Home Page" on the top right corner and you will be able to view the forum again, Only admins can use the board when it is shut down.

During installation it says "Cannot Connect To MYSQL"

This is a mistake in either the MYSQL database or the config.php file,

The Config File
This will probably be your Database name or database username or password is incorrect compared to the one you set when you made the database, you will need to correct this.

MYSQL

Well this will probably be that you havnt added the username and password to the MYSQL database, unless you do that Vbulletin can not connect to it.

Click here to learn how to setup a MySql database.

If you have anymore problems then post below and I will answer to them ASAP.

[Jinxxed]

Rofl actually thats general knowlege you get to master vbulletin inside out including price plans when you have used it as long as me

Oh..right :eusa_shif

[Jin]

2nd Part of Tutorial Has Been Added Above This Part Is Now Based On The Installation!

[ED::]

good post +rep

[Rou]

Cant You Just Get A Forum From C Panel ?

But Not As Good

[Rix]

dunko i only sent u it after you put it on ym site

[:Blob]

dunko i only sent u it after you put it on ym site

Sure yep sure