I've been wanting to test this, but my site doesn't allow IPB uploads. Anyone know of a free hosting site where I can setup message boards using IPB 2.0 beta?

I was considering moving from where I'm at anyway... which is clicdev.com.

1 User already said Thank You!

Kelewyn

Free web hosting for forum like IPB are really hard to find :(

This is why I have to pay for a good service ;)

Yes I've found that out. I had forumer for a bit, but I didn't like how limited you were in doing just about anything. It has to be free, at least for now though. If I get enough members maybe I'll see about donations and move to a paid service.

Kelewyn, you're best option for hosting a free site (unless it gets huge amounts of traffic) would be to host it yourself. Since you have a permanant cable connection, you would just need to keep a PC on 24/7 (if you don't already).

Just set up IIS or Apache (if you are using windows and don't have previous experience with http servers IIS is probably the easiest option). Then you can set up anything you like - PHP, MySQL, Perl, etc - many of which would cost you quite a bit if you wanted commercial hosting.

I've been doing this for quite a while with http://zone-mr.ath.cx/blog, etc. I only have an ADSL connection with 256k upstream, but it's more than sufficient for hosting a few small-medium sized sites.

Not a bad idea! However when it comes to that I'm SOOOOO lost! Plus I would need all that software then.


Maybe I should give up on this idea for now lol

Don't be too put off. It's not that difficult to set up, and once you get it working you'll love the flexibility. For example when you want to share a file with someone, you just save it in c:\inetpub\wwwroot, and then anyone can view it at http://yourip/thefile.

As for all the software, everything which I mentioned is free. PHP can be downloaded from www.php.net, and mysql from www.mysql.com.

As for the basic steps of configuring everything, simply do this (assuming you are running WinXP):

1. Go to control panel
2. Add/remove programs
3. Windows Components
4. Tick Internet Information Services (IIS)
5. Press next/ok/whateveritis.

After it's installed, anything you stick in c:\wwwroot\inetpub will be visible at http://localhost. You can use many of the free dynamic IP services to forward a subdomain to your IP. I use .ath.cx from www.dyndns.org.

If you need to configure any settings for IIS, just right click "My Computer", click Manage, and theres an IIS configuration snap-in near the bottom.

Maybe it's due to my having WinXP HOME but I don't see IIS. I know I had it on pro though.

Ah, yes. WinXP Home doesn't come with IIS. The only alternative on XP home would be to use Apache:
http://ftp.plig.net/pub/apache/dist/...x86-no_ssl.msi

Apache is slightly more complicated to set up, as you need to edit some ini files. Saying that, for a simple configuration with 1 domain, the defaults should work just fine.

Checking it out now thanks!

Got an idea, should I upgrade XP to Pro with my other cd? The problem with that is if it interferes with any programs I have now, and I might need new updates.... what do you think?

I couldn't get it setup right, it was running but it set my site to my computer name.wi.rr.com which just didn't seem to work. Maybe IIS would be easier?

The easiest way to test if it is working, would be to visit http://localhost. You should get an Apache default page. If you go to www.whatismyip.com you can check your IP address. If you tell others to visit http://thatipaddress they should also get the page.

IIS is generally easier so if you can easilly upgrade to XP Pro, it might be worth doing if Apache doesn't seem to work.

Well I couldn't find the serial for my CD of XP Pro. I hope I didn't throw it out! I'll try apache again.

Here is a good tutorial for running your IBF forum using apache ;)

And now, a good one if you want to use IIS

Thanks! Downloading all those files it said to have now....

Okay everything is going fine except my installation of IPB. SIGH.

Anyone know what I'm doing wrong?

I think I know, in the pdf tutorial it says to:

Open command prompt, create a new sql database. Well it tells me it is not recognized as an internal or external... whatever. I'm trying to make thepub-dev for a new database.

Hmmm, did you install MySQL? After you've installed it, you need to make sure the MySQL service is started (should be done automatically after a reboot). Also it should set a little GUI MySQL monitor to run at startup, and when this is first started you should have an option of setting an admin username and password.

When you get MySQL it'self working, I would recommend you install PHPMyAdmin - a free PHP script which lets you view/troubleshoot the MySQL DB.

Yep it's running, I finally created the db I wanted too... but still IPB won't install. I don't think it has to do with the SQL at all. UGH! So close!

Read some infos here :

http://www.betaone.net/index.php?showtopic=31008

I had this problem in the past

Here's the screen right before that error:

Did you try the apache method or the IIS method ?

I got it!!!!!!! WOOOOOHOOOOOO!

Check it out if you like, in testing now but may replace my site:

http://65.29.160.21/ThePub/index.php?

Just download a copy of easyphp. :)

I really like your skin ;)

Good works

tyty! I wanted something easy on the eyes.