| While the installation instructions included with most | | | | Most of these installs assume that "localhost" will work |
| open source software are fantastic, I always seem to | | | | (as it does on say hostgator), but on GoDaddy, you're |
| find something missing. Of course that missing piece is | | | | database is not necessarily on the same machine as |
| usually host specific, otherwise they would have it in | | | | your web server, so you need to specify an address |
| their documentation. With that in mind, installing phpBB | | | | like myname.myserver.net in order to find that address |
| forum software on a GoDaddy hosted server is quite | | | | you need to open your database from the hosting |
| easy. I'll document the installation step by step. | | | | manager and the address will appear in your title bar. |
| The forum software, phpBB, which stands I assume | | | | Either that, or go to the MySQL databases section and |
| for PHP bulletin board is a really nice piece of free | | | | click on the pencil. The url for your database should |
| open source software. It allows you to run a forum, | | | | appear somewhere on the screen. |
| also known as a bulletin board, on your web site | | | | I've set up my database on GoDaddy and I know my |
| assuming you have the following. | | | | IP address for it (I'm not going to give you the real |
| 1) Your web server needs to support php (as | | | | address, or logon id, or passwords here, so don't even |
| godaddy does at least certainly on their linux offerings). | | | | bother looking :-) |
| 2) You need access to a MySQL database. | | | | Your phpBB files are in your forums directory on the |
| - actually, technically you need one of the supported | | | | server and you know your godaddy database IP (also |
| databases, but since I'm writing this in the context of | | | | username, dbname and password). Now you're ready |
| running it on godaddy, let's consider MySQL the | | | | to start the install. To do this, just go to the URL you |
| de-facto standard. | | | | installed the files to. Now all we need to do is follow |
| Let's get down to installing phpBB on The first thing | | | | the instructions. |
| you need to do is download phpBB. You can find this | | | | I will only mention the items that I am changing in the |
| by doing a search on google, or by going to Open | | | | install. Everything else is left as default. |
| Source Depot. | | | | 1) Database Server HostName/DSN in this box I will |
| Once you've downloaded phpBB to your local | | | | put in my db IP address foo.myserver.net (of course |
| machine, you'll need to unzip it. After unzipping, you'll find | | | | mine is different...but I'm not telling what it was, for |
| a folder with all the phpBB files in it. In fact, with the | | | | security reasons). |
| version I downloaded it was several folders deep. | | | | 2) Your Database Name (the name you specified |
| Create a folder on your server to put your phpBB | | | | when creating your database. |
| install. On my server, I've decided to put phpBB in my | | | | 3) Your Database User Name (with godaddy, the |
| opensourcedepot/forums folder. the folder | | | | same as your database name). |
| opensourcedepot already existed, so I needed to | | | | 4) Database password. The password you specified |
| create a sub folder called forums. I did this using FileZilla | | | | when creating the db. |
| (the FTP client program that I like to use). | | | | 5) prefix for tables in database. This is defaulted to |
| So, now I change to the forums directory and "put" all | | | | phpbb_ I changed it to phpbb_osd_ just in case I want |
| the files and folders contained in my phpBB folder to | | | | to install more than one forum on this db. |
| the server. It's the directory with the admin folder and | | | | 6) Admin Email Address - that's kind of obvious, type in |
| all the files, basically take everything recursively down. | | | | the e-mail address. |
| I'm writing this as I'm doing a the install for the forums | | | | 7) Administrator Username (choose one). |
| at Open Source Depot (and taking screen snapshots | | | | 8) Administrator password (again, choose a |
| along the way). Right now, my ftp client (FileZilla) is | | | | password). |
| uploading the files to my server. For me, this will take a | | | | That's it, time to start the install, click the start install |
| few minutes, during which time I should go over to my | | | | button. |
| godaddy server and set up a MySQL database. | | | | Now, it will prompt you that the admin id has been |
| I don't have room here to discuss every nuance of | | | | created and ask you to click to proceed. |
| how to set up a MySQL database on godaddy, but | | | | Ok now phpBB's install module comes up with a |
| there are other sources of information to help you with | | | | message saying to make sure to delete the install and |
| that, including those found at Open Source Depot. That | | | | contrib directories. Do it now, before you forget. |
| article outlines the one really important thing about | | | | Ok It's installed. Log in as admin and start configuring |
| installing these pieces of software on GoDaddy, the | | | | your phpBB Forums...have fun! |
| database IP address. | | | | |