Introduction!!

Providing a comprehensive 'How To' tutorial guide, on the installation of phpbb 2.0.22 forum on your Astahost/cPanel account.
Tutorial includes

1. Downloading of files
2. Uploading using cPanel File Manager
3. CHMOD using cPanel File Manager
4. MySQL database creation
5. PhpBB initial configuration

This guid will help everyone from beginners, with images and an in depth guide of what to do.

Step 1
To start with we need to download PhpBB ( latest stable version is PhpBB 2.0.22 ). This can be done by visiting the PhpBB Downloads page which should look like the image below.
Before you download please hav a look at the license agreement.
Astahost's cPanel supports the .tar.gz compression file so by downloading that version, we can upload the files more easily!

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/3765/63814818zq7.png

Step 2
A save popup should show automatically. Save that file to your hard disk as given below!

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/9839/35954491ng7.png


Step 3
Now we need to upload the .tar.gz file to our hosting server. This can be done by using ftp orcPanel provioded by Astahost.com. I'm going to use cPanel for uploading the files and extracting the same. Go to the login page by typing: http://urname.astahost.com/cpanel
and login with your username and password there!


Step 4
After logging in, click on the File Manager that in associated with cPanel. using the file manager, you can upload/delete and edit the files needed!
You can find File manager as shown below ( If you are using some other theme for your cPanel, then go thru the contents, and you can find the file manager some where there!
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/1875/61589281qw7.png


Step 5
Select public_html under the main window ( public_html is the folder that can be accessible by typing ur domain name )
We need to upload all the files under one sub folder in Public_html folder.
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/3439/88035049li7.png


Step 6
We need to upload the php .tar.gz file under the root directory. So, just click the upload files button on top of the page under public_html folder
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/2770/91851044ix6.png


Step 7
Browse for that .tar.gz file which was saved from phpBB site and after selecting that one, click on upload button. this will upload the compressed file which contains all files associated to run phpBB forum!
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/946/26165368ml1.png


Step 8
Verify it by checking public_html folder after uploading. Now we need to extract the file contents! cPanel is having bulding extracting softwares!
So, all you need to do is, just click on the file name to show some options associated with that file!
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/2120/65082398fk1.png


Step 9
Now you can see the options associated with file (.tar.gz) on the right part of the browser screen! Select "Extract File Contents" From there
that will automatically extract all the files for your forum!
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/3580/29423082ur7.png


Step 10
This page may take a while to load as it is un-compressing a rather large file. You can see one page after uncompressing all the files like this
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/197/29597781dd9.png

(As there is some limit of img tag while posting, I can't embed images to this post! So that, Im posting the remaining parts as a reply to this post! )

Step 11
Now Navigate back to the directory where the .tar.gz file is currently stored. We want to delete it now. So, click on the file we have uploaded before.
that will show some options associated with that one!
Select "Delete" from that
( Note: I'm exceeding the maximum limit for the number of images in a post! So, Im posting them as link! Please excuse me )
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/801/10sm6.png


Step 12
That will send the file to trash in cPanel. You can delete the file permanently by clicking the trash icon there.
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/5923/11ks3.png


Step 13
Now we need to rename the forum path ( extracting the files, will put ur forum under http://urname.astahost.com/phpbb ). We need to rename the phpBB to some name, say "myForum"
So, click on the folder named "phpBB" on the file manager
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/4651/12gm0.png


Step 14
Give the name in that input box and then click on "rename" button next to that inputbox!
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/4459/13hc6.png


Step 15
Now go back to File manager and click "myForum" (your forum name) under "public_html" folder.
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/1050/14vp4.png


Step 16
We need to change the permission of the config.php file. We need to give write permission that one. click on that file, and select "change permission" link link on the right part of the browser
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/4265/15vj3.png

Step 17
In the permissions window, set permission as "666" which will allow the phpBB installation to set the variables on that file!
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/7828/16nk4.png

Step 18
Now go to "images" folder under main forum directory
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/4702/17dd9.png


Step 19
Select "avatars" under the "images" folder and that will display some options associated with that folder!
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/5097/18qu5.png


Step 20
we need to give write permission for that file, so that users can upload the avatars to the avatars folder! Give permission for the folder as "777" and click "save"
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/209/19td0.png

( Im posting remaining parts a reply, as there is some restriction for the number of images inside each post )

Step 21
Now we need to create MySQL database for the forum! so, we need to go back to main cPanel window under astahost.com
Select "MySQL Databases" under site management tools part
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/6646/20dt6.png


Step 22
Give some name for the database and click save ( the name will be as urUsername_databaseName )
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/9121/21co7.png
that will show one status message for the creation of database ( Astahost.com provides 99 databases under each account )
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/5836/22lg7.png


Step 23
Now we need to create one database user with full access to the new database!
So, give some username and password for the new user ( username will be like urHostingUsername_databaseUsername )
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/2870/23hx5.png
This will show one status message as below
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/1415/24ds7.png

Step 24
Now, we need to grant full permission for the new user to the new forum database!
For that, you need to select the user name from the drop down list and select corresponding database from the drop down list )
and give permisson as "full access"
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/2096/25yx2.png
and this will show one status message as:
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/1294/26qz3.png

Step 25
Now we are going to install the forum
The part where most people give up due to confusion but in fact one of the easiest stages. You need to go to the install page now. To visit this simply visit your forum directory and it automatically redirect you to the installation page!
so type http://urname.astahost.com/forumDirectory in browser
that will show one window as below. You need to change the values in red only!
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/1652/27zd9.png


Default Board Language: Simple enough. What language should guests and anyone who haven't set their language, see?
Database Type: At Astahost.Com we use V4 so choose 'MySQL 4.x/5.x'
Choose your installation method: Were installing so leave it alone.
----------
Database Server Hostname / DSN: make it 'localhost'
Your Database Name: As created in step 22. In my case my username is "niranvv" and I called the database "demo", so the database name is 'niranvv_demo'
Database Username: Also from step 23. My username is "niranvv" and created the user "demo"so the database username is 'niranvv_demo'
Database Password: In my case I chose 'password' put yo should enter the password you created in step 23.
Prefix for tables in database: Leave as phpbb_ unless you already have phpbb installed using the same database.
----------
Admin email address: The address of yourself for admin emails to be sent to (and sent from to users).
Domain name: Hopefully obvious.
Server Port: Leave at 80
Script Path: This will depend on where you uploaded to and what you called your directory later. Its in relation from public_html so if you uploaded one directory up (public_html/forum) you just need '/forum'/. If you went sevral directorys higher you would need to enter them.
Administrator Username: This is the name of your admin account for your forum.
Administrator Password: create a password for the above account
Administrator Password [confirm]: Same as above
Click 'Start Install'


Step 26
Click on "Finish installation" button
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/6430/28lp4.png

Step 27
You need to delete install/ and contrib/ directories to run the forum
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/9879/29ly0.png

Thats all friends!!

You can setup your forum free! If you need any help, please pm me or reply to this thread!
I'll install phpBB forum for u absolutely free

Hope you enjoyed this small tutorial!
(As there is some limit for the maximum number of images inside a post, Im posting as 3 parts! Please excuse me for that )

Note: You can use Mods for adding some more features to ur board! A customized phpbb 2.0.21 forum can be found here:
http://www.fun.niranvv.com ( Its my personal forum with funny pics )

Regards,
Niru


This post has been edited by Niru: Mar 19 2007, 09:53 AM

That tutorial was excellent, Niru! You really deserve a hats off for that! I had installed phpBB 2.0.20 on my site here a couple of months ago - and it took me ages to figure out how exactly the thing works! I had a lil' problem with the authentication too - but thanks to the user-friendliness of phpBB, I was successfully through in a few hours. From my experience, I'd like to suggest the following to your tutorial:

QUOTE

Step 1
To start with we need to download PhpBB ( latest stable version is PhpBB 2.0.22 ). This can be done by visiting the PhpBB Downloads page ...

...Step 3
Now we need to upload the .tar.gz file to our hosting server...

I'd like to comment that Astahost servers support SSH/Telnet remote access to your account. So you can login to your account using any SSH client on port 22 to get remote access over a UNIX server. There, you can remotely download the above phpBB installation tar.gz file and extract it server-side! That way, you save half your bandwidth for first downloading it to your HDD and again uploading it to the server!

Another note - the CHMOD commands should be done very carefully, duly referring to the phpBB installation manual! CHMOD the wrong or entire set of directories, and you'd be compromising your site with security issues! It seems a piece of cake CHMOD'ing directories when you're the Admin, but its not very secure for visitors!

Also, three cheers to phpBB - their installation page (install.php) auto-detects most of your configuration, so you don't need to do much about anything, just verify whether the details are correct. phpBB was wise enough to make it mandatory to do the necessary deletions/CHMODs after installation due to security issues, so you won't be left with loop holes there!

Besides everything, my best of luck to you installing phpBB on your site!

I found it MUCH easier to upload the zip and extract. It did it in a second.

thank you for this. i was planing to install phpBB on thsi host. it will help me

thanks for full explaination..
Phpbb - Installation Tutorial ( For Newbies Based On Astahost Cpane)l

Wooooooooow,thank you :)))))I really was in a need for a direct explaination with inages for installing phpbb,,,I heared that if I want to install it to my own computer for workibg on it before I upload it to server,I do all the above steps but just before them I copy the phpbb files to the folder of the local host"server installed on my computer "IIS for example"and of course to have both php and mysql installed also on same pc...Thank you once again for that useful tutorial ;)

-reply by hazem_zoom