Hi!
I wrote this help file to help others set up a free forum on a winxp server at home. It may not be perfect but it contains a free way to set up a forum step by step. I took info from all types of sources and finally got it down to step by step. It will also help with just setting up a webpage in general too if you have a free computer at home and I find it is a good starting point for the beginner. From thsi they can move on into more complex setups using apache and such and addding extensions and all that good stuff.
To start I will outline what programs you need and their site where to download from.
1. PHP = http://www.php.net/ (the version I grabbed was php-4.3.4-installer.exe)
2. MYSQL = http://www.mysql.com/ (the version I grabbed was mysql-4.0.16-win.zip)
3. KeyFocus Web Server = http://www.keyfocus.net/kfws/ (the version I have is kfws25.exe)
4. phpbb = http://www.phpbb.com/ (the version I grabbed is phpBB-2.0.6.zip)
5. DYNDNS = http://www.dyndns.org/ (nothing to download but need to set up an account)
6. DeeEnEs= http://palacio-cristal.com/default.a...ducts/DeeEnEs/ (version I have is DeeEnEs-2.3.26.zip) OR DynDNS-Updater = http://www.dyndns.org/services/dyndns/clients.html (version I am using is ddusetup.exe)
ok so those are all the programs you will need and there all free
Now how to Install and configure it all.
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DYNDNS ACCOUNT
NOTE: This is for setting up a domain name for a dynamic internet account.
You need to go over to http://www.dyndns.org/ and create an account. This is free also. For myself I have a dynamic Ip so need to setup a domain name to map to my ip. Anyways once your account is setup go and create a domain name by going to accounts and there will be a table and click on the add host beside Dynamic DNS. Choose the domain name and I use the extension of dyndns.org.
Thats all for that.
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INSTALL DeeEnEs
This is a very simple programyou can get here http://palacio-cristal.com/default.a...ducts/DeeEnEs/ and what it does is basically take your dynamic ip and update it to the dyndns website so that it knows where to map your domain name too.
When you grab this package there is no install just an *.exe that you run and a globe wil appear in your task bar. Right click it and go to accounts. A window will appear and you set 4 options. For server there is a pull down menu and you just pick the one you chose when you set up dyndns. For hostname would be the first part of your full domain name. (example: bob.dyndns.org so it would be bob. Next put in your username in User name and password in the password section which you use for the dyndns site to login. Once it is filled in dont worry about the other options unless you used them so fill them out accordingly and click the add button. Then click ok and your donw with that screen.
Next right click the globe again and select properties. Put a check mark in start up automatically and while your at it a checkmark for check for new versions. The rest of the options are set to the following.
First check after = 1
Force update after = 28
IP detection = web based from pull down menu
Interface = dyndns from pull down menu
Check every = 10 minutes from pull down menu
Offline ip address = 0.0.0.0
some of these you will not have to change and can be left at default. The ones I have listed are the ones I feel are mandatory and just leave everything else alone.
Just let it run now in background and your good to go and it will turn on when you restart the computer.
OR
INSTALL DynDNS-Updater
This is an other simple program and actually comes with an added feature which I will show thru the walkthru to show the simplicity of this dyndns updater. You can get it here http://www.dyndns.org/services/dyndns/clients.html and need to scroll down the page to find it.
1. Install the software
2. The program will ask for settings after install but if you miss it its in the start menu -> programs -> DYNdns Updater -> DynDns Updater Traytool
3. For the options screen either at the beginning or via right clicking on the icon in the taskbar you will need to be at the option screens. Make sure that the pull down menu is at webbased and I put it to check every 45 minutes. thats all for the options page.
4. Next is the Manage accounts page. This is very simple since I have shown how to you dyndns for the accounts just click the import from the web button and put in your dyndns username and password and click ok and it will fil those in itself.
That's it. Your done with setting up that program.
NOTE: The choice between these two programs is up to you. DeeEnEs has some more features like the wild card option and other settings that you might have picked while setting up your domains. I on the other hand just picked a name with no extra options so found the DynDNS Updater to be a lot quicker and easier to use. Also found it isn't being abusive from updates as much. So depending on how you configured will decide on which of these to use and you can go ahead and try both and find which one suits your needs most.
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INSTALL PHP
First thing we need to do is grab the file from http://www.php.net/ and grab the latest php installer file. Once you have install it.
1. next
2. I agree
3. Standard
4. Next (leave it at the default directory)
5. For the option for the smtp didnt really know so i just put in the info that I use for outlook for my email.
6. NONE (choose none since you are setting up your own webserver)
7. Next and this will install
Once that is done you are done installing.
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MYSQL SETUP
Ok so now run over to http://www.mysql.com/ and grab the mysql file.
1-Install Mysql
2-get to c:/
3-cd mysql
4-cd bin
5-mysqld-max --standalone(to start server)
6-mysql -u root
7-set password for 'root'@'localhost' = password('password you choose');
-(example: set password for 'root'@'localhost' = password('billybob'); )
8-mysql -u root -p
9-put in password
10-create database (database name); (example: create database myforum
11-connect (database name) (example: connect myforum)
12-GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON (database name).* TO username@localhost
-> IDENTIFIED BY 'password you choose' WITH GRANT OPTION;
(example: GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON myforum.* TO bob@localhost
-> IDENTIFIED BY 'bobbob' WITH GRANT OPTION; )
If you want to check how things are going you can use winmysqladmin.exe found in the C:\mysql\bin directory.
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