Hello everyone! Im kind of new to the forum game (post on a lot, own a free forum) and need some help:

1.) Im going to buy vBulletin this summer (after I get a new computer), so which software should I tell the place I purchase the computer from that I need on the computer?
2.)Is the license the only purchase I have to make to get the forum up and running, or do I need to buy anything else?


Thanks in advance for the help!

Hello everyone! Im kind of new to the forum game... and need some help:Hi! Welcome to vBulletin Fans. I'm going to answer your questions in the reverse order from how you asked them--'cuase it'll make the answers clearer.

Is the license the only purchase I have to make to get the forum up and running, or do I need to buy anything else?Usually, a vBulletin forum is not run from a personal computer. You will need to set up an account with a with an Internet Service Provider (ISP). You want a Web Hosting account--you will rent space on their computer (which is always connected to the Internet, so people can get to your forum).
You may (though it is not absolutely required) want to purchase a URL (this is what the "www.myforum.com" is called) so that people can easily remember how to get to your forum.
You may, also, choose to purchase add-ons that will add functionality to your forum [these are sometimes called "hacks." Many small ones are available for free. Large, complicated ones must usually be purchased.]

...which software should I tell the place I purchase the computer from that I need on the computer?Most of what you do to run your forum will be done with your browser. Software that allows you to write and edit text is helpful (comes with most systems). If you want to create images, you will need image editing software--like PhotoShop or PaintShop Pro, (there are other, cheaper programs that you can get). That's about it. Others may have additional suggestions.

GTood luck with your new forum.

Hi! Welcome to vBulletin Fans. I'm going to answer your questions in the reverse order from how you asked them--'cuase it'll make the answers clearer.

Usually, a vBulletin forum is not run from a personal computer. You will need to set up an account with a with an Internet Service Provider (ISP). You want a Web Hosting account--you will rent space on their computer (which is always connected to the Internet, so people can get to your forum).
You may (though it is not absolutely required) want to purchase a URL (this is what the "www.myforum.com" is called) so that people can easily remember how to get to your forum.
You may, also, choose to purchase add-ons that will add functionality to your forum [these are sometimes called "hacks." Many small ones are available for free. Large, complicated ones must usually be purchased.]

Most of what you do to run your forum will be done with your browser. Software that allows you to write and edit text is helpful (comes with most systems). If you want to create images, you will need image editing software--like PhotoShop or PaintShop Pro, (there are other, cheaper programs that you can get). That's about it. Others may have additional suggestions.

GTood luck with your new forum.


Yup, I already purchased the URL (a URL forwarder 2ya.com)

Also, where can I buy a web hosting account and about how much do they run for (cost)?

Also, I use a URL forwarder, as mentioned before (2ya.com), this will work with my forum right, like I will be given a original URL like emsplace.vbulletin.com and I can use the URL forwarder on that?

Also that you for the kind welcome, I appreciate all the help.

Also, where can I buy a web hosting account and about how much do they run for (cost)?
You can check different hosts review over the net, but since you are planning to use mainly vbulletin you can check the reviews at Servers and Hosting forum here at vbfans.

and since you are just beginning with a new website I might advice looking for a shared hosting since it's the basic one and least costly.

Also, I use a URL forwarder, as mentioned before (2ya.com), this will work with my forum right, like I will be given a original URL like emsplace.vbulletin.com and I can use the URL forwarder on that?
From what I understand I'll answer,
I understand you already purchased a domain name (2ya.com).
when installing vbulletin you can put the files at the public folder and the forum will accessible through your main domain (2ya.com), or you can put it in a folder or directory (e.g "forums") and your forum will be located at (2ya.com/forums/).

I think I get what your saying. 2ya.com is my URL host. Its a URL forwarder so lets say you have the URL boardzero.com/bebop, well then you buy a 2ya.com account and enter in boardzero.com/bebop and it will allow you to type in emsplace.org and go to boarder.com/bebop.

So would I need to buy a server or something else to run it on? Also should I get a dedicated server?

Would a server be the same thing as an ISP?

An ISP is an internet service provider. They provide basically access to the internet. Additional services might be hosting or domain registration, etc.

A hosting provider is a service provider that offers mainly an account on a server that is connected to the internet for 24 hours per day.

A shared hosting means you and many others are sharing one server. And you have to share the resources (resources being hard drive, cpu, ram, etc) You get your own login and your own domain and own hard drive space.

Dedicated hosting is where you get full access to a server - you have to manage it yourself.

Shared hosting is used by small sites.
VPS hosting is used by medium to large sites.
Dedicated hosting is used by large to very large web sites.

So an ISP and server are totally different things? Do I need both to run vbulletin?

So an ISP and server are totally different things? Do I need both to run vbulletin?A server is a computer that is always connected to the internet and has a static IP address, on which you install your forum so that people can access it--you (as a rule) do not want to install the forum on your home computer.

An ISP is an "Internet Service Provider."--a company. ISPs can provide 2 different kinds of service. Some provide only one kind, some provide both kinds.

The first (and most-commonly used) type of service is "Internet Access." These are the companies you pay so that you can connect to the internet. This group is dominated by some very big companies: phone companies, cable companies, AOL, Earthlink, PeoplePC, Netzero.

The second type of service is "Web hosting." These are the companies from whom you rent a server. In general, the big companies that specialize in Internet Access do not offer the best deals on Web Hosting.

There is a third type of company with which you will deal, a "Domain Registrar." This is a company that you pay to reserve the right to use a URL for some period of time. Simply registering a URL does not connect it to a host. It just prevents anyone else from claiming that name.

Once you have a host, they will give you an IP address (a phone number for your site, for lack of a better analogy) for the computer where your site will be stored. You (sometimes the hosting company will do this for you) wilol need to tell your domain registrar that you want your URL associated with that IP address, so that when people type it in, it will take them to your site.

For a web site to be made available on the Internet, it has to be hosted on a web server. This is where web hosting comes in. It's just like renting property.

So, to get your site live and kicking on the internet you'll need the services of a web host provider. Simple as that. :)

So lets say I buy my license right now. If I buy a server, then is that all I will need, because it has an IP, I think...?

For a web site to be made available on the Internet, it has to be hosted on a web server. This is where web hosting comes in. It's just like renting property.

So, to get your site live and kicking on the internet you'll need the services of a web host provider. Simple as that. :)


Do you have links to some web host providers?

If I buy a server, then is that all I will need...?You would not buy a server (too expensive for a small start-up forum) you would rent one.

To operate your forum you need:

1. A licence for the software (vBulletin)
2. A server to run it on--rented from a web hosting provider
3. A URL so people can find the forum easily--which you already have.

There are many web hosting providers:

If you look at the top of this page, you will finde a link to Acme Internet Service (http://www.acmeshells.com/?refid=23466). They are a sponsor of this site (and they host it) and provide such services.

I use Real Web Hosting (http://www.realwebhost.net/index.php) for my personal site

I have heard many forum operator speak well of A Small Orange (http://www.asmallorange.com/) -- but I have no personal experience with them.

http://www.******.net/en/index.html

What about this one?

Before choosing your hosting package, you should identify what your needs are. With all hosting plans, there will be some facilities that you need and some offered to you that you don't need. Make sure you focus on the essentials that are required to launch your website. You may want all the nice extras but will you use them? It's also a good idea to try and pick a host that will allow you to expand and increase your plan as and when your website grows. If you want to start selling online, an additional e-commerce option for an extra fee will be easier and quicker to implement than looking for and transferring to a new host.

In order to help you avoid getting scammed by the unscrupulous hosts that do exist, I tried to put together the 'tricks' used by such companies to try to grab your cash:


No contact info (telephone, email, etc.)

Some hosts simply make it impossible to contact them by any means possible. Call your webhost, simply having only a email address is a sign of a fly-by-night operation.


Long term contracts only

While cheaper plans may warrant an annual only plan, some hosts provide annual service exclusively. There is no guarantee that even though you have paid them for 12 months that you will get 12 months of service. Please avoid long term contracts greater than 12 months of service.


Domain name registration in the webhost's name

Some hosts offer to register your domain for you, legally register the domain in their own name! Therefore, if you try moving off, you will lose the domain because it was done in their name. This is a scam that we hope is quickly going away, but watch out for it.


No Money Back Guarantee

Every respectable host offers a money back guarantee (30 day minimum)


Complicated uptime warranty

Some hosts hide behind their Terms of Service with complicated uptime guarantees such as the customer must report the downtime.

Well, these are those few points that I can think of as of right now. Hope you will find it useful.

Good luck! ;)

Now I know what to look for, thanks everyone!

You would not buy a server (too expensive for a small start-up forum) you would rent one.

To operate your forum you need:

1. A licence for the software (vBulletin)
2. A server to run it on--rented from a web hosting provider
3. A URL so people can find the forum easily--which you already have.

There are many web hosting providers:

If you look at the top of this page, you will finde a link to Acme Internet Service (http://www.acmeshells.com/?refid=23466). They are a sponsor of this site (and they host it) and provide such services.

I use Real Web Hosting (http://www.realwebhost.net/index.php) for my personal site

I have heard many forum operator speak well of A Small Orange (http://www.asmallorange.com/) -- but I have no personal experience with them.


So for Acme Interenet Service I should look under web hosting, and purchasing that would be purchasing my server correct?I think Im getting this but I need a confirmation, haha. So a web host runs a server, which I buy space on to run my forum, correct?

So for Acme Interenet Service I should look under web hosting... a web host runs a server, which I buy space on to run my forum, correct?You will rent space, rather than buy. Other than that... by George, I think she's got it!

You will rent space, rather than buy. Other than that... by George, I think she's got it!


Im a guy:D

It gives me the option of buying a Dedicated IP Address for SSL. First off, whats a Dedicated IP Address for SSL, second, should I buy it?

If you require SSL for your forums (meaning, you will get a certificate that's signed and your url starts with https:// and the traffic is encrypted when transferred between server/client - you could get a unique IP address (like 123.123.123.123) just for the ssl.

Ok, thank you!