[ShinLi]

Alright, my knowledge about webhosting, html, coding, paid forums is very little. And so I hope I can ask some questions here, and that someone can explain me, because I frankly don't see how else I would get to know it. So please, have some patience with me .

First off all, at this moment I have IF forums. But I'd like to know more about webhosting and paid forums like IPB or Vbulletin etc.

First about webhosting, I'd like to have some information about paid webhosting, where I have to watch out for (seeing I want to have a forum), what the best webhostings are etc.

Next to that I'd like to know if you could set over member accounts/thread/posts to Vbulletin. Because I know it's possible with IPB. And I'd also like to know what forum software would be better in 'your' opinion, seeing I'm working with Invisionfree now. Also the advantages and disadvantages of those forum software I'd like to know.

Owh well, it's just the basic stuff I want to know first, I hope some people can help me with anwsering this. It would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

~ShinLi

[Michael]

Originally Posted By: ShinLi First about webhosting, I'd like to have some information about paid webhosting, where I have to watch out for (seeing I want to have a forum), what the best webhostings are etc.

Currently to my knowledge practically all webhosts are capable of hosting forums and message boards, although for example our webhosts www.asmallorange are renound for hosting forums and have tailored their service and servers to handle them. Also recommended are www.site5.com and www.perfectsql.com

Next to that I'd like to know if you could set over member accounts/thread/posts to Vbulletin. Because I know it's possible with IPB.

Do you mean import accounts over to vBulletin? Yes this is possible, vBulletin supports imports and exports from a variety of software including IPB, phpBB and SMF.

And I'd also like to know what forum software would be better in 'your' opinion, seeing I'm working with Invisionfree now. Also the advantages and disadvantages of those forum software I'd like to know.

If you are looking for a completely unique and original choice then vBulletin is for you, but be warned it is much more complex and advanced than others. IPB is more for those who want a plug and play forum software without too many additions or development going on enduser wise.

[ShinLi]

Yes, sorry, I ment importing things.

Well, things shouldn't be to complicated. And what I gathered from Vbulletin is that's it more complex then IPB. Now I also was wondering, once you bought the IPB software, can you only use this software for one board only? For instance, I have two boards, and I both want to run them on IPB, can I just get the forum software once, or should I buy it twice, for each forum?


By plug and play, do you mean once you have it uploaded on a webhost, it's almost the same as IF? you have the admin cp, and the forum, and then you can start making the boards etc?

((yeahyeah, I'm a total noob XD))

[Michael]

When you purchase IPB you are actually purchasing a license, which grants you to one live installation, you will have to purchase multiple licenses in order for them to legal. Regarding what i said about plug and play with vBulletin you are required to make some file edits even before the installation and such, but yes, with IPB you have the Admin CP and it is a more detailed version of what InvisionFree are running.

[KingSpade]

If you run two forums, whether you decide to go with vBulletin or IPB, you will need two licenses as they both operate on a single installation per license system. For each license you purchase, you may run a single instance on a single domain.

As for the editing of vBulletin, you need only to edit a single file after creating your MySQL database, which is config.php. From there, you simply add in your database information and run /install/install.php.

[Michael]

Originally Posted By: KingSpade If you run two forums, whether you decide to go with vBulletin or IPB, you will need two licenses as they both operate on a single installation per license system. For each license you purchase, you may run a single instance on a single domain.

Although you dont have to purchase another license if you are planning on installing a test board, as long as you dont publically publish the domain URL to this test board.

[+ King Kovifor]

Originally Posted By: ShinLi Yes, sorry, I ment importing things.

NOTE: Please remember that the databases are "changed" for IF forums, and it costs some money to change them to forum for upload and things like that.

[ShinLi]

Yes I know this importing things to an IPB forum cost money, but if I decide to go over to IBP, or to anything else, I want to take all the accounts, threads and posts with me. Because it would be the third time for our board to change a new forum software, and it's just harder to start completly overnew and not import all the things. And if I have to, I'll spend money on this ^^

Feck, that means I must buy four licences 0_0.

When you purchase IPB you are actually purchasing a license, which grants you to one live installation

So you mean, once I purchased a license, this will be installed for me, or I have to install it myself? And if I have to install it myself, then I have another question XD. Can a total noob install it without knowledge about html etc?

[Slack]

Originally Posted By: ShinLi Yes I know this importing things to an IPB forum cost money, but if I decide to go over to IBP, or to anything else, I want to take all the accounts, threads and posts with me. Because it would be the third time for our board to change a new forum software, and it's just harder to start completly overnew and not import all the things. And if I have to, I'll spend money on this ^^

You have to pay IF to give you the db dump for your forum. Then you have to convert it to 2.x.x. IF only gives you dump for 1.3, thus it will only work on 1.3 installs(not reconmended). Then convert the 2.x.x data to any other forum software you wish to use

I hope that made sense X.

Originally Posted By: ShinLi So you mean, once I purchased a license, this will be installed for me, or I have to install it myself? And if I have to install it myself, then I have another question XD. Can a total noob install it without knowledge about html etc?

Yes. You need no HTML knowledge at all.
If you do go for IPB then all you do is upload the files and run the install script. All you need is your db details. With each IPB license you get an 'install credit'. Which means the IPS staff will install it for you.

I hope that helps

[+ King Kovifor]

Originally Posted By: ShinLi Yes I know this importing things to an IPB forum cost money, but if I decide to go over to IBP, or to anything else, I want to take all the accounts, threads and posts with me. Because it would be the third time for our board to change a new forum software, and it's just harder to start completly overnew and not import all the things. And if I have to, I'll spend money on this ^^ Feck, that means I must buy four licences 0_0. So you mean, once I purchased a license, this will be installed for me, or I have to install it myself? And if I have to install it myself, then I have another question XD. Can a total noob install it without knowledge about html etc?

No I'm talking about exporting from IF. It's like $5 for the database to be sent.

[Slack]

Originally Posted By: King Kovifor No I'm talking about exporting from IF. It's like $5 for the database to be sent.

Actually it depends on the size. Its actually quite expensive. Unfortunately I can't find the page(they hid it O_o; ).
Just submit a sales ticket from the ACP.

[ShinLi]

Well, I'm a member on another forum who's currently going over from IF to IPB, the admin had to pay $70 to transfer accounts, threads and posts.

GAH! Well before I'll ask anymore dumbass questions, I'm gonna read trough the whole IPB website XD.

[+ King Kovifor]

Originally Posted By: Slack Actually it depends on the size. Its actually quite expensive. Unfortunately I can't find the page(they hid it O_o; ). Just submit a sales ticket from the ACP.

Yeah they say it there. LOL. It sucks actually...

[Mario]

want good piad web hosting i would suggest to go to godady.comor if you want free webhosting go to fusioxhos.com. and if you jus want to practice html then go to freewebs.com and mess around with it its preity fun playing with html and java.

[KingSpade]

Although I run a hosting business, other hosts I have spoken with agree on the same thing and that's to stear away from GoDaddy as far as hosting. For domains, GoDaddy offers top notch support and I don't have a complaint about them. However, for hosting check www.webhostingtalk.com and you'll see.