OT: Running a Forum on my own computer

I am attempting to run PHPBB (forum) on my personal webserver. The server
is running WindowsXP and Apache 2.0.50 and I understand that I need to
install PHP, and one of the following SQL systems.

MySQL (3.22 or higher)
PostgreSQL 7.0.3 or higher (preferably 7.1.x or 7.2.x)
MS SQL Server (7 or 2000) directly or via ODBC
MS Access (2000 or XP) via ODBC

My question is, which of these above SQL databases is the best to use in
this situation? Is there a free version of any of these programs that I
could use to make this system work? I am only setting this server and forum
up for test purposes for now and to try and gain some knowledge of how the
system is set up and how it all operates together. Its part of my quest to
know a bit more about the subject.

If anyone could help with any of the above, ie where to find a free useable
version of MySQL etc, I would be very grateful of your help. All this side
of computers is new to me, but slowly I am working my way through and
hopefully at some point I will have achieved my aims. Any advice of any
aspects of setting up a forum would also be welcomed, as I said, this is a
new game to me and Im quite willing to accept advice.

I assume that MySQL is the best option seeing as the PHPBB team have listed
this at the top of their list of options... or am I wrong?

Many Thanks for reading.
Tony




Tony

..
>
> MySQL (3.22 or higher)
> PostgreSQL 7.0.3 or higher (preferably 7.1.x or 7.2.x)
> MS SQL Server (7 or 2000) directly or via ODBC
> MS Access (2000 or XP) via ODBC
>
> My question is, which of these above SQL databases is the best to use
> in this situation?

MySQL is easiest and most popular and free. You can either go to mysql.com
get the binaries for Win32, or try

http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-windows.html

Which has Apache, PHP, Perl & MySQL all bundled together and preconfigured.

HTH

"George Hewitt" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:cUi_c.112$(E-Mail Removed)...
> .
>>
>> MySQL (3.22 or higher)
>> PostgreSQL 7.0.3 or higher (preferably 7.1.x or 7.2.x)
>> MS SQL Server (7 or 2000) directly or via ODBC
>> MS Access (2000 or XP) via ODBC
>>
>> My question is, which of these above SQL databases is the best to use
>> in this situation?
>
> MySQL is easiest and most popular and free. You can either go to mysql.com
> get the binaries for Win32, or try
>
> http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-windows.html
>
> Which has Apache, PHP, Perl & MySQL all bundled together and
> preconfigured.
>
> HTH

Thanks George, I will check that out... Do you run, or are you familiar with
forums?

Best Regards
Tony

"Tony" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "George Hewitt" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:cUi_c.112$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> .
>>>
>>> MySQL (3.22 or higher)
>>> PostgreSQL 7.0.3 or higher (preferably 7.1.x or 7.2.x)
>>> MS SQL Server (7 or 2000) directly or via ODBC
>>> MS Access (2000 or XP) via ODBC
>>>
>>> My question is, which of these above SQL databases is the best to use
>>> in this situation?
>>
>> MySQL is easiest and most popular and free. You can either go to
>> mysql.com get the binaries for Win32, or try
>>
>> http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-windows.html
>>
>> Which has Apache, PHP, Perl & MySQL all bundled together and
>> preconfigured.
>>
>> HTH
>
> Thanks George, I will check that out... Do you run, or are you familiar
> with forums?
>
> Best Regards
> Tony

George, do you have any help to offer regarding the creating of a MySQL
database for use with the forum. If one has already been created somewhere
with default settings, that would do the trick to get me started. It looks
like I have managed to get everythiung working so far except no Im being
asked for the name of my database, and I don't think I have one! : - (

Thanks George, or anyone else who offers me any further help on this.. You
really are wonderful people.

Tony

> George, do you have any help to offer regarding the creating of a
> MySQL database for use with the forum. If one has already been
> created somewhere with default settings, that would do the trick to
> get me started. It looks like I have managed to get everythiung
> working so far except no Im being asked for the name of my database,
> and I don't think I have one! : - (

The link for the package I gave you includes a very nice tool called
PHPMyAdmin, which is a web-based administration tool for MySQL. I believe
that in that package, PHPMA is set up to be accessed from
http://servername/phpmyadmin (http://localhost/phpmyadmin if running from
the local machine). You may need to setup a root password
(http://www.apachefriends.org/en/faq-...html#password0)

Be aware that you shouldn't use the root for everything, merely for
necessary admin tasks. You should use PHPMA to setup extra users that have
permissions to do the things they need to do (but not everything)

HTH

(And PS, yes I have experience with forums, MySQL and PHP scripting in
general. I run several forums, mostly with phpBB)

> George, do you have any help to offer regarding the creating of a MySQL
> database for use with the forum. If one has already been created
> somewhere with default settings, that would do the trick to get me
> started. It looks like I have managed to get everythiung working so far
> except no Im being asked for the name of my database, and I don't think I
> have one! : - (

Tony,

Part of the phpBB install routine lets you specify your database type,
server settings for the database, and table name within the database... It's
in the very first part of the install routine, before you even get to see
your new forum. phpBB does all the work for you with regards to setting up
the database, you just need to point it in the right direction and give it a
name.

It's asking you the name of the database so you can uniquely identify your
forum. Imagine if you had a server with 50 phpBB forums on it, all hooked up
to a single mySQL database. You'd want to uniquely identify each one in the
database, ie:

trainspotters_phpBB
jaguarownersclub_phpBB
techsupport_phpBB
etc
etc

Just give it a name you're happy with. The _phpBB is purely optional - I use
it because I use my MySQL database for other stuff that isn't forum-related,
so I know to leave anything with _phpBB well alone!

HTH,
Dave
(Admin of 3 phpBB forums)
--
(remove spamblock or reply to group)


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.745 / Virus Database: 497 - Release Date: 27/08/2004

"George Hewitt" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:ejk_c.158$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>> George, do you have any help to offer regarding the creating of a
>> MySQL database for use with the forum. If one has already been
>> created somewhere with default settings, that would do the trick to
>> get me started. It looks like I have managed to get everythiung
>> working so far except no Im being asked for the name of my database,
>> and I don't think I have one! : - (
>
> The link for the package I gave you includes a very nice tool called
> PHPMyAdmin, which is a web-based administration tool for MySQL. I believe
> that in that package, PHPMA is set up to be accessed from
> http://servername/phpmyadmin (http://localhost/phpmyadmin if running from
> the local machine). You may need to setup a root password
> (http://www.apachefriends.org/en/faq-...html#password0)
>
> Be aware that you shouldn't use the root for everything, merely for
> necessary admin tasks. You should use PHPMA to setup extra users that have
> permissions to do the things they need to do (but not everything)
>
> HTH
>
> (And PS, yes I have experience with forums, MySQL and PHP scripting in
> general. I run several forums, mostly with phpBB)

Hi George, Excellent!...

I will persue the job further later on this evening when the kids have gone
out... Its bedlam here right now... I really appreciate your input on this.
I would like if possible to learn a little more about PHP scripts etc, if
you have any links to useful reading online (somewhere you think is is a
good place to start), I wouldn't mind having a look. Many Thanks again
George, I will let you know how I get on later tonight.

Thankyou
Tony

"David Baxter" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:4139d177$0$81955$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>> George, do you have any help to offer regarding the creating of a MySQL
>> database for use with the forum. If one has already been created
>> somewhere with default settings, that would do the trick to get me
>> started. It looks like I have managed to get everythiung working so far
>> except no Im being asked for the name of my database, and I don't think I
>> have one! : - (
>
> Tony,
>
> Part of the phpBB install routine lets you specify your database type,
> server settings for the database, and table name within the database...
> It's in the very first part of the install routine, before you even get to
> see your new forum. phpBB does all the work for you with regards to
> setting up the database, you just need to point it in the right direction
> and give it a name.
>
> It's asking you the name of the database so you can uniquely identify your
> forum. Imagine if you had a server with 50 phpBB forums on it, all hooked
> up to a single mySQL database. You'd want to uniquely identify each one in
> the database, ie:
>
> trainspotters_phpBB
> jaguarownersclub_phpBB
> techsupport_phpBB
> etc
> etc
>
> Just give it a name you're happy with. The _phpBB is purely optional - I
> use it because I use my MySQL database for other stuff that isn't
> forum-related, so I know to leave anything with _phpBB well alone!
>
> HTH,
> Dave
> (Admin of 3 phpBB forums)
> --
> (remove spamblock or reply to group)
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.745 / Virus Database: 497 - Release Date: 27/08/2004
>

David, thanks for your response. I will be having another go with setting
up the system later on tonight (hopefully). Ah! I thought it was asking me
for a database file that I had already created using something else. I
understand now that that is not the case. I`ll keep you posted on here how
things go.

Thankyou
Tony

"Tony" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "David Baxter" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:4139d177$0$81955$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>>> George, do you have any help to offer regarding the creating of a MySQL
>>> database for use with the forum. If one has already been created
>>> somewhere with default settings, that would do the trick to get me
>>> started. It looks like I have managed to get everythiung working so far
>>> except no Im being asked for the name of my database, and I don't think
>>> I have one! : - (
>>
>> Tony,
>>
>> Part of the phpBB install routine lets you specify your database type,
>> server settings for the database, and table name within the database...
>> It's in the very first part of the install routine, before you even get
>> to see your new forum. phpBB does all the work for you with regards to
>> setting up the database, you just need to point it in the right direction
>> and give it a name.
>>
>> It's asking you the name of the database so you can uniquely identify
>> your forum. Imagine if you had a server with 50 phpBB forums on it, all
>> hooked up to a single mySQL database. You'd want to uniquely identify
>> each one in the database, ie:
>>
>> trainspotters_phpBB
>> jaguarownersclub_phpBB
>> techsupport_phpBB
>> etc
>> etc
>>
>> Just give it a name you're happy with. The _phpBB is purely optional - I
>> use it because I use my MySQL database for other stuff that isn't
>> forum-related, so I know to leave anything with _phpBB well alone!
>>
>> HTH,
>> Dave
>> (Admin of 3 phpBB forums)
>> --
>> (remove spamblock or reply to group)
>>
>>
>> ---
>> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
>> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
>> Version: 6.0.745 / Virus Database: 497 - Release Date: 27/08/2004
>>
>
> David, thanks for your response. I will be having another go with setting
> up the system later on tonight (hopefully). Ah! I thought it was asking
> me for a database file that I had already created using something else. I
> understand now that that is not the case. I`ll keep you posted on here
> how things go.
>
> Thankyou
> Tony

Hi Again,

I've come unstuck at the first hurdle, I am being asked by phpBB for
'Database Server Hostname / DSN' in the Database Configuration section of
the installation and I don't know what to add here....?

Im also a bit concerned about my entry for script path, I have used:

C:\apachefriends\xampp\htdocs\phpBB2\ as this is where I have put the files
for the phpBB

I am getting the following error message when I use these settings:

phpBB : Critical Error

Could not connect to the database


Warning: mysql_connect() [function.mysql-connect]: Access denied for user:
'myforum@localhost' (Using password: YES) in
C:\apachefriends\xampp\htdocs\phpBB2\db\mysql4.php on line 48

Warning: mysql_error(): supplied argument is not a valid MySQL-Link resource
in C:\apachefriends\xampp\htdocs\phpBB2\db\mysql4.php on line 330

Warning: mysql_errno(): supplied argument is not a valid MySQL-Link resource
in C:\apachefriends\xampp\htdocs\phpBB2\db\mysql4.php on line 331
phpBB : Critical Error

Could not connect to the database

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>, "Tony" (E-Mail Removed)
says...
>
> "Tony" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> >
> > "David Baxter" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:4139d177$0$81955$(E-Mail Removed)...
> >>
> >>> George, do you have any help to offer regarding the creating of a MySQL
> >>> database for use with the forum. If one has already been created
> >>> somewhere with default settings, that would do the trick to get me
> >>> started. It looks like I have managed to get everythiung working so far
> >>> except no Im being asked for the name of my database, and I don't think
> >>> I have one! : - (
> >>
> >> Tony,
> >>
> >> Part of the phpBB install routine lets you specify your database type,
> >> server settings for the database, and table name within the database...
> >> It's in the very first part of the install routine, before you even get
> >> to see your new forum. phpBB does all the work for you with regards to
> >> setting up the database, you just need to point it in the right direction
> >> and give it a name.
> >>
> >> It's asking you the name of the database so you can uniquely identify
> >> your forum. Imagine if you had a server with 50 phpBB forums on it, all
> >> hooked up to a single mySQL database. You'd want to uniquely identify
> >> each one in the database, ie:
> >>
> >> trainspotters_phpBB
> >> jaguarownersclub_phpBB
> >> techsupport_phpBB
> >> etc
> >> etc
> >>
> >> Just give it a name you're happy with. The _phpBB is purely optional - I
> >> use it because I use my MySQL database for other stuff that isn't
> >> forum-related, so I know to leave anything with _phpBB well alone!
> >>
> >> HTH,
> >> Dave
> >> (Admin of 3 phpBB forums)
> >> --
> >> (remove spamblock or reply to group)
> >>
> >>
> >> ---
> >> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> >> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> >> Version: 6.0.745 / Virus Database: 497 - Release Date: 27/08/2004
> >>
> >
> > David, thanks for your response. I will be having another go with setting
> > up the system later on tonight (hopefully). Ah! I thought it was asking
> > me for a database file that I had already created using something else. I
> > understand now that that is not the case. I`ll keep you posted on here
> > how things go.
> >
> > Thankyou
> > Tony
>
> Hi Again,
>
> I've come unstuck at the first hurdle, I am being asked by phpBB for
> 'Database Server Hostname / DSN' in the Database Configuration section of
> the installation and I don't know what to add here....?
>
127.0.0.1