Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Install MyBB (discussion forum) for your Library

MyBB is an Open Source Software for maintaining discussion forum. It is an mysql and web browser based software which can be run in Both Windows and Linux platform.

For windows 7:

Step 1:

Install Xampp [Download XAMPP]
Download MyBB software [Download Mybb_1810.zip]. The latest version is 1.8.10
Unzip the Mybb_1810 folder.
Copy the 'Upload' folder under unzipped "Mybb" folder to c:/htdocs/
Rename the folder as "forum"

Step 2:

Run Xampp
Click on Apache & mysql
Open browser
Type localhost/phpmyadmin [if your are working from another LAN connected Client PC, type IP address of the server instead of localhost]
Log in as root
Create a new user as <your library name>
Logout and log in as new user again.
Create a new database as "forum"

Step 3:

Open the forum folder under c:/htdocs
Open inc folder
Rename config.default.php to config.php
Change the attribute of config.php . Make the file writable
Change the attribute of settings.php. Make the file writable
Edit the properties of the folders and turn on full control under security tab.

  • cache
  • cache/themes
  • uploads
  • uploads/avatars

For Ubuntu Linux: [coming soon]

Step 1:

Open terminal [ alt+cltr+t]
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get install phpmyadmin [this will Install phpmyadmin by using command]
exit

Step 2:

Open browser
Type localhost/phpmyadmin [if your are working from another LAN connected Client PC, type IP address of the server instead of localhost]
Log in as root
Create a new user as <your library name>
Logout and log in as new user again.
Create a new database as "forum"
Open a new tab in browser.
Download MyBB software [Download Mybb_1810.zip]. The latest version is 1.8.10
Unzip the Mybb_1810 folder. Rename the folder as mybb

Step 3:
Open terminal 
Copy the upload folder under unzipped mybb folder to your web folder using the following command.
sudo mv <source>/mybb/Upload /var/www/forum
cd /var/www/forum
sudo mv /var/www/forum/inc/config.default.php  /var/www/forum/inc/config.php
sudo chmod 777 cache
sudo chmod 777 uploads
sudo chmod 777 uploads/avatars

Step 4: [same for windows and linux]

Open the browser
Type localhost/forum/install [if your are working from another LAN connected Client PC, type IP address of the server instead of localhost]
If you have successfully uploaded your files and navigated to the installer you should be presented with a page like this:
Welcome screen
All you need to do is click Next on this page.

License Agreement

You must read and agree to the license agreement before you can install MyBB. You must adhere to the license agreement at all times while the board is installed. After reading the agreement, click the Next button on this page.
If you would like more information about the GNU LGPL license and what it means for you consult the GNU website.
License screen

Requirements Check

This page checks that your server meets the requirements for running MyBB. If it does not, you will be notified on this page. If everything is working correctly, all you need to do is click on the Next button on this page.
Requirements screen

Database Configuration

This page is for the configuration of your database. If you have javascript enabled, only fields relevant to your selected engine will be displayed. Below is an explanation of each field:

Database Engine

This is the engine that you wish to use. At most, the options available will be MySQL, MySQL Improved. Select MySQL Improved.

Database Host

This is the server where the database is. Unless told otherwise by your host, this should be localhost. 

Database Username

This is the username you created [in phpmyadmin] or you use to access your database for MyBB

Database Password

This is the password for the database username that you entered. 

Database Name

This is the name of the database that you would like MyBB to install to. Here the database name is forum

Database Path

Keep Blank.

Table Prefix

This is the prefix for the tables in the database. Unless you already have a MyBB installation in the database you entered with the prefix mybb_, you should leave this how it is. 
Once you have entered the details correctly, you should click on the Next button on the page. If the installer cannot access the database, you will be told so, meaning you did not enter one (or more) of the details correctly.
If you are having trouble with this step, contact your web host to see what is the correct host, username, password combination to use. This usually can be found in your host’s control panel (eg. cPanel, Ensim, DirectAdmin, Plesk).
Database screen

Table Creation

In this step, the database tables are inserted. No user input is needed on this page, so click the Next button when it appears. This page may take several moments to load, so please be patient while it does and inserts the database tables.
Table creation screen

Data Insertion

In this step, the default data is inserted into the database tables created above. No user input is needed on this page, so click the Next button when it appears.
Data insertion screen

Theme Installation

The theme data is loaded into the forum at this point. No user input is needed on this page, so click the Next button when it appears.
Theme installation screen

Board Configuration

These are settings that are critical to running your board. MyBB tries to fill these settings with the correct value; however, you should double check to make sure these settings are set properly. These settings can be changed later if required.

Forum Name

This is the name of the forums that you are installing. example <XYZ College Library Forum>.

Forum URL

This is the URL to your forums. This should be filled in automatically, but it is always good to make sure that the URL is correct. Remember that there should not be a trailing slash.
e.g.: ipaddress/forum [172.xxx.xxx.xxx/forum]

Website Name

This is the name of your website (if you have one). This setting is for the Your Website link at the bottom of the forums. The name is simply the text that you wish to use for the your website link.

Website URL

This is the URL to your website (if you have one). If you do not have a website, you can either leave it blank or enter your forums URL.
This is the domain for the cookie to be set to. In 1.4 and later, this field is pre-filled with the appropriate data.
This is the path for the cookie to be set to. If you have more than one MyBB installation on the domain, it is recommended that you change this to the path to your forum (for instance, /forums/). In versions 1.4 and later, this field is pre-filled with the appropriate data.

Contact Email

This is your email address that your members can contact you by via the Contact Us link at the bottom of your forum. e.g <your email>
Config screen

Administrator User

The administrator account is the first account on your forum (identified by the user ID #1). This account has permissions to all sections in the Admin CP.

Username

This is the username of the administrator account that you are creating.

Password and Retype Password

This is the password for the administrator account. Be sure to type it in correctly in both fields.

Email Address

This is the email address that the administrator account will be created with.
Admin user screen

Finishing Setup

Congratulations! You have successfully installed your MyBB. 
You should remove the install/ directory from your server [location c:/htdocs/forum] now to prevent anyone else from running the installation again. MyBB will not run unless the installer is removed or locked.
If you simply wish to lock your MyBB install directory, create a new file in the install directory called lock, which will disallow access to the installer/upgrader while it exists.
Finishing screen
[ Source: https://docs.mybb.com/1.8/install/#forum-name ]