Which Forum/Bulletin Board?

[FredFarn]

I have a Swamp Croc account and would like to install an internet forum. The most popular forum software systems appear to be "phpBB" and "SMF".

I plan for this forum to become quite busy. So I am concerned about overloading the server CPU, causing problems with my account.

Can you recommend forum (bulletin board) software that is not CPU-intensive? I'd prefer a free system if possible.

Any suggestions from Hostgator on this issue?

Thanks for your input!

[KWHS]

we use SMF as our first choice, loads of addons and easy to modify to your own needs.....

[Sam]

vBulletin.com

[Pazeh]

^^ VB for sure

[Goddess Dix]

Originally Posted by FredFarn

I have a Swamp Croc account and would like to install an internet forum. The most popular forum software systems appear to be "phpBB" and "SMF".

I plan for this forum to become quite busy. So I am concerned about overloading the server CPU, causing problems with my account.

Can you recommend forum (bulletin board) software that is not CPU-intensive? I'd prefer a free system if possible.

Any suggestions from Hostgator on this issue?

Thanks for your input!

Avoid phpBB like the plauge. It has a history of security issues and it's bad news all the way around. SMF is free and slightly more usable, but I found it klunky and annoying. I don't know how it is on CPU.

But if you're expecting to run an active forum as time goes on, it would really make sense to make the investment of getting a vbulletin liscence. It's like $120 or something, WAY more flexible and powerful than you're going to find with something like SMF. You have a lot of control over the settings that would impact perfomrance, which is not something you're going to see with the free forums that i've worked with. And it's MUCH easier to start out with what you want then try to switch later.

You'd be doing yourself a disservice, in my opinion, by cheaping out now if you really want to set up the structure for long-term growth. VB is actively developed, has a large user base, and they're getting ready to come out with a new, tricked out version. (Ok, maybe some of it's bloat: we have to see. But you don't have to enable everything.)

Good luck!

[willow1872]

Invision Power Board

[SNN]

vBulletin is the best way to go, and there are some great new features in 3.7, not yet released, but you can see it on vB's forums.
If you really don't want to go with a paid forum, I would suggest phpBB3 (Not sure on the security on it)

[Eric]

Well phpBB3 RC 8 was just released yesterday, I'm personally holding out for the final release before I install it on my site. phpBB2 has been good for me but I've had hundreds, if not thousands, of spam bots register on the forum. Luckily I have a couple of mods installed that prevent them from showing up unless they post at least one message in the forum. Only a few of them actually make it so far as posting a message and they're usually deleted really soon because I have a few moderators.

I wouldn't touch phpbb with a 2 mile long pole. IPB is one of my favorite systems but it costs money, so I personally think the best solution is MyBB. It is a GREAT system for free and it's so easy to customize with it's add ons and templates that I was able to completely integrate my forum into my site, and I only have to update the forum to update both of their templates! It worked out great! Check out an example:

http://www.gamesforfree.net/

The link to MyBB is:

http://www.mybboard.net/

If you have any interest in integrating your forum into your site, then you can PM me as I have a system for doing it.

[WebhouseUK]

Well, as I have said on a couple of other threads. Categories Hierarchy is always my first choice. Its a re-write and I mean almost complete re-write of phpBB.

Not quite on par with vb (yet ), but not far off. As yet it has never been hacked or spammed and it's free.
You would have to install phpBB first, then overwrite it with this pre-installed pack.

Try a few different BB systems out though before you decide, you've nothing to lose by trying out the free ones.

[jmunzing]

Originally Posted by Sam

vBulletin.com

^ What he said

But if you had to go with a free one, I personally, would go with phpBB. Just stay up-to-date with the releases and you will be fine. (Wouldn't hurt to do backups of your databases every x days)