Simple Machines Forum(SMF) is a free, professional grade software package that allows you to set up your own online community within minutes. We require Apache, PHP, MySql for running the smf forum.
SMF will need a mySQL database to store all of its application data. Log in to the mysql as root
Create a database using the command
CREATE DATABASE smf_db; You can give the name as you like. Then create a user for the database using the command
CREATE USER 'forum'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'forumdbpassword'; Now we have to give the privileges use the command
grant all privileges on `smf_db`.* to 'forum'@'localhost';Then flush the mysql privileges using the command
FLUSH PRIVILEGES; and exit from the mysql Interface.
Next step is to download the Simple Machines Forum Software, change directory to the document root
cd /var/www/html/To download the newest package of SMF type
wget http://mirror.ord.simplemachines.org/downloads/smf_2-0-6_install.tar.gz and hit enter.
Extract the package using the command
tar xvfz smf_2-0-6_install.tar.gzSMF requires some files to be writable by the server. Give permission as given below
chmod 777 attachments avatars cache Packages Smileys ThemesTo begin the installation go to the browser and type
http://yourdomain/install.php you will get a page like this
simply click the continue.
Give server Name as localhost
Username is the database username you created as earlier.
Password is the database user password you created as earlier.
Database Name is the database you created as earlier.
Table Prefix can be left as default (smf_).
When you are finished select Continue.
Forum Name is the name of your community that will be used as the Forum Header.
Forum URL if you wish to have your forum running on a domain rather than an IP, change this to the domain.
Gzip Output Disregard the warning. Leave this checked, it will work on your droplet.
Database Sessions This is best left checked.
UTF-8 Character Set This is recommended to be checked as it will allow you to use multiple languages on your forum.
Click continue and you will get a page
Simply click next and another page will appear.
Your username is the username in which you will use to login to the forum.
Password is the password in which you will use to login to the forum.
Email Address is the email address that will be associated with your forum account.
Database Password is the database password you created earlier. This is asked twice for security purposes. click continue
That's it you have completed Installing the SMF forum in your machine. Its recommended to delete the install.php file to make the configuration secure.
Click on the link your newly Installed forum you will get the page for login like this
