Website Forum software

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ronw

1222 posts

Uber Geek

#205754 25-Nov-2016 15:24

I run a website and I would like to integrate some form of Forum software into the website. The idea would be to have a few Forums on specific subjects which I could let the expert in each subject manage the users that would be allowed to use that forum. I would like it to be accessed via the website even if it has to go to external software to handle the Forums. People in one forum would not be able to see or access other forums unless they were also members of that Forum.

I have had a look at several software choices but they all seem complicated for a simple BBS type Forum

Any suggestions on what could be used to accomplish what I want.

Thanks

Nokia 7 Plus
Nexus 6P 32Gb
Nexus 6 Phone
Nexus 5 Phone
Nexus 7 2013 Tablet
Samsung TAB A 8"
Samsung TAB A 10"

& many Windows laptops, Desktops etc

scetoaux

56 posts

Master Geek

#1677501 25-Nov-2016 15:56

Have a look at phpBB

mattwnz

20164 posts

Uber Geek

#1677514 25-Nov-2016 16:32

Have you looked at any SAAS solutions, as there are quite a few, and takes away the hassle of dealing with the software and updates and security.?

xpd

Geek @ Coastguard NZ
13768 posts

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#1677517 25-Nov-2016 16:34

SMF isnt bad

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

LinkTree

gabba

85 posts

Master Geek

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#1677537 25-Nov-2016 17:02

What's your website built with. For eg if it's something like joomla you might want to consider integrating any users you have on your website with the forum so they don't have to log in seperately.

Othwrwise I use smf quite happily as a standalone forum. It's been around for a while and has a good following. Also it's free and the learning curve isn't too steep.

ronw

1222 posts

Uber Geek

#1677579 25-Nov-2016 18:54

Yes but unfortunately there are costs involved and the website I have built is for a charitable organisation and I don't want to have to pay monthly costs for them and I doubt if they would want to pay either.

mattwnz:

Have you looked at any SAAS solutions, as there are quite a few, and takes away the hassle of dealing with the software and updates and security.?

Nokia 7 Plus
Nexus 6P 32Gb
Nexus 6 Phone
Nexus 5 Phone
Nexus 7 2013 Tablet
Samsung TAB A 8"
Samsung TAB A 10"

& many Windows laptops, Desktops etc

mattwnz

20164 posts

Uber Geek

#1677588 25-Nov-2016 19:00

Some forums may struggle on some shared hosting. There maybe some freemium SaaS models, I haven't researched it though. If you use a CMS though, there maybe plugins. But doing it that way is putting a value on your time in terms of administering it etc. There are different type of charities, some have paid staff and are run like a business, while some are almost entirely voluntary with no income streams, so presume yours is the latter.

ronw

1222 posts

Uber Geek

#1677620 25-Nov-2016 20:09

Thanks for your help everyone. I decided to go with SMF which seems straight forward, Just created the SQL database uploaded the files and ran install. It seems to come up OK. Will now go and have a play and see what I can do

Cheers

Nokia 7 Plus
Nexus 6P 32Gb
Nexus 6 Phone
Nexus 5 Phone
Nexus 7 2013 Tablet
Samsung TAB A 8"
Samsung TAB A 10"

& many Windows laptops, Desktops etc

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

michaelmurfy

meow
13257 posts

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#1677729 26-Nov-2016 00:21

Please remember to secure it.

- SSL Certificates are essential especially for the login part. Use LetsEncrypt or Cloudflare for this.
- Ensure that folder permissions are as locked down as possible.
- Capacha (ReCapacha) login + signup pages.
- Ideally - put it behind Cloudflare as this adds another layer of security (you can import their origin certificate to your host to make use of SSL).
- Something that offers 2FA might be key for people who want an extra layer of security (eg - administrators).

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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ronw

1222 posts

Uber Geek

#1678078 26-Nov-2016 19:32

Still playing with SMF and hopefully someone can help me with a couple of questions.

I have it up and running ok with one subject board. I want to run more than one subject for a completely different set of users.

How is the best way to accomplish this. Do I set up a second SQL database in a new directory and then run smf install to the new directory and so on for each new subject.

I think I will need about four separate boards so would have to repeat this every time.

Secondly if I forget to log off its a bit disconcerting to go back in next day and it is still open. I am guessing it is related to cookies but it still seems odd. Should not smf have an auto logout that I can enforce globally

Thanks

Nokia 7 Plus
Nexus 6P 32Gb
Nexus 6 Phone
Nexus 5 Phone
Nexus 7 2013 Tablet
Samsung TAB A 8"
Samsung TAB A 10"

& many Windows laptops, Desktops etc

Yabanize

2350 posts

Uber Geek

#1678107 26-Nov-2016 23:23

ronw:

Still playing with SMF and hopefully someone can help me with a couple of questions.

I have it up and running ok with one subject board. I want to run more than one subject for a completely different set of users.

How is the best way to accomplish this. Do I set up a second SQL database in a new directory and then run smf install to the new directory and so on for each new subject.

I think I will need about four separate boards so would have to repeat this every time.

Secondly if I forget to log off its a bit disconcerting to go back in next day and it is still open. I am guessing it is related to cookies but it still seems odd. Should not smf have an auto logout that I can enforce globally

Thanks

You can create a new database, or use an existing database (with table prefixes) The setup wizard guides you through that.

There is actually a multiple forum mod

Haven't use SMF in years myself.

There are settings about cookies

Like Geekzone has a private forums for subscribers, that might be something you want to do instead instead of a whole seperate one

muppet

2570 posts

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#1678119 27-Nov-2016 06:56

If you control the PHP install, make sure you're using a PHP opcahe cache, which will greatly increase the speed at which PHP code is run.

https://pecl.php.net/package/ZendOpcache is the one most people use. It's built into more recent versions of PHP, but older versions you need to make sure you add it in yourself. Your users will thank you.

gabba

85 posts

Master Geek

Trusted

#1678164 27-Nov-2016 09:56

Not being 100% sure what you are asking I'd suguest just using user permissions on the forum.

For example on our forum we have
-a public area everyone gets to see
-a logged in area that includes a few more mods and boards for people who have logged in
-a subscriber area only those who have financially supported the forum can see this board
-an admin and moderator board that can only be seen by a few people.

All that is configured through applying user permissions to each board or mod once the user groups are set up.
I've never seen an auto logoff on exit.That's not to say there isn't a mod somewhere that will do it. Check out the smf mod site.
Hope that's a help

EDIT:Added info about auto logoff.

kickintheeye

112 posts

Master Geek

#1701862 12-Jan-2017 10:04

Recently, I created a video game forum using bbPress. I believe you could achieve what you want using a plugin called bbP Private Groups "This plugin adds private groups to the forums, allocating users to groups, and combinations of forums to those groups, creating multiple closed forums."

It's pretty basic and gray out of the box, but I managed to design and to style it quite nicely. Take a look at tradegames.co.nz and see if something like that would suit you.

Edit: fixing the link

ANglEAUT

2326 posts

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#1701919 12-Jan-2017 10:44

I wonder why nobody mentioned Disqus which is used by GZ.

As a charity, this might be of interest

How we make money

The Disqus platform is completely free to use for publishers. That means that you can use Disqus for free today and years down the line.

Our platform is supported by advertising. We make money through your use of Reveal, the native advertising system as part of the Disqus platform. That means we take a share of the earnings that Reveal generates on your site.

If you are a personal or not-for-profit site, you can opt-out of Reveal.

Please keep this GZ community vibrant by contributing in a constructive & respectful manner.