How to install phpBB
phBB can be installed on it's own or in conjunction with a Joomla site. This article assumes that you have web hosting sorted.
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Installation (stand-alone forum)
- Create a folder in the root of the Joomla site (eg /forum).
- Extract the phpBB files into this new folder.
- Browse to http://yourdomain.com/forum.
- Select the Install tab.
- Click Proceed to next step.
- Click Start Install.
- Leave DSN and Server port fields empty, enter database name, username and password as per Joomla site. Leave table prefix as phpbb_.
- Assuming a successful connection, click on Proceed to next step.
- Enter a administrator username and password (enter them as the same as a Joomla admin account). Enter the appropriate contact email address.
- Click Proceed to next step twice.
- Leave all Advanced Settings as default.
- Click Proceed to next step.
- Congratulations! You must now delete the /forum/install directory.
- Click Login to automatically login as the admin account that you set up.
- To access the forum browse to http://yourdomain.com/forum.
- To manage the forum click on Administration Control Panel at the bottom of the forum.
Install Joomla plugin
You may now need to install the Joomla plugin that will act as a bridge for authentication. When you integrate phpBB with a Joomla site, you create a single sign-on forum, that is accessible in context with the Joomla site.
- First you will need to extract joomphpbb2-bridge.zip to /tmp/bridge.
- Use phpMyAdmin to run /tmp/bridge/others/joomphpbb.sql (select the correct database and go to the SQL tab and pasted the contents of joomphpbb.sql, click on go).
- Download /tmp/bridge/others/com_phpbb15.zip.
- From Joomla backend install com-phpbb15.zip.
- Create an external link to http://yourdomain.com/forum.
Now for some phpBB hacking
- Copy the contents of /tmp/bridge/phpBB 3.04/hacked into /forum (making sure all files are overwritten).
- Edit tmp/bridge/bridge/joomphpbb_conf2.phpand change the following...
- $joomUrl="http://yourdomain.com/forum";
- $joomRel= "../"; // relative path from phpbb
- Copy the contents of /tmp/bridge/bridge into /forum (make sure all files are overwritten).
phpBB Administration Control Panel
- Log onto phpBB Administration Control Panel.
- Choose Styles tab, install bridgesilver and make it the default.
- You can also delete prosilver.
- Choose General tab, Client Communication > Authentication, and select Joomla15 as the authentication method, click Submit.
- Edit /forum//joomphpbb_conf2.php and change the following...
- $joomIntegrate = 3;