Knowledgebase
How to install phpBB3
In this article we'll provide you with some details on how to install phpBB3 on your hosting account.
Before you begin the installation, create a new database and add a user to it. You can do that from the Databases section of the Pixie control panel.
Then download the last stable version of phpBB3 from the official site. Then either unpack the downloaded archive on your local computer and then with an FTP client upload the unzipped content to the public_html directory of your account, or you can use the Files section of the Pixie control panel to upload the archive and unpack it directly on your account. Of course, you can also perform these tasks through SSH.
After that with your internet browser access the URL address of the root phpBB3 directory that you just uploaded on your account (e.g. yourdomain.com/phpbb3). On the first page you'll see some introductory information. Click on the Install tab in the upper left corner and then on the Proceed to next step button at the bottom of the screen. Once you do it, phpBB3 will perform some tests to check whether the server meets the requirements. After the check is finished click on the Start install button.
On the next page you have to provide the information for the database you created earlier. Type the name of the database, the prefix for the database tables, the database user and password in the respective fields. In the field for Database server hostname or DNS type localhost. You don't have to configure any other options on this page; click on Proceed to next step to continue. On the next screen you'll see a confirmation that the database connection was successful. Click on Proceed to next step.
On the following page you have to configure the options for the administrator. Type the desired username, password and email address in the respective fields, then click on Proceed to next step. You'll see a confirmation message, just click on the Proceed to next step button. Then phpBB3 will automatically create a config.php file. There shouldn't be any problems, but if there are, phpBB3 will provide you with more information on how to set up the file manually. After the configuration file is created you'll see a confirmation message. Click on Proceed to next step.
On the next page there are some email and server URL settings. You don't really need to change anything here. Besides, these options can be configured at any time from the administration panel once the installation is complete. So you can click on Proceed to next step without configuring anything.
What follows is a confirmation that the database tables were created successfully. After you click on the proceed button you'll see the last page of the installation process congratulating you on the successful installation. The last thing to do before your forum becomes accessible to users is to delete the install folder from the root phpBB3 directory on your hosting account (e.g. public_html/phpbb3/install).
You can also check out the phpBB3 Installation Tutorial.