Install phpBB

phpBB is one of the longest-running free forum packages, known for detailed permissions and coping well with large boards. It installs in one click with Softaculous. Most of its settings live in the Administration Control Panel (ACP), linked at the bottom of every page when you’re logged in as an administrator.

1Step 1: Install phpBB with Softaculous

1. In DirectAdmin, open Softaculous and find phpBB under Forums. Click Install.
2. Choose https:// and your domain. Leave the directory empty, or use forum.
3. Enter the board name, an admin username (not “admin”), a strong password and your email.
4. Click Install. Softaculous creates the database and removes the install folder.

2Step 2: Log in to the Administration Control Panel

Visit the board, log in, and click Administration Control Panel at the bottom of the page. You’ll be asked for your password again. The ACP’s General tab holds most of the settings below.

3Step 3: Set account activation

ACP › General › User registration settings. Set Account activation to By user (email activation) for most boards, or By admin if you want to approve everyone. Save.

4Step 4: Turn on spambot countermeasures

ACP › General › Spambot countermeasures. Enable a plugin for registration, such as Q&A, and add a question only genuine members could answer. Q&A is often more effective against automated sign-ups than image-based checks. Test it by registering a dummy account.

5Step 5: Set up email

ACP › General › Client communication › Email settings:

1. Make sure board-wide emails are enabled and set the contact and return email addresses to your board mailbox.
2. Turn on Use SMTP server for email.
3. SMTP server address: your mail server from your email settings, prefixed with ssl:// if you use port 465. Port: 465 (SSL) or 587.
4. Authentication: LOGIN or PLAIN, with the full email address as the username and the mailbox password.
5. Save, then use Send test email on the same page.

6Step 6: Create your forums

ACP › Forums › Manage forums. phpBB uses categories that contain forums. Delete or rename the sample ones and create your own. When you create a forum, copy permissions from an existing one so members can read and post.

7Step 7: Back it up

Take a full account backup in DirectAdmin and download it. phpBB also has its own database backup under ACP › Maintenance › Backup, which is handy before upgrades. Take a full backup.

Check it worked

If something’s wrong

• Members can’t see or post in a new forum. Its permissions weren’t copied. Set them under ACP › Permissions › Forum permissions.
• Test emails fail. Recheck the SMTP server, port and full email username, and try the other port.
• Lots of spam registrations. Change your Q&A question and switch account activation to By admin for a while.