Forum requirements?

[Roo]

Hey guys, probably not right area, but dunno where else to post lol.

Basically I'm doing a report on how adding a forum to a companies website will improve their overall service.

I basically need any technical information. Server required, bandwidth required, software, hardware, any security issues, anything and everything related to the running of a forum. I've tried looking on the internet, but I couldnt really find anything useful.

Cheers.

[FireBlade]

mhhhhh well ill tell you what i know.

Bandwidth depends on how busy the site is but not a great deal compared to a normal web site (less pics)

Software a good simple free one is phpbb2 http://www.phpbb.com/ its simple to setup skinable I have set a few of them up and its worthy or else try a commercial package like vbulletin a bit more complex loads of features lots of skins http://www.vbulletin.com/

You need a host with MYSQL and PHP a lot of the good hosts have this as standard its a requirement for any good forum package though.

If your hosting in house then any desktop machine or low end server will do windows or linux.

if your adding it to an existing site its a very simple job host the BB anywhere and link it into a hyperlink on the site. I would recomend a proof of concept by setting a free one up and showing them go check out http://www.freeforumworld.com/

Security wise just keep the thing updated and there are not many security issues.

lemme know if you need any more info I will try and help.

[TwoPlAnKs]

i think DF uses about 100 gig bandwidth a month and 2 gb hard drive space, and no company website would have a forum bigger than this really apart from stupidly big affairs like the bbc or whatever