Question for mods and computer-friendly peeps?

JBee · 02-08-2005, 10:10

I was just wondering how you went about setting up the Sheffield Forum?

As you probably know, I relocated to Edinburgh a few months ago and there's nothing like the Forum up here at all.

But it's such a wonderful idea... a place for local info, chats, help, adivce ect. It's definitely the best net forum I've ever seen.

So was it hard to set up? How much time do you spend running/moderating it? And do you make any income from advertising?

Hope you don't mind me asking these questions.. But it's occured to me that there's a huge gap in the market up here for something similar. But I don't really know one end of a computer from the other, so maybe I'm not the best person to tackle it...

JoeP · 02-08-2005, 10:23

I wasn't around at the beginning but have been involved in other online communities, so here goes....

The software used is a modified version of vBulletin - basically geoff's done quite a few modifications to it and we are also doing a few add ons, like the Ticker we ran a while back, the Chat room, etc.

I believe that the advertising helps things break even - I'm not au fait with the financials, but I would expect that the Forum isn't making a profit.

Moderators are all volunteers and spend a fair amount of time on the Forum each day. I know that I spend probably 2 to 3 hours minimum on forum related stuff most days.

Joe

JBee · 02-08-2005, 10:32

Quote:

Originally posted by JoeP
[B
The software used is a modified version of vBulletin - basically geoff's done quite a few modifications to it and we are also doing a few add ons, like the Ticker we ran a while back, the Chat room, etc.
Joe [/B]

Hmmmm. sounds kinda techie! Was hoping you would say that you bought some kind of readymade thingy that did it all for you.

What is vBulletin? Is it a package you buy and download?

Please don't laugh at these questions. I really wish I'd taken some kind of IT course at school/college, but it's too late now!

JoeP · 02-08-2005, 10:35

vBulletin is a puchasable package but it does require configuring and such.

You also need to know a little about hosting websites because sooner or later it's all going to go pear shaped.

We also have other packages running behind the scene, for example running the Helpdesk that handles stuff sent via 'Contact Us'.

Joe

JBee · 02-08-2005, 11:01

I supposed I'll just have to wait for someone a bit more computer literate in Edinburgh to be struck by inspiration then, JoeP.

There's no way I'd be able to get my head round all that stuff, and as you say, I wouldn't have a clue what to do when things went wrong.

rich951 · 02-08-2005, 11:01

Presumably he could set up the basic vBulletin (or other brand) board, get it up and running and then wait for some techies with time to spare to join, and let them configure the rest?

Although the extra features of SF are very nice and appreciated, it would still be a useful resource without them...

JBee · 02-08-2005, 11:04

Quote:

Originally posted by rich951
Presumably he could set up the basic vBulletin (or other brand) board, get it up and running and then wait for some techies with time to spare to join, and let them configure the rest? Although the extra features of SF are very nice and appreciated, it would still be a useful resource without them...

Probably best left the the experts Rich951. I'm feeling rather disheartened just reading this thread... I'm afriad I don't understand it at all.

Have muchos respect for the mods who give up their free time to look after us all now though

Oh, and just one more little point.... I'm a 'she', not a 'he'!

rich951 · 02-08-2005, 11:08

Yeah I thought that when I submitted it and noticed the picture!

Was considering editing the post but you beat me to it, and if I change it now people will get all confused

Consider me suitably chastised, especially as forums like this are one area that aren't particularly male-dominated!

Vini · 02-08-2005, 11:11

get some web/dedicated hosting with PHP (baring in mind a forum of this size will be big and will require a fair bit of bandwidth per month)

install vbulletin or my preference phpbb. (simlpe to do)

all done...

mods/tweaks/stuff thats over your head can either be left alone, or left to others.

JBee · 02-08-2005, 11:14

Quote:

Originally posted by Vini
get some web/dedicated hosting with PHP (baring in mind a forum of this size will be big and will require a fair bit of bandwidth per month)

install vbulletin or my preference phpbb. (simlpe to do)

all done...

mods/tweaks/stuff thats over your head can either be left alone, or left to others.

Hello Vini

What is PHP?
And web dedicated hosting?
And bandwidth?

See. I really am a lost cause!!!

Vini · 02-08-2005, 11:48

howdy,

web hosting is somewhere to store your 'website/forum'

you need hosting to host your 'stuff'

website hosting is what i use, bought from a company selling it to me. dedicated hosting is probably what sheffield forum uses, and basically its - a separate computer - purchased/leased for running this forum on its own sat in a cupboard in some telephone house with a direct connection to the internet. these are expensive and would cost about £75 a month on the cheap side. and can cost upto £500 a month on the top heavy side. as a startup project, this is not recommended

php is a programming language, which most forums use - it usually runs of a mysql db behind the scenes. (see in the address bar the .php extension)

bandwidth is the term used for 'downloading/uploading' to the 'site' - everytime you open a page on this forum it downloads - using some of the servers bandwidth.

lots of members constantly clicking/opening pages = lots of bandwidth = lots of money

however - you really dont need to know all this though honest, so dont let it baffle you.

my website (vini.co.uk) is hosted with web-mania - theyre £23 a year (which is good for what you get - 500mb storage / 6gb a month bandwidth)

it supports php, which means i can run a forum on mine (like i do) - but i dont have much webspace free, so i couldnt host a forum the size of this one, on my site. for anything other than a personal site, cheap web-hosting isnt really recommended.

i could go really deep, but dont have as much knowledge on the subject as perhaps, others on here.

its almost as simple as unzipping a forum you download from the web and copying it to the space.

you can also run webspace from your own computer, but for a forum, i wouldnt recommend this.

hope that helps a little.

JBee · 02-08-2005, 11:50

Ta Vini. That's a few things for me to think about, and thanks for 'dumbing down' on the techie speak for me!!!!

MTheo · 02-08-2005, 12:18

http://www.proboards.com/index.html

go there..sign up....give it a name.....make up your subjects....get some members.

done.

no teccie bits or daft jargen needed.

rich951 · 02-08-2005, 12:35

I guess that's a good way to find out how big demand is... You could always register edinburgh-forum.co.uk (or whatever, I see that .co.uk and .com without the dash are both taken but not being used) and point it towards the address of the free one... Not sure if you'd ever be able to get the old posts off to migrate to your own hosting at a later date though.

I still think if it was me I'd just set up one of the standard packages on some cheap hosting, but then I'm happy doing things like that. I'm sure there are plenty of people on here who would donate an hour to help you out though! (me included)

I like the quote about 10 million users on 1.2 million boards - some of those must be rather quiet sites!

JBee · 02-08-2005, 16:32

Thank-you.

You've all been very helpful, and I appreciate the offers of aditional support xxx

melthebell · 02-08-2005, 17:47

your half way there, you know what the basics are.........now use google and find help to read on the subjects, then fiddle, thats how i learn stuff i dont know how to do it