Installation

Choose the correct package

Use the full starter installer for a new forum. Incremental updaters require their exact existing baseline; the modular PHP port is a separate edition. Keep the archive checksum/handoff.

Release-specific installer warning

The supplied beta.156e archive has the mandatory ownership-file gate shown by “Installer is locked”. Its removal has been requested from the core maintainer; it is not removed by this documentation/theme update. Obtain the corrected installer release when available. Do not assume an archive renamed 156e contains the fix. The previous short guide omitted this prerequisite.

Prepare in the hosting panel

1. Add the domain/subdomain and enable HTTPS. Identify its document root.
2. Select a compatible PHP version and enable the required database/image/archive extensions reported by the environment check.
3. Create a MySQL/MariaDB database and a dedicated user; assign that user permissions for this database. Record host/port/name/user/password privately.
4. Upload the installer ZIP with File Manager and extract its contents directly into the intended forum root. The index.php file should be at that root, not one enclosing folder below it.
5. Check that the runtime can write the configuration/upload/private-storage locations requested by the installer. Use ownership/permissions appropriate to the hosting account; do not make the entire website world-writable.

Complete the browser wizard

1. Open the forum’s public HTTPS URL and follow the installer entry point. If the release shows the ownership lock above, stop and follow the maintainer’s corrected-release guidance.
2. Read the environment checks. Resolve a failed requirement through the domain’s hosting configuration before proceeding.
3. On Database, enter the actual database host/port/name/user/password and table prefix. Test the connection. Do not point at an established forum database as a fresh-install shortcut.
4. On Administrator, choose the owner account and a unique strong password. Keep it private.
5. On Installation, review and run the setup once. Wait for the result before refreshing or starting a second tab.
6. On Complete, open the frontend and admin area. Confirm the installed lock is present and further installer writes are refused. Follow the release’s instruction to remove/deny installer access after completion.

First sign-in and launch

Set site name/tagline/canonical URL, categories/groups, mail delivery, branding, terms and appropriate feature switches. Configure payments only if you actually sell access/files. Make a full backup and test guest/member/staff views before inviting members.

Common failures

Database connection: compare the assigned user/permissions, host/port and domain runtime PDO MySQL extension. Wrong folder: correct the document root/extraction level. No write permission: ask the host to fix the account ownership for the named directory. Already installed/populated database: use the supported upgrade/recovery process, never bypass an installed-board guard. Setup interrupted: retain the exact error and the matching archive before attempting recovery.