vBulletin-x-x-x- where the x-x-x is the version, 3.6.8 for example.
Extracting the archive and explaining it's contents
Extract the archive in a separate folder of your computer. It must contain the following files:
"do_not_upload" - This is a folder that contains the following files which are not obligatory to be uploaded:
- tools.php - This is a script, which might be handy in future. It will help you to fix login problems and rebuilds caches for user groups and bit fields
- searchshell.php - A script to be executed from server shell used to rebuild the search index if it gets broken.
- vb_backup.sh - A simple shell script used to backup your forum's database.
"upload" - This is the folder which content must be uploaded on your account. Here are all the files of the productive vBulletin forum:
- license_agreement.html - This file contains the end license agreement and the Terms of Use of the vBulletin
- vb3_readme.html - The current vBulletin version's 'Read Me' instructions in '.html' format.
- vb3_readme.txt - The current vBulletin version's 'Read Me' instructions in text format.
Uploading the installation & forum files to your account
Now, that you have the archives extracted on your computer, it is time to upload it on your hosting account. First, you have to make a decision where to have it installed:
- If you want to use your website only for forum purposes, then you can easily upload the contents of the upload folder, (without the folder) in the 'public_html' folder of your account. Then the URL for your forum will be http://www.yourdomainname.com
- If you want the forum to be just a part of your website, but not its main page then you can put it into a subfolder. The most used names of this folder are board, bboard, forum, phorum, community, but you are not narrowed to these names, you can have whatever you want for your forum. Then the URL for your forum will be: http://www.yourdomainname.com/directoryname. (e.g. http://forum.siteground.com/)
Upload the files that are in the "upload" folder to the desired location and then you can precede with the database creation. You can learn more about how to upload files with FTP here.
What is MySQL database and why is it obligatory for the forum installation?
Like most of the applications, written in PHP (the most famous scripting language used to create dynamic Web pages) vBulletin is working using a MySQL database to store its data. During the setup process you'll be asked to name the database, to give a username that have access to it and a corresponding password.
Your account with SiteGround comes with unlimited MySQL databases. They can be managed trough your cPanel -> phpMyAdmin. You can learn how to create a MySQL database and attach a user to it by reading our tutorial.
