The manual installation of phpBB includes uploading the installation package via cPanel's File Manager or using an FTP client. The latest release can be found at the phpBB official website.
Bear in mind that the uploaded package should reside under the public_html, which is the web root folder for your account, or alternatively under a sub-directory for it.
Additionally, prior to performing the installation, a new database should be created. You can easily do so following the MySQL Tutorial.
The next step is to access the directory where you have uploaded the phpBB3 installation package. In case you have uploaded it directly under the public_html folder it will be accessible via your domain name only. In case you have used a sub-directory, for example "phpbb3" it will be accessible via an URL of type http://yourdomainname.com/phpbb3. If everything is done right you will see the following page:
Feel free to check the General Public License as well as the support reference page. They might come in handy in the future.
Next you should click on the Install tab.
All requirements are met on SiteGround servers so you can safely click the Proceed to next step button.
The next page is Installation compatibility. Again this step should be passed without any troubles. You will see that several of the supported databases are not available on our servers. However, this is not an issue. All you need is a single type of the supported databases to be available in order to proceed with the installation. The Start Install button should be available at the bottom of the page at this point.
If else the requirement that is not met will be colored in red and instructions how to correct the issue will be displayed.
Next step is the Database configuration. Here you should enter the database details for the new database you created earlier.
- The first option is Database type. Most commonly it should be left as MySQL with MySQLi Extension.
- The Database server hostname or DSN should be set as: localhost.
- The Database server port option can be left blank or you can enter 3306. Both will work without any troubles as our MySQL server works on a standard port.
- The Database name should be the one you previously created.
- The Database username should be the one you previously created also.
- The Database password option is also the one you previously set.
- Finally the Prefix for tables option can be left as it is auto generated. It is not important unless you are installing several scripts in the same database.
Bear in mind that both the Database name and Database username options will include your cPanel username as prefix.
A page with properly filled options will look like that:
You can now click the Proceed to next step button. If you have correctly entered the details you will see a successful connection confirmation.
You can click the Proceed to next step button.
On the Administrator details page you can enter the desired administrative details for the newly installed board.
Verify them and again click the Proceed to next step button. If there are no errors you will get a Tests passed message and again you should click the Proceed to next step button and once again after the configuration is saved.
The Advanced settings page is the next one. Basically on this page there are no changes you should make. All settings are automatically generated and you can left them untouched. Then again click the Proceed to next step button.
A confirmation that the database was successfully populated with data will be displayed and for the last time you should click the Proceed to next step button. This will bring you to the Installation Successful page.
At this point you are given two options. The first is to proceed converting the data from an old phpBB2 installation to the newly installed phpBB3. The other is to proceed directly to your newly installed forum.
Note that you should delete, move or rename the install directory before you use your board. If this directory is still present, only the Administration Control Panel (ACP) will be accessible.
This finalizes the phpBB3 manual installation.
