Sorry, I'm a total newbie in having and managing website. And now I really want to have my own forum, so please help me.

Where will I find the script and the plugins (if any)? The best place to host it ?
And I don't even know what is apache, MySQL, .... Is there any tutorial or something? I'll appropriate any help or suggestion.
-"I'll eat 'em"-

Thanks!

start with the host as some hosts have easy packages and ready made scripts. I use X10 Hosting who have 2 types of forums I think.

Try to find a host that has Fantastico installer that automatically installs the PHPBB forum script

This is a tip I attended to give you, too.

hey try http://3vindia.info i used it to create a forum for my college a some time back (though it didnt ran, lol), everything ispresinstalled, just select and install

I think IPBFree is the best option you can use. It is the free version of what was used to create this forum.

http://ipbfree.com has friendly staff and is really easy to manage. It is probably the best free forum provider ever made, they are also working on something called Phalanx which will make it even better than this forum. On their home page they have a modification site for all the codes and skins, too.

thx man. this site really help me.
recommendation : http://www.ipbfree.com/register

Ahh... Great. Maybe I'll try it.

Thanks! More site/help would be appreciated.

Setting up a forum is much easier than driving traffic and convincing them to participate and register - this should also be one of your concern. Best of luck on it buddy.

It depends if you want to spend money. IPB free puts their own ads on it and you are given a crappy domain. You'll have to spend a few bucks a month on hosting if you want a good forum with no ads, and a domain name for it

phpBB is a pretty good script and its free im pretty sure. If you look online you can find some good mods and add-ons.

+1 phpBB is best way to start

Try http://www.forumotion.com. You can set up a free Invision forum there.

Yeah, there are open source message board scripts you can use. I forget the name of the one, it looks like Get Paid Forum. I think there is also Drupal, at http://drupal.org/about. If you want to program it yourself then learn PHP and MySQL.

I suggest you get a domain and hosting at some good site: like domain name at godaddy and hosting at hostgator.

Then if you want a free script, then you may use MyBB. They are free and I have used it and am quite satisfied.

If you want to buy a forum script, then go for VBulletin

If you are a newby you should surf the net and learn about a month how these things work, to get started like an expert not like beginner, because making something(a website) is really hard work and promoting.... cash and time.

Good forums are very expensive if you do not 2 the silent way...

This forum script is one of the best.

Good luck!

http://www.forumup.com/ It's a forum maker, you create your own forum site... However here's the only key I know 'RESEARCH'...