Simple Machines Forum (SMF) is a free, professional-grade software package that allows you to set up your own online community. It is written in PHP and uses a MySQL database to store data.
In this tutorial, we will guide you through the steps to install SMF on NetBSD.
Before you install SMF, you need to have a web server installed on your system. Apache is a popular web server that works well with SMF.
To install Apache on NetBSD, run the following command:
pkg_add apache
Once the installation is complete, start the Apache service:
/usr/pkg/sbin/apachectl start
You can now access the Apache test page by visiting http://localhost in your web browser.
SMF requires a MySQL database to store data. To install MySQL on NetBSD, run the following command:
pkg_add mysql-server
Once the installation is complete, start the MySQL service:
/usr/pkg/bin/mysqld_safe &
You will need to set a root password for MySQL by running the following command:
/usr/pkg/bin/mysqladmin -u root password 'new-password'
Replace 'new-password' with a new strong password.
Download the latest version of SMF from the official website: https://www.simplemachines.org/download/
Once the download is complete, extract the contents of the compressed file to the directory where you want to install SMF. For example, to extract the contents to the /var/www/htdocs/smf/ directory, run the following command:
tar -xzf smf_2-1-rc1_install.tar.gz -C /var/www/htdocs/smf/
You need to set the correct permissions for the SMF files and directories. To do this, run the following commands:
cd /var/www/htdocs/smf/
chmod 777 attachments avatars cache Packages Smileys Themes
chown -R www:www .
You can now install SMF by visiting http://localhost/smf/ in your web browser. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. You will need to enter the MySQL database details, such as database name, username, and password.
Once the installation is complete, you can log in to the admin panel by visiting http://localhost/smf/index.php?action=admin.
Congratulations! You have successfully installed SMF on NetBSD. You can now customize your forum and start building your online community.
If you want to self-host in an easy, hands free way, need an external IP address, or simply want your data in your own hands, give IPv6.rs a try!
Alternatively, for the best virtual desktop, try Shells!
