Getting Started with XF (Hosting and more)

[Divinum Fiat]

Okay all, I'm getting ready to get my license here and I have some questions on which steps to take exactly.

I am currently using Host Gator for my WP Membership site. There won't be much to transfer so my hosting with HG will be basic.

Can someone tell me if I'm on the right track with this hosting package (starting from scratch)?

VPS:
CPU: 0.56 GHZ
RAM: 384 MB
Disk Space: 10 GB
Bandwidth: 250 GB

The second package up is this:

VPS:
CPU: 0.84 GHZ
RAM: 576 MB
Disk Space: 22 GB
Bandwidth: 375 GB

Will the first package be sufficient to get me started?

As far as lay-out (theme?) goes the only forum I have found so far that I like is http://general-forums.com. There is another layout I like a lot, but it's a vB site (sorry), http://www.zenhex.com (although I do not like the colors on either of these).

Does XF install the software on my server and does anyone know how I can get my site to look like the above?

And lastly, I'm planning to buy a forum that fits well with my niche to help get my forum started. Does anyone know a source that sells forums or has anyone used http://www.paidforumposting.com?

Thanks!

 

[Sadik B]

Hi BP,

As a general advice to you, I would suggest not trying too many things at once. My suggestion is first get the forum up and running as Task 1. Once it is setup and you have the categories defined, then Task 2 should be to try and install a style you like. Once all of that is done, Task 3 can be installing Addons like Jaxel's Portal which will allow you to publish posts to frontpage. Take it one at a time else it's quite easy to get overwhelmed...

 

[Divinum Fiat]

No kidding, sadikb, it has taken me 9 months to run through BuddyPress, SimplePress, then research vB vs IPB vs phpBB and all the others. The reason XF wasn't on the radar was because I was researching the biggest boards and XF wasn't listed. So glad someone on the WF pointed me in the right direction. And you're right, I can get a bit over analytical...thanks for putting me in check, needed that.

 

[erich37]

BuddyPress?

LOL, I have run through BuddyPress for about a year until I recognized it is totally crap.
For hosting, I would recommend to use all-inkl.com