How can I set up XenForo forum on my website?

T

ThemeCrafter

New member
Hi everyone,

I'm interested in setting up a XenForo forum on my website. The site is focused on Stardew Valley content, and I’d like to add a community forum where fans can discuss the game, share tips, and ask questions.

I'm new to forum software, so I have a few questions before I proceed:
  • What are the basic server requirements for XenForo?
  • Can I install it in a subdirectory like /community/ without affecting my main site?
  • Any tips for first-time setup or essential add-ons I should consider?
I’m using WordPress for the main site right now. Would it be okay to run XenForo alongside it, or are there known conflicts I should watch out for?

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
It's possible to do what you want. My opinion is I'd rather consolidate everything within Xenforo. There's ways to create a home page for content within Xenforo itself, or you can further expand it, by using addons by @Bob

Xenforo 2.2 & 2.3 has the function to turn a node into an articles format. You could try that, if that doesn't suit you, you could use the Articles addon: https://xenaddons.com/products/categories/articles.3/

Which allows you to put up game content guides, etc.

The items management one would seem to suit this type of forum: https://xenaddons.com/products/item-management-system.35/

If you want to create an item database of the game itself.

You can start on basic shared hosting, and move the board up as it grows. I recommend KnownHost: https://www.knownhost.com/web-hosting

Host the domain on a separate service like NameCheap or PorkBun. You just have to update domain's DNS settings whenever you're upgrading to a new server.

I think it's more important to consolidate it all on Xenforo, it's easier to manage, easier for access between the 'site' and 'forum' content, as it's the same account users would use.
 
Upvote 1 Downvote
ThemeCrafter said:
conflicts
Click to expand...
It's expensive or hard to match the styles.
ThemeCrafter said:
Would it be okay to run XenForo alongside
Click to expand...
yes

Wordpress alternatives would be:

(1) run a native articles forum on the home page node - this https://xenforo.com/community/forums/have-you-seen/ - but you'd run it under the HOME tab.

(2) AMS - https://xenaddons.com/products/categories/articles.3/

(3) Xenporta,
XF2 [8WR] XenPorta 2 (Portal) PRO Jaxel

XF2 [8WR] XenPorta 2 (Portal) PRO

Portal and featured threads. Add-on from 8WAYRUN.

(4) [XenCustomize] News Publisher: Home Page, Portal & CMS
[XenCustomize] News Publisher: Home Page, Portal & CMS V

[XenCustomize] News Publisher: Home Page, Portal & CMS

A powerful news CMS for XenForo with unique layouts, modern design, and categorized news on index.
  • Veer
  • article cms featured content home page landig page news ticker portal publishing rss feed xencustomize
  • Add-ons [2.x]

and there must be others ...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Dragonfruit said:
It's possible to do what you want. My opinion is I'd rather consolidate everything within Xenforo. There's ways to create a home page for content within Xenforo itself, or you can further expand it, by using addons by @Bob

Xenforo 2.2 & 2.3 has the function to turn a node into an articles format. You could try that, if that doesn't suit you, you could use the Articles addon: https://xenaddons.com/products/categories/articles.3/

Which allows you to put up game content guides, etc.

The items management one would seem to suit this type of forum: https://xenaddons.com/products/item-management-system.35/

If you want to create an item database of the game itself.

You can start on basic shared hosting, and move the board up as it grows. I recommend KnownHost: https://www.knownhost.com/web-hosting

Host the domain on a separate service like NameCheap or PorkBun. You just have to update domain's DNS settings whenever you're upgrading to a new server.

I think it's more important to consolidate it all on Xenforo, it's easier to manage, easier for access between the 'site' and 'forum' content, as it's the same account users would use.
Click to expand...
Makes sense. Keeping everything inside XenForo definitely simplifies user management and navigation. I’ve seen sites struggle with separate CMS and forum logins — having one unified system is a huge plus. Also, thanks for linking the Articles and Item Management addons — those look perfect for game-related content.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Thanks! AMS looks really useful — seems perfect for a structured layout.
Digital Doctor said:
It's expensive or hard to match the styles.

yes

Wordpress alternatives would be:

(1) run a native articles forum on the home page node - this https://xenforo.com/community/forums/have-you-seen/ - but you'd run it under the HOME tab.

(2) AMS - https://xenaddons.com/products/categories/articles.3/

(3) Xenporta,
XF2 [8WR] XenPorta 2 (Portal) PRO Jaxel

XF2 [8WR] XenPorta 2 (Portal) PRO

Portal and featured threads. Add-on from 8WAYRUN.

(4) [XenCustomize] News Publisher: Home Page, Portal & CMS
[XenCustomize] News Publisher: Home Page, Portal & CMS V

[XenCustomize] News Publisher: Home Page, Portal & CMS

A powerful news CMS for XenForo with unique layouts, modern design, and categorized news on index.
  • Veer
  • article cms featured content home page landig page news ticker portal publishing rss feed xencustomize
  • Add-ons [2.x]

and there must be others ...
Click to expand...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Back
Top Bottom