The FK'ing Forums

QUICK START — Friendica Installation (Ubuntu 25.04 + PHP 8.4)
A condensed, copy‑paste‑ready version of the full 15‑section guide.

1. System Prep
Code
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install apache2 mariadb-server redis-server unzip git -y
2. PHP 8.4 + Modules
Code
sudo apt install ...

Section 15 — Troubleshooting

15.1 Blank Page

Clear cache:

sudo rm -rf /var/www/phpbb/cache/*

15.2 ACP Not Loading

Disable last extension:

sudo -u www-data php /var/www/phpbb/phpbbcli.php extension:disable vendor/extension

15.3 Email Not Sending

Check:

SMTP settings
DNS (SPF ...

Section 14 — Updating phpBB

14.1 Backup First

Always.

14.2 Upload New Files

Replace everything except:

config.php
/files
/images
/store

14.3 Run Updater

Visit:

Code: Select all

https://forum.domain.tld/install/app.php/update

14.4 Remove Installer

Code: Select all

sudo rm -rf /var/www/phpbb/install

Section 13 — Backups

13.1 Database Backup

Code: Select all

mysqldump -u root -p phpbb > phpbb_backup.sql

13.2 File Backup

Code: Select all

tar -czvf phpbb_files_backup.tar.gz /var/www/phpbb

13.3 Automated Backups

Use cron + systemd timers (optional).

Section 12 — Email Configuration

phpBB supports:

PHP mail()
SMTP

12.1 SMTP Setup

ACP → General → Client Communication → Email Settings

Set:

Use SMTP: Yes
SMTP server: smtp.domain.tld
SMTP port: 587
SMTP authentication: LOGIN
Username/password: your credentials

12.2 Test Email ...

Section 11 — Styles (Themes)

11.1 Installing Styles

Upload to:

/var/www/phpbb/styles/

11.2 Activating Styles

ACP → Customise → Styles → Install

11.3 User Style Selection

ACP → General → Board Settings → Override user style → No

11.4 Style Caching

Clear cache after style ...

Section 10 — Extensions

10.1 Installing Extensions

Upload to:

/var/www/phpbb/ext/vendorname/extensionname/

10.2 Enabling Extensions

ACP → Customise → Extensions → Enable

10.3 Safe Activation Workflow

Upload extension
Enable in ACP
Check ACP loads
Check UCP loads
Check posting ...

Section 9 — Hardening & Security

9.1 File Permissions

phpBB only needs write access to:

/store
/cache
/files
/images/avatars/upload

Set strict permissions:

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/phpbb/{store,cache,files,images/avatars/upload}
sudo chmod 755 /var/www/phpbb

9.2 ...

Section 8 — Post‑Install Configuration

8.1 ACP Login

Access:

https://forum.domain.tld/adm

8.2 Board Settings

ACP → General → Board Settings

Enable board: Yes
Site name: Your forum name
Site description: Optional

8.3 Cookie Settings

ACP → General → Server Configuration → Cookie ...

Section 7 — Running the Installer

Navigate to:

https://forum.example.com/install

Provide:

Database: phpbb
User: phpbb
Password: StrongPassword
Host: localhost
Table prefix: phpbb_

After installation:

Code: Select all

sudo rm -rf /var/www/phpbb/install

The FK'ing Forums

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Quick Start Guide: Ubuntu 25.04

Section 15 — Troubleshooting

Section 14 — Updating phpBB

Section 13 — Backups

Section 12 — Email Configuration

Section 11 — Styles (Themes)

Section 10 — Extensions

Section 9 — Hardening & Security

Section 8 — Post‑Install Configuration

Section 7 — Running the Installer