Installing Vanilla Forums using Softaculous

Vanilla Forums is a lightweight, open‑source discussion platform designed for communities, customer support, and engagement. With Softaculous, you can install Vanilla Forums quickly and easily through cPanel.

• Simple, modern forum software with a clean interface.
• Supports plugins, themes, and multilingual communities.
• Ideal for customer support, Q&A, and online communities.
• Quick one‑click installation via Softaculous.

1. Log in to cPanel.

   • Navigate to the Softaculous Apps Installer section.

2. Search for Vanilla Forums.

   • In the Softaculous dashboard, type Vanilla in the search box.
   • Or browse under Forums → Vanilla Forums.

3. Click Install.

   • The installation page will open.

4. Choose Protocol.

   • Select https:// or https://www if your site has an SSL certificate.
   • Select http:// or http://www if SSL is not installed.

5. Choose Domain.

   • Select the domain where Vanilla Forums will be installed.

6. Set Directory.

   • Leave blank if you want Vanilla Forums installed at the root (e.g., example.com).
   • Enter a folder name (e.g., community) if you want Vanilla Forums installed at example.com/community.

7. Configure Site Settings.

   • Site Name → Enter the title of your forum.
   • Admin Username → Choose a unique username.
   • Admin Password → Use a strong password (Softaculous provides a strength meter or can generate one).
   • Admin Email → Enter the administrator’s email address.

8. Database Settings.

   • Provide a database name or accept the default.
   • Configure table prefix if needed.

9. Advanced Options (Optional).

   • Configure automated backups and rotation.
   • Enable email notifications for updates.
   • Choose auto‑upgrade options for Vanilla Forums.

10. Install.

    • Review settings and click Install.
    • Wait for confirmation. Softaculous will display the Vanilla Forums login URL (e.g., example.com/admin).