⭐ Course Overview

This course teaches you everything needed to install, configure, secure, and launch a XenForo forum website — from server setup to launch and optimization.

🎯 Target Audience

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  Beginners setting up XenForo for the first time

  
  


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  Web developers building community forums

  
  


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  Business owners creating member communities

  
  


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  IT professionals managing forum platforms

  
  

🛠 Prerequisites

Before starting:

✔ A web hosting account (cPanel/DirectAdmin)

✔ Domain name

✔ FTP access or file manager

✔ XenForo purchase/download

✔ Basic familiarity with web hosting

📚 Course Curriculum

🌐 Module 1 — Introduction to XenForo

Lesson 1: What is XenForo?

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  Features of XenForo

  
  


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  Comparison with other forum platforms

  
  

Lesson 2: Licenses & Legal

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  Where to get XenForo

  
  


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  License keys & limits

  
  

🖥 Module 2 — Server & Hosting Setup

Lesson 3: Choosing Hosting

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  Shared hosting vs VPS

  
  


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  Requirements (PHP, MySQL, webserver)

  
  

Lesson 4: Domain Configuration

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  Pointing domain to hosting

  
  


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  DNS basics

  
  

Lesson 5: Preparing Server

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  Installing Apache / Nginx

  
  


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  Required PHP extensions

  
  

📂 Module 3 — XenForo Installation

Lesson 6: Uploading Files

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  FTP vs cPanel file manager

  
  

Lesson 7: Database Creation

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  MySQL/MariaDB database setup

  
  

Lesson 8: Running Installer

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  Step-by-step XenForo installer

  
  


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  Configuring database info

  
  

Lesson 9: Admin Account Setup

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  Creating admin user

  
  


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  Login & security setup

  
  

⚙️ Module 4 — XenForo Configuration

Lesson 10: General Options

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  Site title, description

  
  


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  URL settings

  
  

Lesson 11: Forum Structure

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  Creating categories & forums

  
  


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  Permissions & user groups

  
  

Lesson 12: Styles & Appearance

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  Installing themes

  
  


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  Customizing templates

  
  

🔒 Module 5 — Security & Optimization

Lesson 13: Security Essentials

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  Hardening PHP settings

  
  


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  htaccess protections

  
  

Lesson 14: SSL/HTTPS

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  Installing SSL

  
  


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  Browser padlock validation

  
  

Lesson 15: Performance Tuning

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  Caching options

  
  


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  CDN setup basics

  
  

💬 Module 6 — Community Management

Lesson 16: Moderation Tools

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  User warnings

  
  


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  Thread management

  
  

Lesson 17: User Engagement

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  Awards system

  
  


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  Reputation settings

  
  

💼 Module 7 — Plugins & Add-Ons

Lesson 18: Installing Add-Ons

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  Marketplace overview

  
  


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  Popular plugins

  
  

Lesson 19: Custom Integration

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  Social login

  
  


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  Media embeds

  
  

🚀 Module 8 — Launch & Maintenance

Lesson 20: Final Testing

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  QA checklist

  
  


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  Testing registrations

  
  

Lesson 21: Backups

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  Scheduled backups

  
  


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  Database backup best practices

  
  

Lesson 22: Upgrades

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  Updating XenForo

  
  


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  Add-on compatibility

  
  

🎓 Final Project

✔ Deploy a full XenForo forum

✔ Custom structure, permissions & themes

✔ Secured & optimized installation

📜 Completion Certificate

Certificate: XenForo Installation & Management Specialist