We've looked at a lot in this chapter and covered everything you need to know to install and carry out the initial configuration of the vBulletin software.

If you are installing the vBulletin software for the first time, then take your time, especially when editing the configuration files. (Keep a backup in case you make a mistake!) It can be annoying to get to the installation wizard stage only to find that you made some simple mistakes early on.

If you are upgrading from another discussion board, then be extra careful and take extra precautions—you want to make sure that everything goes back properly and that members can't do or see more than they should!

Also, once you have vBulletin up and running, take time to familiarize yourself with the software. A book like this is very useful, but it can only go so far. Work your way through the menus and options. Don't feel that you need to make changes—just seeing what's available and getting to grips with the defaults can be educational.

Finally, if things do go wrong, then remember that along with purchasing software you also bought support that you can always fall back on if you get stuck or if the worst happens.