Building a new site

[billdo]

Well XP took a dump on me and now I am having to rebuild my system.

Linux all the way this time.

I previously was using IPB but have become tiresome of all the costs associated with it ie. yearly license, cost of gallery, blog, premium templates.

So now I have chosen to use SMF, Joomla, and some sort of gallery and a download and upload system.

I already have the forum picked out "SMF"
and the CMS "Joomla"

now all I need is ideas on a gallery ie. SMF gallery lite, coppermine?

Which one is easier to install and administer.

I also need an upload and download system for my users who would like to store files and who do not have access to my FTP server. Any suggestions would be helpful.


Now is it best to install with just one database for SMF and Joomla, or would you recommend using more than one database. This is going to be a fresh install so I am open to all suggestions to make this install as smooth as possible.

Also do you have an online tutorial system? I have looked here and there but did not come across one.

[billdo]

I also would like to add a blog.   

[Kindred]

Personally, if you are using Joomla, I would say use Gallery 2.1.2 and the gallery 2.0.13 bridge component.

Joomla has docman and remository for downloads

Joomla has some nice blog components, including one that build and wordpress blog within joomla.

As for one versus 2 databases...   that's really up to you. Personally, I have 3 (one for smf, one for joomla and one for gallery2), but I know alot of people who have joomla and smf in the same database.   Of course, you may be required to use one database, depending on your control panel/SQL interface.

[Panzer-]

Same thing happened to me about the Windows crash, im with Linux now as well

I suggest getting a gllery extension for joomla from joomla.org. Youll need to edit a few files but everything else should integrate in. Alternatively you could use the gallery lite, http://www.smfhacks.com

[mclane]

I run a joomla/SMF site. We use the SMF Gallery lite. I like that I can control access to the gallery that way. We use docman on Joomla for downloads, but the attachments on SMF would work fine as well.

Adam