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### Before Installing

Before you can begin installing YaBB, there are a few basic things you must know: chmod (file permissions), FTP client usage, and uploading files in ASCII and binary mode. It would also be useful for you to know basic Perl programming and HTML. If you think you already know these things, you may skip to the next session. Otherwise, let's start here....

1. The first thing you need is a host that supports Perl. Hosts like Tripod, AngelFire, and Geocities generally do not. For a list of hosts that do, check the YaBB Chat and Support Community. Most hosts' FAQ pages will say if they do or do not.
2. So now that you've got a host, you'll need to get an FTP client. FTP clients allow you to connect to the FTP server that your host provides. Through the FTP server, you will install YaBB. For Windows users, we recommend SmartFTP or WS_FTP. For others, go to Download.com or similar sites to download a client for your system.
3. Now that you have an FTP client, the only thing left to learn about is chmod. Chmod (change mode) is a process that only Unix, Linux, and other *nix web hosts support; if you host doesn't say it's a Windows host, then it's probably one of those. This sets permissions on files. These permissions include reading, writing, and executing. You use your ftp client to chmod, and how you do so in every client is different. In many of them, all you have to do is right-click on a file, select "Chmod" or "Set Permissions," and then input the chmod number or choose the proper check boxes. Simple.
4. Verify that you have the following: FTP client, web hosting account, Perl on the web host, 1mb+ free disk space on your web hosting account, an email server(such as SMTP) or sendmail on your web host, a text editor, and a web browser.