Where Does phpBB Store Attachments and Config?
phpBB attachment folder and site config paths for Apache installs on Linux forum server host deployments.
Last updated
phpBB keeps attachments in a files folder inside the forum root. Avatars and thumbnails sit beside them under images. That tree is the bulk of disk growth on file heavy boards.
Connection settings live in config.php at the forum root with database passwords. Back up files, the config file, and a database dump together. The database maps hashed filenames to posts, so all three must match. Files alone leave orphaned blobs. Thumbnails regenerate from originals when missing. Prune orphaned files after large imports.
Where phpBB stores this, by platform
/var/www/phpbb/files
Attachment root with hashed file names. Serve with web user ownership. Copy whole tree with the database for migration.
/var/www/phpbb/config.php
Database credentials and table prefix for the board. Restrict read access to the web user. Keep a copy off the server with dumps.
Frequently asked questions
what do i back up for a phpBB move
Copy the files folder with config.php and a MySQL dump. Attachments use hashed names tracked by the database. Files alone without the database leave orphaned blobs.
where is the phpBB database configured
Open config.php in the forum root to read database host and credentials. Attachments stay in files regardless. Keep the config private and off version control.
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