I want to set up a forum similar to this one (don't worry, totally different subject). I have had a quick look at the Simple Machines website where it says you can download the software to build such a forum. What I don't quite understand is: When you download the software does that mean or assume that you will be hosting the website (with forum) yourself, or do you build the forum on a local machine using their software and then upload the built forum to a 3rd party web host. Also, will all web hosts have the correct software running to enable such a forum to work.
Apologies if this sounds like a really dumb question, I am just confused how the whole thing works. Do you also need to be running MySQL as well, locally or on the web host???? Can anyone explain in laymans terms how the whole process of setting up such a thing works.
Cheers
Mo