• This topic is for Drupal versions 4.6, 4.7, and 5.x, although some menu paths will be slightly different for pre-5.x versions. 

  The purpose of this page is to:

  • List the options for setting up private forums.
  • Describe one method to set up private forums.
  • Describe one method to set up forum moderators.
  • Describe one method to make private-side web sites.
  • Describe how to view a list of forum moderators.
  • List references to other articles on the topic.

  A private forum is one which is only available to registered members, or to only a certain class of users (or 'members'). A private-side web site is when a section of a web site is only accessible to a certain class of users. New users to Drupal often look for the functionality to create private forums in the forum module. Why isn't it there? The root of it, in my opinion, is that Drupal divides its modules by functionality rather than by specific use. The functionality is access control; the use is for private forums. The reason Drupal does this, is so that the functionality can be applied not just for one use, the forums, but for any use across the web site, including books, pages, stories, and whole private-side web sites.

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Courtesy : http://drupal.org