The forums are pretty easy to setup, do you know which one you want to use?

I wouldn't advice to have the host install it automaticaly. The scripts they have in cpanel are always outdated. Get your hands on the latest release of the script you want to install and do it yourself. Running a forum will mean modding the theme and script afterwards, better learn everything from the start

Can I atleast get the subdomain which I could use alongwith the free webspace that I will get?

With regards,
Mandar Thosar

Check out our Web Hosting forum within the webmaster marketplace. You should be able to get some good deals in there. It's not nice to hijack existing threads with an off-topic question.

Of course, there is always the option of free domain names (http://www.cjb.net)

Their are many free forum hosts out their but you have to ask yourself these questions:

1). Do you want to move to your own server in the future?
If yes it may be cheaper to start of with a small hosting package or make sure that your free hoster allows forum 'dumps' for later on when you want to transfer all your members and posts across when you move to your own hosted server.

2). Make sure you check their Terms of Service (TOS) as one day you might try to login and find your forum no longer exisits due to 'violations' of TOS.

I personally would go for a host (does not need to be expensive) who can start you ouut with a small hosting package and increase it if needs be, also you want to buy a domain name but this is usally free if you sign up to a hosting account go to the forum software main website and download it from their, forum software these days is pretty easy to set up and basically does it for you.

Oh and don't go with InvisionFree they are the worst free forum host of Invision i've ever come across their rude, aragant and never reply to support tickets.