I used mod_rewrite via a .htaccess file when I was on a shared server. I would assume that many good linux shared hosts would allow .htaccess being as it's a good way to customize 404 errors as well.

As for now being on a dedicated server, I've stuck to what I know, and am still using an .htaccess file in the /home/daniweb/www/techtalkforums/ directory. There are other threads around here showing just how I accomplished this. (I think they refer back to when these forums were using phpBB however.)