Nether portals

[sstevenlynch]

I figured I'd ask here, trying to ask a question in game seems to be a practice in futility. Anyway, I made a nether portal, but it's not working. What do I have to do to get to the nether?

[follet8]

So... First step in making a nether portal:
Place obsidian at the #. ( .. = air)
..##.. /\
#....# |
#....# | height
#....# |
..##.. \/
<------>
width
if you did this right, next step : light a fire up inside that oval.
If noisy violet moving things appear, it's activated.
Last step, step into it and wait as your screen turns violet.
Spawn in the nether...
There you go! You're in the nether and ready to get some glowstone!