WordPress 3.0 multisites lets you easily publish multiple sites, on multiple domains, within one installation. This is a time-saving option for those of us who need to manage multiple separate domains running WordPress, but it does take a little knowledge and file access to set up, and at the moment isn’t for anyone who doesn’t consider themselves technically proficient.
You will need to be able to modify your vhosts file in order to do this, but once done you will have a very flexible and powerful server.
This article is written for 3.0 alpha, as of the current build on 19th March 2010.
Multi sites mode
- Install Wordpress 3.0 and install as a normal Wordpress.
- Add define(’WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE’, true); near the top of wp-config.php
- Log into the admin go to the tools/Nertwork menu.
- If it asks you to deactivate all plug-ins do so otherwise go straight ahead and set up multi sites as sub-domains and fill in the other details as needed as needed.
- Make a note of the changes needed to wp-config.php and .htaccess and make the changes.
- You should now be in multi-site mode.
Adding a new domain
- Now we’re in multisite mode login as admin go to super admin/sites
- Add a new site – the address can be anything you like just make it unique and make it something you can remember so we can find it easier in the db.
- Make sure your domain is pointing at the server if not do so and wait for it to propagate.
- Add Vhost alias to the root domain. So if in the Vhost file you have ServerName mywordpres3root.com you would add ServerAlias mynewwordpress.com beneath it. Alternatively, you can use a wildcard here, but in our implementations there are good reasons why we prefer to specify the host aliases.
- Open up the db for editing and add a new row to wp_site table
- site_id, domain and path.
- i. site_id, will be a new unique id, remember it
- ii. domain, should be set to the new domain name added above.
- iii. path should be /
- site_id, domain and path.
- Change the row in wp_blogs that matches your new site and make a note of the blog_id.
- Change site_id to the new site_id created above.
- Change domain to our new domain name.
- Open up wp_[blog_id]_options table.
- Change siteurl to the new domain name.
- Change home to match the new domain name.
- Change the fileupload_url to match the new domain.
- Your new site should now be ready, you’ll need to go in and set all the options for the domain now. If you wanted a clone of the root sites options you could copy all the rows in wp_sitemeta with a site_id matching the site you wanted to clone and just change the site_id to the new site.
The instructions above are obviously given without any guarantee – use at your own risk, especially if converting your site from single site to multisites. If you have any feedback or better approaches then do let us know in the comments below.
Wordpress 3.0 with multiple domains.
Multi sites mode
1.
Install Wordpress 3.0 and install as a normal Wordpress.
2.
Add define(’WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE’, true); near the top of wp-config.php
3.
Log into the admin go to the tools/Nertwork menu.
4.
If it asks you to deactivate all plug-ins do so otherwise go straight ahead and set up
multi sites as sub-domains and fill in the other details as needed as needed.
5. Make a note of the changes needed to wp-config.php and .htaccess and make the
changes.
6. You should now be in multi-site mode.
Adding a new domain
1. Now we’re in multisite mode login as admin go to super admin/sites
2. Add a new site the address can be anything you like just make it unique and make it
something you can remember so we can find it easier in the db.
3. Make sure your domain is pointing at the server if not do so and wait for it to
replicate.
4. Add Vhost alias to the root domain. So if in the Vhost file you have ServerName
mywordpres3root.com you would add ServerAlias mynewwordpress.com beneath it.
5. Open up the db for editing and add a new row to wp_site table
a. site_id, domain and path.
i. site_id, will be a new unique id, remember it
ii.domain, should be set to the new domain name added above.
iii.
path should be /
6. Change the row in wp_blogs that matches your new site and make a note of the
blog_id.
a. Change site_id to the new site_id created above.
b. Change domain to our new domain name.
7. Open up wp_[blog_id]_options table.
a. Change siteurl to the new domain name.
b. Change home to match the new domain name.
c. Change the fileupload_url to match the new domain.
8. Your new site should now be ready, you’ll need to go in and set all the options for
the domain now. If you wanted a clone of the root sites options you’d could copy all
the rows in wp_sitemeta with a site_id matching the site you wanted to clone and just
change the site_id to the new site.
Multi sites mode
1.
Install Wordpress 3.0 and install as a normal Wordpress.
2.
Add define(’WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE’, true); near the top of wp-config.php
3.
Log into the admin go to the tools/Nertwork menu.
4.
If it asks you to deactivate all plug-ins do so otherwise go straight ahead and set up
multi sites as sub-domains and fill in the other details as needed as needed.
5. Make a note of the changes needed to wp-config.php and .htaccess and make the
changes.
6. You should now be in multi-site mode.
Adding a new domain
1. Now we’re in multisite mode login as admin go to super admin/sites
2. Add a new site the address can be anything you like just make it unique and make it
something you can remember so we can find it easier in the db.
3. Make sure your domain is pointing at the server if not do so and wait for it to
replicate.
4. Add Vhost alias to the root domain. So if in the Vhost file you have ServerName
mywordpres3root.com you would add ServerAlias mynewwordpress.com beneath it.
5. Open up the db for editing and add a new row to wp_site table
a. site_id, domain and path.
i. site_id, will be a new unique id, remember it
ii.domain, should be set to the new domain name added above.
iii.
path should be /
6. Change the row in wp_blogs that matches your new site and make a note of the
blog_id.
a. Change site_id to the new site_id created above.
b. Change domain to our new domain name.
7. Open up wp_[blog_id]_options table.
a. Change siteurl to the new domain name.
b. Change home to match the new domain name.
c. Change the fileupload_url to match the new domain.
8. Your new site should now be ready, you’ll need to go in and set all the options for
the domain now. If you wanted a clone of the root sites options you’d could copy all
the rows in wp_sitemeta with a site_id matching the site you wanted to clone and just
change the site_id to the new site.
Categorised as: Wordpress
That good instruction for set up multisite on wp3. thank you for advice
I found that the latest and greatest update to the best blogging platform does not pack in much features which the end user will find useful. That said I thoroughly understand that I am speaking for myself here and want your inputs about what you liked about this update.
When someone’s email includes the letters SEO I always get suspicious of your motives. Would like to give your inputs on why you commented on this article without really referring to it properly?
I setup Wp 3 Multisite With Multiple Domains all works well, just I`m not able to use the dashbord from the sec. domain. It should have something to do with your point 8 in the description. How I try this?
Looking to use one install of wp3 to manage multisites…here’s the twist…and if it’s doable…
A./Have wp3 manage multiple domains on the same host/server
B./Each domain have it’s own database
For example I have a primary domain hosted at godaddy with several add-on domains (not sub-domains). Each domain address is unique and can be transferred/pointed anywhere after it has been un-add-on.
Have just started venturing into wp…so real nubie…but learning fast…like in point one above, I have loaded and unloaded wp3 4 times now, but I see my error now, I added the code underneath the existing code in the htaccess file.
I have several other domains hosted at host gator and other host sites, I don’t expect wp3 to multisite between different hosts (would be nice though), currently each site has it’s own installation of wp.
I have successfully installed wp3 and activated the multisite section, was unable to utilise my other domains.
I followed your directions, I think. However, I was unable to see the new domain and blog when looking in the Sites panel. The other showed but not the new one. It looks to have shown all ID 1, but not 2 of the new one I made. So I was unable to add new users. Everything else seemed to be function fine. I guess this is part of MU, but I was not even able to add a new user in the new domains blog.
I got it to show backup in the networks Sites by changing the site_id back to 1. Everything seems to still be functioning properly.
Well after trying to log in the admin panel it just kept redirecting me back to login. So I changed it back. But, I did figure out where to add new users under the Super Admin > Site.
Unfortunately, I’m unable to upload any media at all. The subdomains sites work but not the SiteID 2 site. I changed the fileupload_url to “http://site.com” as well as trying “http://site.com/files”. No luck. Just security Errors, “File type does not meet security guidelines. Try another.” even though it works on the other subdomain sites.
Thanks. That is the site that I had been following. Turns out there was a subtle (not currently documented) item that I was missing: http://wordpress.org/support/topic/417772
When entering the domain into the domain page for mapping be sure to NOT include http:// so in my example from above one would enter project1.com instead of http://project1.com . And then from the hosting provider just point project1.com at the same directory in which the wp.domain.com domain/wordpress install is pointed.
@Dan: I found this online tutorial pretty much perfect for setting up different domains on my multisite installation:
http://ottopress.com/2010/wordpress-3-0-multisite-domain-mapping-tutorial/
Mark, thanks for the link – and it’s worth pointing out the different approaches:
Domain mapping is where you use rewrite rules to get to the new address. Multiple domains is where each domain is fully aware of itself. From a use perspective this doesn’t make much difference, but from a server admin point of view it does. With our approach there’s no plugin running, no overhead, nothing – so it has some advantages in terms of performance, albeit slight. It’s also more ‘core’ friendly in that it just works as WP expects to work.
Both approaches are valid, but are based on different requirements. We’ll release a plugin at some point to automate the process – we’re already using it internally, but that doesn’t mean it’s ready for general use!
Hope that helped.
but, if you have a plugin to automate this processes, would you not then have overhead as well?
No, there’s no real overhead because it only does something when setting up a domain. If you deactivate the plugin the domains continue – this is different to domain mapping plugins where there is a little bit overhead.
Perfect Instructions.
Thanks!
I have been reading several sites and have not been able to figure it out yet. Here is what I am attempting to do, that might not be doable w/ WP3 but seems like it should.
WP3 master site: wp.domain.com
Multi layered site: wp.domain.com/project1
Okay, that all works well, but now project1 would really like to have project1.com . What site areas need to be changed (domain, path, siteurl, home) in order to get this to work. And, also, then on the DNS side, what do you set for the director of the project1 site domain name?
Thanks for any help, I run several wordpress sites for friends and the use of WP3 MU would really help cut down on my administration if I can get it figured out.
Thanks for the info, great stuff.
I’m really struggling to get this to work on pre-existing domains running a blog in a sub directory.
So, I want to control all my blogs from one site: sites.mysite.com
I want to control the blog of each of my existing sites that has blog url of myothersite1.com/news myothersite2.com/news etc
Is this possible?
I am guessing I will have to still install wordpress in each /news directory on each site?
Many thanks
Mr M
Hi guys, thanks for the article!
Can’t wait to try the new Wordpress 3.0 out with the multisite option! I’ve working with wordpress MU for a while but it was doing my head in!
Make sure you’ve got all site ids, etc, properly set up, and have got all settings correct.
Also check the theme you’re using, and for any plugins that have issues with multisites mode – a *lot* do.
Hi, great thanks for this instruction.
I did everything exactly you discribed and the admin area is working with the new domain. But not the home site. There is only a blank site.
Do you have any Idea what can be wrong?