You can easily manage several websites from a consolidated platform thanks to WordPress Multisite tool. Though many people have several WordPress websites, not all of them know about it. This is precisely why we are here to explain how it works and how to set up WordPress multisite. With this guideline article, we are going to explain setting up WordPress multisite for both new and existing websites.
Let’s begin with the definition of WordPress Multisite. Well, WordPress Multisite is a platform that allows you to run, administer and manage several WordPress websites and blogs after installing WordPress once and for all. You can also create a new WordPress website instantly besides your existing website and run them with the same WordPress account credentials. Moreover, the Multisite platform also provides advanced settings and features to customise all websites or blogs owned by you from the same platform.
Instead of running multiple standalone WordPress blogs and websites running them from a consolidated platform like WordPress Multisite has its specific advantages. Let’s have a look at some of them.
In spite of the wide array of benefits, WordPress Multisite is not always useful for all users. Let’s have a look at some of the key disadvantages of WordPress Multisite network.
You may have multiple WordPress websites or blogs but that doesn’t qualify you for having WordPress Multisite. To manage several websites from a single dashboard you also have several quality third-party tools. As per the experts from leading WordPress development services, for the following user scenarios using WordPress Multisite looks credible.
As a technical limitation, we have already pointed out that all websites in WordPress Multisite share the same resources. To mitigate this technical limitation, you need to keep strong arrangements on other aspects. Here we mention some key technical requirements for WordPress Multisite.
Now that you have come to know about all the pros, cons and technical requirements of WordPress Multisite, it is up to you to decide whether it suits your purpose or not. In case you find Multisite network appropriate for managing your WordPress websites, go through the following steps to set it up.
Let’s begin with a caution. If you have WordPress website up, running and fetching business for you, don’t put it into Multisite experiment. Rather start with a fresh website or clone. It takes a few seconds to start with a fresh site. When this website starts running, enable WordPress Multisite and add other domains. Before adding your existing website, don’t forget to take a full backup.
Now, we will explain how you can enable Multisite mode. You have to begin by changing the WordPress configuration at wp-config.php. After logging into the server with the help of a text editor open the wp-config.php.
Now, you need to get hold of the SFTP credentials under the Options menu. Now using this credentials login and enable WordPress Multisite with subdomains.
The following picture shows a wp-config.php file opened in the HTML dir:
Later, find out the bit that says:
/* That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */
Here, above this we will add the following codes:
/** Multisite */
define(‘WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE’, true);
After refreshing the admin page you have to find out the Tools menu and under this the Network Setup option. Under the Network Setup section, you can either decide to opt for Subdomains or Subdirectories. After choosing the Subdomains option you can also provide the names of your Multisite network websites.
Following this just tap on the Install button.
As soon as you clicked on the “Install” button, WordPress will produce some configuration code that will be added in the wp-config.php and .htaccess.
The process is quite simple except that after the installation WordPress may require some validations and this may lead to showing an error mentioning a missing “wildcard domains”. This is nothing but the wildcard entry you need to have in the server DNS. To avoid this add the hostname record directed to your web server in the DNS configuration tool.
Just return to the wp-config.php, and make the following additions as shown below.
This is what we ended up having in our wp-config.php:
After saving these changes in the wp-config.php the Multisite network is enabled and fully configured. You just need to log in to find the “My sites” section in the dashboard. Now you have fully activated WordPress Multisite with subdomains feature ready for use.
WordPress Multisite comes as a superb tool for managing multiple WordPress websites from the same dashboard. Though it may not be effective for all niches of websites, for many it can be a highly effective web admin tool.
WRITTEN BY: Jeegnasa Mudsa
Jeegnasa Mudsa is Executive Director at CMARIX Technolabs Pvt. Ltd. a leading eCommerce development company with 15+ years experience. A blend of true Engineer and…
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