Activating WordPress Multisite

1. WORDPRESS
MULTISITE/ Creating a network of websites from
one WordPress installation that shares
themes, plugins and users…
NETWORK*
*This session comes with a 100% money back
guarantee. If you don’t like it, Andrea Rennick
(@andrea_r) will give you your money back.**
@angiemeeker | AngieMeekerDesigns.com | MyNameIsAngie.com **She may or may not be aware of this.

2. Why use
multisite?
•To create an unlimited number of sites
with one WordPress installation
•To share users, themes and plugins
across those sites
•To manage those sites within one Dashboard
@angiemeeker | AngieMeekerDesigns.com | MyNameIsAngie.com

3. Examples
of multisite BEST BUY
in the wild http://stores.bestbuy.com/527/
BOWLING GREEN
https://blogs.bgsu.edu/
YOUR CRIME SITE
http://www.yourcrimesite.com
@angiemeeker | AngieMeekerDesigns.com | MyNameIsAngie.com

4. BEFORE YOU START…Decide on your
format
Your child sites will either use subdomains:
www.subdomain.yourdomain.com
or folders (also called subdirectories or paths)
www.yourdomain.com/folder
If you want to use subdomains (which I do), your host must support the use of wildcard subdomains.
*.yourdomain.com
And, you’ll need to add a wildcard subdomain pointing to the folder of your installation.
@angiemeeker | AngieMeekerDesigns.com | MyNameIsAngie.com
If they don’t, you have to use folders.

5. BEFORE YOU START…get permission
You’ll need to make edits to your wp-config and
htaccess files, so be sure you can both see them
and edit them.
These are two single files located in the root of
your WordPress installation.
@angiemeeker | AngieMeekerDesigns.com | MyNameIsAngie.com

6. Backup.*
*Really. Do it.
@angiemeeker | AngieMeekerDesigns.com | MyNameIsAngie.com

7. Multisite is like your wife.
She’s already in bed,
you just have to turn her on.
define('WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE', true);
in wp-config.php
before /* That's all stop editing */
@angiemeeker | AngieMeekerDesigns.com | MyNameIsAngie.com

8. LOG BACK IN.
EXPAND
TOOLS.
CLICK ON
“Network Setup”
@angiemeeker | AngieMeekerDesigns.com | MyNameIsAngie.com

9. @angiemeeker | AngieMeekerDesigns.com | MyNameIsAngie.com

10. @angiemeeker | AngieMeekerDesigns.com | MyNameIsAngie.com

11. paste into your wp-config.php
right under the other stuff:
define( 'MULTISITE', true );
define( 'SUBDOMAIN_INSTALL', true );
$base = '/';
//define( 'DOMAIN_CURRENT_SITE', 'example.com' );
//define( 'PATH_CURRENT_SITE', '/' );
//define( 'SITE_ID_CURRENT_SITE', 1 );
//define( 'BLOG_ID_CURRENT_SITE', 1 );
@angiemeeker | AngieMeekerDesigns.com | MyNameIsAngie.com

12. REPLACE YOUR CURRENT
.HTACCESS:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index.php$ - [L]
# uploaded files
RewriteRule ^files/(.+) wp-includes/ms-files.php?file=$1 [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -f [OR]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -d
RewriteRule ^ - [L]
RewriteRule . index.php [L]
@angiemeeker | AngieMeekerDesigns.com | MyNameIsAngie.com

13. Add Two folders
to wp-content:
BLOGS.DIR
MU-PLUGINS
@angiemeeker | AngieMeekerDesigns.com | MyNameIsAngie.com

14. Log back in.
That’s it! You’re all Multisite’d up.
@angiemeeker | AngieMeekerDesigns.com | MyNameIsAngie.com

15. @angiemeeker | AngieMeekerDesigns.com | MyNameIsAngie.com

16. Multsite User Roles
• Super Admins: Can do everything across the entire network
• Administrators: Masters of their own…websites, but can’t install themes or
plugins. If Super Admins give them the option, they may be able to activate
existing plugins and choose from given themes.
• Subscribers: All users are automatically added as subscribers to the parent
site.
@angiemeeker | AngieMeekerDesigns.com | MyNameIsAngie.com

17. LET’S VISIT A MULTISITE LIVE:
WWW.YOURCRIMESITE.COM
@angiemeeker | AngieMeekerDesigns.com | MyNameIsAngie.com

18. RECOMMENDED PLUGINS…
WordPress MU Domain Mapping
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wordpress-mu-domain-mapping/
(to give your child sites their own top-level domain)
WordPress MU Sitewide Tags Pages
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wordpress-mu-sitewide-tags/
(to start the process of aggregating content to the parent site from within the network)
WP MultiSite Replicator
http://wpebooks.com/replicator/
(to quickly replicate an existing, perhaps default, site within the network)
@angiemeeker | AngieMeekerDesigns.com | MyNameIsAngie.com

19. TO LEARN MORE…
http://codex.wordpress.org/Create_A_Network
http://wpebooks.com/
@andrea_r  taught me everything I know about Multisite
Coming Soon: www.membershipgameplan.com
(On using Multisite, s2Member & BuddyPress)
This Presentation:
http://slidesha.re/LZT6T3
@angiemeeker | AngieMeekerDesigns.com | MyNameIsAngie.com