This document introduces WordPress multisite, which allows one WordPress installation to host multiple sites. Key features include being able to update all sites with one click, share plugins and themes across sites, and manage clients' sites from a single dashboard. Instructions are provided on how to set up a WordPress multisite network by modifying wp-config.php and .htaccess files, adding sites, and mapping custom domains. Useful plugins for multisite networks are also listed.

1. Multisite for the Masses

2. richard@automattic.com @richardmtld
Richard Archambault
Happiness Engineer - WordPress.com

3. Multisite? What’s that?
One WordPress installation, many sites

4. •Updating all of your sites? One click!
•Sharing plugins and themes across sites; quick
updates!
•Hosting your clients
•Demo a site to a client: develop on your
multisite, then deploy to their server
•Multilingual sites
Why would I want that?

5. •The big one: WordPress.com
•Canada World Youth
•blogs.law.harvard.edu
•My own sites!
Multisite Examples

6. Ok, how do I activate the
Multisite Goodness?

7. Make a backup!!!!!!!

8. Seriously, make a backup!!!

9. •http://codex.wordpress.org/
Before_You_Create_A_Network
•http://codex.wordpress.org/Create_A_Network
Read this:

10. wp-config.php

11. Network Setup

12. Copy to wp-config.php
and .htaccess

13. My Sites!

14. Adding Sites

15. Wow, new sites in my network!

16. Manage ALL THE SITES!

17. Manage Themes

18. Manage Plugins

19. •They are always on and can’t be
deactivated unless the files are
removed from /mu-plugins/
•loaded and run before normal plugins
•one example: Domain Mapping plugin
Must-use plugins (mu-plugins)

20. Manage Users

21. Domain Mapping

22. •example.com/subsite
•example.com/anothersubsite
•example.com/yetanothersubsite
Instead of:

23. •example.com
•anotherexample.ca
•yetanotherexample.org
•example.com/subsite too!
You can have:

24. •Add the domain to your Parked Domains in
cPanel
• WordPress MU Domain Mapping plugin
•Install and network activate
•move sunrise.php to /wp-content/
•add define( 'SUNRISE', 'on' ); to wp-
config.php
How do I map my domains?

25. • go to Super Admin -> Settings -> Domain Mapping and
add your server’s IP address
• Create the site
• Find the site’s ID
• Add your domains in Settings -> Domains
• make sure to check “Primary”:
How do I map my domains?

26. Networks+ plugin
http://wpebooks.com/networks/

28. •Allows a Multisite network within another
multisite network
•nested subdomains: city.province.domain.com
•top-level domains with their own child sites:
•anotherexample.ca/subsite
•yetanotherexample.com/subsite
Networks+ plugin

29. • Enforce Strong Password
• Hide Welcome Panel for Multisite
• Multisite Bulk User Management
• Multisite Plugin Manager
• Multisite Toolbar Additions
• Network Plugin Auditor
• Network Switch Button
• Simple History
• Site Replicator for WordPress networks
Useful Plugins

30. Go forth and multi-site!