WordPress has been providing the feature of multisite since the release of its 3.0 version and higher. It has been important for managing multiple websites from a single website. Variety of free websites, educational and blogging sites such as 000webhost.com,edublogs.com,blogspot.com e.t.c provide this feature nowadays.
The most important features about multisite are as follows:
- it has the same folder structure, same code base, and same core files.
- all themes and plugins are installed or stored just once.
- it maintains less server space because we don’t need to install multiple WordPress files and create multiple database files.
- Themes needed to be activated in Network in order to use it by other sites.
- Plugins need to be installed only(no need to activate ) in Network to use it in other sites.
I will show you exactly how to create a multisite in WordPress in following steps:
Step-1:
First of all, we need a freshly installed(may be old as well )WordPress site.
The Screenshot of the dashboard is like this (for 4.8.1 version ).
Step-2:
Since we are using localhost, we have to open the parent folder of our WordPress in the local repository and add a function in the wp-config.php file.
Add the function:
define(‘WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE’,true);
Save the file and refresh the dashboard.
Step-3:
Now go to Tools and you will see an extra option added ”Network Setup”, click on it.
After you Create your Network you will be asked to add certain codes to your wpconfig.php and .htaccess files.
Step-5:
Please backup your wpconfig.php as you need to use it as a recovery file in case of certain errors occurs as you are changing the wp-config.php file.
Copy the code (marked as 1) in wp-config.php exactly below where you have defined the function previously as in the figure.
Step-6:
And replace the code(Marked as 2) in the .htaccess (the file may be hidden, show your hidden items to view this file) as shown in fig below.(Here code replaced are enclosed in between red lines.
Step-7:
Save both files and replace the Dashboard window, you will be asked to login, After you log in a different Dashboard is seen.This Dashboard is called as Master or Network Admin Dashboard that can control all the sites. Let’s see the dashboard of Network Admin.
Here you can see My Sites option from where you can access all your sites and explore each.
Updates: You can update the WordPress, plugins, and themes to latest versions.
Sites: Here you can see all the sites created under this Network Admin.You can also add sites new site from here to this admin site.
Users: This Option shows the list of users registered.
Themes: It shows the themes that are installed in the Network(Super) Admin Site. If we want to add themes in any other website you need to install it in Network Admin Site and then Activate so that it can be used by other sites formed from this site.If you install a theme in Network admin and don’t activate it won’t be visible to another site.
Plugins: It shows the list of all the plugins installed in master admin.You need to install the plugin in Network Admin to make it available to other sites (You need not activate as you do in the case of themes.)
Settings: This section is used to configure Network and it’s setup.You can change network settings, messages that flow in order, welcome messages, admin details e.t.c in these sections.
Step-8:
To add a new site to the Network Admin.
Click on Sites and Add New. Fill the required blanks and click on Add Site as below:
Step-9:
After you created a new site, you will receive mail with details as login id, username, and password of the site. Go to the URL and login to the site you will see the Dashboard of your newly formed website same as the normal WordPress website(you can see it in fig below).
Note: All the other features are accessible and changeable except the plugins and themes section that is controlled by the Network admin.
