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Create A Network
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You have the ability to create a network of sites by using the multisite feature. This article
contains instructions for creating a multisite network. It is advised to read the post “Before you
Step 0: Before You Begin
Create a Network” rst, as it contains important information about planning your network.
Step 1: Prepare Your WordPress
A multisite network can be very similar to your own personal version of WordPress.com. End Step 2: Allow Multisite
users of your network can create their own sites on demand, just like end users of Step 3: Installing a Network
WordPress.com can create blogs on demand. If you do not have any need to allow end users
Step 4: Enabling the Network
to create their own sites on demand, you can create a multisite network in which only you, the
Step 5: Network Admin Settings
administrator, can add new sites.
Step 6: Administration
A multisite network is a collection of sites that all share the same WordPress installation core Related Articles
les. They can also share plugins and themes. The individual sites in the network are virtual
sites in the sense that they do not have their own directories on your server, although they do
have separate directories for media uploads within the shared installation, and they do have separate tables in the database.
NOTE: Upgraded and can’t nd the Network Admin menu?

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Step 0: Before You Begin #

Compared with a typical single WordPress installation a network installation has additional considerations. You must decide if
you want to use subdomains or subfolders and how you want to manage them. Installing themes and plugins is di erent: for
example, each individual site of a network can activate both, but install neither.

This guide describes how to install manually WordPress Multisite in your current WordPress installation. There are also
available ready-to-run packages from BitNami.

Please read Before You Create A Network in full before continuing.

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Step 1: Prepare Your WordPress #

Your existing WordPress site will be updated when creating a network. Unless this is a fresh install and you have nothing to
lose, please backup your database and les.

Verify that Pretty Permalinks work on your single WP instance.

Also deactivate all active plugins. You can reactivate them again after the network is created.

If you plan to run WordPress out of its own directory, do that before activating Multisite.

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Step 2: Allow Multisite #

To enable the Network Setup menu item, you must rst de ne multisite in the wp-config.php le.

Open up wp-config.php and add this line above where it says /* That's all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */. If it doesn’t say that
anywhere, then add the line somewhere above the rst line that begins with require or include:

/* Multisite */
define( 'WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE', true );

You will need to refresh your browser to continue.

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Step 3: Installing a Network #

The previous step enables the Network Setup item in your Tools menu. Use that menu item to go to the Create a Network of
WordPress Sites screen.

To see an example of the Create a Network of WordPress Sites screen, look at Administration >Tools > Network Setup. The
screen does not look exactly the same in all circumstances. The example shown is for an installation on localhost, which
restricts the options available.

Create a Network of WordPress Sites page

Addresses of Sites in your Network

You are given the choice between sub-domains and sub-directories, except when existing settings restrict your choice.

You must choose one or the other. You can recon gure your network to use the other choice after installation, despite the
advice on the screen, but recon guring it might not be easy.

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You only need wildcard DNS for on-demand domain-based sites, despite the advice that may be on the screen.

Once more: See Before You Create A Network.

Sub-domains — a domain-based network in which on-demand sites use subdomains

Sub-directories — a path-based network in which on-demand sites use paths

Network Details

These are lled in automatically, but you can make changes. Server Address The domain of the URL you are using to access
your WordPress installation. Network Title The title of your network as a whole. Admin E-mail Address Your email address as
super admin of the network as a whole.

Double-check the details and press the Install button.

Note: The installer may perform a check for wildcard subdomains when you have not con gured them yet, or when you do
not need them at all. Ignore the warning if it does not apply to your network. See the Server Requirements section in Before
You Create A Network for information about wildcard subdomains.

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Step 4: Enabling the Network #

To enable your network, follow the instructions on the Create a Network of WordPress Sites screen. The instructions that you
see are customized for your installation. They might not be the same as the examples you see here.

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Populated settings when creating a network of sites

Back up your existing wp-config.php and .htaccess les, unless this is a fresh install and you have nothing to lose.

There are two steps: 1. Add the speci ed lines to your wp-config.php le The extra lines go just after where you added the line in
Step 1: Prepare Your WordPress. 2. Add the speci ed lines to your .htaccess le If you do not have a .htaccess le, then create it
in the same directory as your wp-config.php le. If you ALREADY have a .htaccess le, replace any existing WP lines with these
new ones. In some cases you might also have to add Options FollowSymlinks at the start of the le.

After completing these steps, log in again using the link provided. You might have to clear your browser’s cache and cookies in
order to log in.

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Step 5: Network Admin Settings #

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At the left of your WordPress toolbar, My Sites is now the second item. There, all your sites are listed, with handy y-out
menus, as well as a Network Admin menu item. Under Network Admin you can use the Dashboard item to go to the
Network Dashboard screen.

Go to the Settings Screen to con gure network options, and the Sites Screen to manage your sites.

For more information, see: Network Admin

Upgraded and can’t nd the Network Admin menu?

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Step 6: Administration #
There are some additional things you might need to know about advanced administration of the network, due to the
additional complexity of a Multisite. Even if you’re familiar with WordPress, the location and behavior of Multisite Network
Administration can be confusing.

Read Multisite Network Administration for more information.

For help troubleshooting:

Debugging a WordPress Network

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Related Articles #
Hosting WordPress
Installing Multiple Blogs
How to adapt my plugin to Multisite?

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