Multiple blogs, single code base at GoDaddy?

  • WebdotMarketing

    (@webbizgeek)


    14 years, 10 months ago

    Hi:

    Anybody know how to set up multiple WordPress blogs at GoDaddy using the same code base?

    Things are setup there to have you install separate WP code base for each blog. I understand how to do that, but it seems a bit inefficient and would require me to update each blog individually for WP and plugin updates.

    So I’m wondering: is there a straightforward way to structure the account so that multiple blogs ride off the same code base? Each blog having it’s own DB and it’s own theme – and, of course, unique primary domains at http://www.site1.com, http://www.site2.com, etc.

    Tech support disavows any knowledge of such approach – and I can’t find any posts here or elsewhere that specifically talk about single code base.

    I’m no Linux whiz, so I’m looking for an approach that primarily involves directory structure and maybe some fiddling with DB names. And/or would be prepared to pay somebody a modest fee to configure the initial setup.

    I currently am on their Linux Premium hosting plan which allows for up to 25 DBs.

    I am looking at maybe 4-5 blogs total. Currently there is one live one. I have a 2nd that I have on WP.com that I would like to move to GD, so that’s the initial focus.

    Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions.

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
  • whooami

    (@whooami)

    14 years, 10 months ago

    Firstly, who cares how many dbs they give you — that’s a sneaky way of seeming generous, when in fact, its not.

    One database can hold 100 blogs, and 100 phpBB installs, and 100 more of something else (space permitting).

    Limitations related to MySQL are a result of how much space they give you — NOT how many dbs.

    In other words, its a sham.

    Secondly, have you done any googling ???

    this:

    http://www.ryanmcdonnell.com/multiple-blogs-one-wordpress-install-zero-code-changes/

    came up as the third result in a very simple google search.

    http://www.google.com/#hl=en&ei=XAAsSrvTMOWwtgftvZnGCA&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=multiple+wordpress+installs+one+wp-config.php&spell=1&fp=2Inaafc1UxE

    while that post is a tad dated, it ought to steer you in the right direction, assuming you understand what hes writing.

    (using the word “codebase” implies a level of knowledge that is oddly offset by your “25 databases” rermark, so I really cant tell *what* your knowledge level is)

    Thread Starter WebdotMarketing

    (@webbizgeek)

    14 years, 10 months ago

    Hi whooami:

    Thanks very much for taking a look and sharing some ideas.

    I haven’t seen that post by Ryan (which is very good), but I’ve done enough googling to know that it is possible to do multiple sites off single code base in WP. The thing I am not sure about is does that apply to GoDaddy set up – and if so, how.

    As Ryan himself points out: “…this method cannot be used with most shared hosting providers.” And GoDaddy tech support tells me it can’t be done – or at least no one that I’ve spoken to knows how to do it (I’ve called half dozen times to try to find a rep who has knowledge of how to do it, even if GD won’t support it explicitly).

    My level of knowledge regarding things Linux and php is relatively low – my focus is on the site concepts, creating the content, and themeing, so doing command line access stuff as suggested in the ryanmcdonnell.com link is possibly beyond me. I could do it using a step-by-step guide, but short of that…

    I guess I learned (some) of the terminology because I run a bunch of Drupal sites off one codebase, but the configuration thereof is well beyond me and was done by another quite deeply technical person.

    Via the Drupal experience, I know we could not do what we wanted with one hositng provider – they wouldn’t allow the directory structure we needed. And with another, there were serious problems with how they configured their servers that impacted performance. So but we found a solution with a 3rd provider, tho it required substantial command line work to make it work – though it now does and it is great.

    As to 1 vs. 25 vs. 100 DBs – again, beyond my know how. With Drupal, we use individual DBs for each site. I have heard that people run multiple sites off the same DB in Drupal, and apparently, in WP, but I don’t know how to do that.

    Understood about the space point. Ultimately that’s the real limiting factor – my sites aren’t space intensive, so not a constraint I focus on.

    Again, thanks for assistance. Any further thoughts welcome.

    J

    whooami

    (@whooami)

    14 years, 10 months ago

    its the symlinks that screws it up for shared hosting, I imagine.

    before going back to that, though..

    multiple wp installs in one db = editing wp-config.php to use a diff. prefix for the tables. 🙂

    so instead of having one table named options, you can have 10, or 20, or ..like so

    one named wp1_options
    another named wp2_options
    another named wp3_options

    its just a simple way to differentiate between one “set” of tables for one install, and another set for another install.

    does that make sense?

    re: space. Im not talking about your wordpress files or any images, per se, im talking about mySQL space. MySQL uses flat files that do take up space. I dont think ive ever found a host that skimped on space there, but you never know.

    Now, back to the symlinks…

    if you just wanted to try out the method in that link, what I would do is see if you can cheat at making the symlinks. chances are, you cant, but you never know

    http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.symlink.php

    there’s an example on that page that shows you how to make symlinks using PHP. Thats where I would start first.

    The other potential solution is to make some changes to wordpress itself, I spose.

    Thread Starter WebdotMarketing

    (@webbizgeek)

    14 years, 10 months ago

    re: db explanation. aha, got it! that makes complete sense. excellent insight. quite simple when you describe it like that. knowing that will come in handy, i’m sure. thank you.

    re: symlinks. i’m probably not keen to experiment on this. since i’m looking at only a few blogs in total, won’t be *that* much work to update them, so not willing to put in too much time to pioneer a workaround – and risk losing their tech support help if I f* it up.

    more looking for an already proven method specific to GD where someone can say do x, then y, then z and voila, you’re done. but even if someone has done it, it doesn’t sound like it’d be that simple based on what you’re saying.

    but thanks for engaging in the dialogue. i appreciate it.

    webjunk

    (@webjunk)

    14 years, 10 months ago

    It is as simple as can be. Even using the PHP function for the symlinks Especially if you follow the ryan mcdonnell
    directions and it works perfectly.
    The only caviat is for the sumlinks and that is because you use Godaddy for hosting. The question I think whoami was alluding to was because it seems everyone has different limitations with GD.
    WHat you need to find out is if you can get SSH access. If you can the symlinks are no big deal. If you not then you need another way which is why PHP was suggested. A better way I use often is create a standard Linux shell script with all the link commands and then run it once as a Cron job.
    That’s it. Everything else is very basic. As for the database size limit, that goes to your Terms of Service. The biggest scam in web hosting (not just GD) is “Unlimited” or even in your case 25 databases. TOS always allow them to set anything or cancel your account if you use “too much resources”

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
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