How to install multisite when a domain hasn't been pointed to the server yet

  • starsunflower

    (@starsunflower)


    13 years, 3 months ago

    I’ve never used multisite before and have a project that would benefit from it, but have a question.

    The site I’m working on is not live yet. I have a reseller account via Site5 and have the ability to create subdomains from the top level domain tied to WHM. I create a subdomain, add a subfolder and install wordpress. Once the site is done I remove the top level domain from the path once the DNS has resolved for the domain pointing to the new web server.

    In a situation such as this, could wordpress multisite still be used in the sandbox stage? If so, what would be the best way to go about it? When I go to Admin>Network, it points to the top level subdomain for installation of additional sites.

    Note: The website project involves a site that has custom international translations ie: individual sites for each language. The client would rather have the custom languages than a basic translator plugin. I’d like for the new site migration to be seamless — ie: have everything done before the domain points to the new server. WordPress Multisite seems to be the logical route for this project.

    Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
  • Andrea Rennick

    (@andrea_r)

    13 years, 3 months ago

    I’d change my local hosts file to see the old domain in the new location.

    http://wpgarage.com/tips/install-wordpress-without-domain-name/

    Thread Starter starsunflower

    (@starsunflower)

    13 years, 3 months ago

    Thanks so much for the response!

    I’m not running a windows server, and don’t have root access to the linux server. I do have a WHM reseller account, but am assuming I’d still need to be root or have a dedicated server to make this happen.

    I do have an etc directory within the individual control panel for the single account. This makes me wonder if a hosts file could be added there.

    Andrea Rennick

    (@andrea_r)

    13 years, 3 months ago

    Um, no. The Windows specification on that post was for your PC.

    It has nothing to do with the web host the site is on. It’s changing something on your computer.

    Go look for the hosts file there, on your computer.

    Thread Starter starsunflower

    (@starsunflower)

    13 years, 3 months ago

    Oh I see. I’ve edited my hosts file when using Synergy a couple of years back.

    I don’t think that this solution will be useful for me at the moment. I appreciate your response though.

    I can see the top level site already via sub.myhostingdomain.com/newsite.com

    Andrea Rennick

    (@andrea_r)

    13 years, 3 months ago

    I’ve done the same thing you’re doing using the method I suggested. you can do it for existing domains.

    Thread Starter starsunflower

    (@starsunflower)

    13 years, 3 months ago

    Ok I guess I’m not being clear with my question. I can see the site fine and would see the newly installed subdirectories as well from

    sub.myhostingdomain.com/newsite.com or
    sub.myhostingdomain.com/newsite.com/french-translation-network/
    sub.myhostingdomain.com/newsite.com/german-translation-network/

    When I go to add a new network it points to the main dir sub.myhostingdomain.com instead of sub.myhostingdomain.com/newsite.com

    I also don’t know how MU or multisite handles things when the site path is changed via Admin>Settings>General>WordPress address (URL) once the DNS has been resolved for the domain.

    Thread Starter starsunflower

    (@starsunflower)

    13 years, 3 months ago

    Side Note: My partner just discovered wpml.org, which may be worth looking at for this project.

Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
  • The topic ‘How to install multisite when a domain hasn't been pointed to the server yet’ is closed to new replies.