Title: Multisite Subdomain setup Problem
Last modified: February 1, 2018

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# Multisite Subdomain setup Problem

 *  [phil2016](https://wordpress.org/support/users/phil2016/)
 * (@phil2016)
 * [8 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-subdomain-setup-problem/)
 * Hello,
    I just installed WP Multisite for the first time ever, using Softlicious
   on Siteground.
 * Out of the box, the structure is subdirectories EG:
    [http://domain.com/sub](http://domain.com/sub)
   But I want subdomains EG: [http://sub.domain.com](http://sub.domain.com)
 * I checked the codex on this (and a few tutorials) and followed the instructions:
 * 1. Update wp-config.php
    CHANGE: define(‘SUBDOMAIN_INSTALL’, false); TO: define(‘
   SUBDOMAIN_INSTALL’, true);
 * DONE!
 * 2. update the .htaccess file
    REPLACE WITH: RewriteEngine On RewriteBase / RewriteRule
   ^index\.php$ – [L]
 * # add a trailing slash to /wp-admin
    RewriteRule ^wp-admin$ wp-admin/ [R=301,
   L]
 * RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -f [OR]
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -d RewriteRule
   ^ – [L] RewriteRule ^(wp-(content|admin|includes).*) $1 [L] RewriteRule ^(.*\.
   php)$ $1 [L] RewriteRule . index.php [L]
 * DONE!
 * But when I create a site as the admin, and the URL is correct:
    [http://sub.domain.com](http://sub.domain.com)
 * When I click to view the site I get:
 * This site can’t be reached
    action.bookz.blog’s server IP address could not be
   found. Search Google for action bookzz blog ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED
 * Although the main domain resolves fine.
 * What did I miss?

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

 *  [RogerD999](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rogerd999/)
 * (@rogerd999)
 * [8 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-subdomain-setup-problem/#post-9936450)
 * I get the same error. I am now starting to think that it is necessary to install
   another copy of WordPress in the subdomain directory. If both sites need the 
   same users it will also be necessary to change the $table_prefix variable in 
   the second install to point to the table prefix used by the original install.
   Then add the two defines to the second site’s wp_config file.
 * define( ‘CUSTOM_USER_TABLE’, $table_prefix.’my_users’ );
    define( ‘CUSTOM_USER_META_TABLE’,
   $table_prefix.’my_usermeta’ );
 * If you try this and it works let me know. Right now I just don’t have the time
   to try it myself.
 *  Thread Starter [phil2016](https://wordpress.org/support/users/phil2016/)
 * (@phil2016)
 * [8 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-subdomain-setup-problem/#post-9936517)
 * Thanks for your reply, I came up with an alternative solution.
 * Apparently, if you do a standard WordPress install (single site) and you revert
   it to a Multisite its DEFAULT setting is subdomain, rather than subdirectory.
 * For some reason, I don’t know, if you install the site originally as a multisite(
   EG with Softlucious, etc) it defaults to subdirectory. And for some other reason
   I don’t understand, it doesn’t seem to like being changed from subdirectory to
   subdomain.
 * That’s my interpretation, anyway.
 * So I deleted my previous install. Installed WordPress as a single site. Reverted
   it to multisite, and – BINGO – I have the subdirectory format.
 * Job done – spend hours trying to do it the ‘quick way’!

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

The topic ‘Multisite Subdomain setup Problem’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [multisite](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/multisite/)

 * In: [Networking WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/multisite/)
 * 2 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [phil2016](https://wordpress.org/support/users/phil2016/)
 * Last activity: [8 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-subdomain-setup-problem/#post-9936517)
 * Status: not resolved

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