For this post, we’re going to show you how to create a network using WordPress, in only a few steps. Before this, we’re going to discuss what a WordPress network is in greater detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What a WordPress Network Is (Both as a Concept and Technical Implementation)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The concept of a WordPress network is a simple one to understand. Consider a single installation<\/a>, complete with a selection of themes<\/a>, plugins<\/a>, and other settings you often turn to when spinning up a new WordPress site<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In lots of cases, you’ll use this template over again. This could be either as a defined ‘Blueprint’ (if you use a tool such as Local by Flywheel<\/a>) or a ‘mold’ that you’ll clone or copy files from. If you run a number of sites from one hosting account, each of these sites will load the same elements, while bumping up your resource usage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead, you could create a network of WordPress sites. Note that these sites don’t have to share similar content or focus, and the concept is different to managing separate sites<\/a> together from a dashboard. Instead, they dip into a pool of common themes and plugins and share those instead. This way, each site will be unique, but won’t take up additional server resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, there are some technical considerations you’ll want to understand before you begin to create a network of your own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Multisite is the WordPress way to create a network. However, this isn’t a system of separate WordPress websites using a shared cache of resources. Instead, each site on the network is a ‘virtualized’ one. Going deeper, each site doesn’t just share themes and plugins \u2013 they share core files<\/em> too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This means each sites won’t have its own directory as would a collection of single sites. However, you will<\/em> find separate database tables and media uploads files for each site in your network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, the other users of the network will have the potential to create sites, unless you specify otherwise. For you, it could be a straightforward way to create a new site. Even so, the ability to create a network isn’t going to be a viable option in some cases. Let’s find out more about this next. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before we get into why you’d want to create a network, it’s a good idea to discuss why you wouldn’t<\/em>. Despite the apparent benefits, a network isn’t a good idea for sites that have interconnection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, a single blog for a primary website might not suit a network, although it would suit using a subdomain. In contrast, that blog translated into other languages and hosted on the same network has potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What’s more, if your users have the need to install unique plugins or themes to a site (rather than select from the available pool), a network won’t be a good idea. This is a similar situation with sites on different hosts<\/a>. A network in this case is going to be unworkable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, there are lots of superb reasons and use cases for using WordPress Multisite:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, there are drawbacks<\/a> to every system, but if your needs align with what a network will offer, you and your users can thrive. Over the rest of this post, we’ll show you how to create a network of your own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you dive into creating your network, there are a few things to consider. First are the technical considerations. You’ll work with WordPress’ core files to set things up, so there are some aspects you’ll want to pay attention to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s worth noting that we don’t recommend you try to change a live site over to Multisite. Instead, you’ll want to export your site to a local or staging environment<\/a>, work to make the changes you need, then push it live again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to create a new site and run it as a network hub from the off, you might have success using a tool such as Local by Flywheel<\/a> or DevKinsta<\/a>. Both of these have a one-click option to set up a network:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This brings up another aspect to consider before you begin the process: the structure of your site’s URLs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the surface, this doesn’t seem to be a big question to ask. However, the WordPress.org support pages has an entire section on the technical differences between subdirectories and subdomains<\/a> for your network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We can sum this up in a few lines, as in most cases, you’ll know if you want to use subdomains. In summary:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If this is your first time using Multisite or creating a network, we’d recommend using subdirectories. When you have more experience or specific needs, go ahead and configure your installation to accept subdomains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are four steps to carry out in order to create a network. If you ever install a manual version of WordPress, some of these will be familiar:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Again, you’ll want to have a full backup at the ready , in case you need to reinstall. Also, you may need some SFTP knowledge if you work on a live site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first task is to tell WordPress that you want to create a network. To do this, you’ll want to access your site through SFTP (if it’s live) or your computer’s file manager (if it’s local). The file you want is You can open this in whatever text editor you choose<\/a>, even if that is Notepad or TextEdit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once the file is open, head to the bottom, and write the following snippet above the You can save your changes here and refresh your browser. While this prepares WordPress for a network, it doesn’t enable it. In the next section, we’ll do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you head to your WordPress dashboard, you’ll notice that there is now a new option under the Tools > Network Setup<\/em> link:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clicking this will bring you to the Create a Network of Sites<\/em> screen. This will give you the chance to choose whether you use subdirectories or subdomains, name the network, and set an admin email address:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These options are straightforward. However, you may see some extra ones<\/a> if you choose to update a live site to a networked one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you want to continue, click Install<\/em>, and this will bring up another configuration screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you configure WordPress to work as a network, you also need to enable it in a few other files. The exact combination depends on whether you run an Apache or Nginx server. Regardless, both server types will need alteration to the As such, open it up and add the following lines:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Again, you can save your changes. If you worry about getting this information right, WordPress provides a copy and paste version within the dashboard:<\/p>\n\n\n\n From here, you can look to configure your server. You’ll find that it’s less straightforward to configure Nginx servers for networks, and the WordPress.org support pages<\/a> has a detailed article on Nginx and what you’ll need to do. In short:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Find the location of the Nginx files. This is often at the server root under the etc<\/em> folder. However, if you use the Terminal on your local site or log into your web server through one, you can use the Once you make the changes to either your Nginix configuration or your From here, the Administrator<\/em> user role you would have is now a Super Admin<\/a><\/em>. This gives you a new option within the WordPress dashboard My Sites<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You’ll see the list of sites within the network here, along with a Network Sites<\/em> option. The dashboard is simple to understand: You add to the network using the Sites > Add New<\/em> option:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You’ll add a site address, title, and an administrator email, and when you click the Add Site<\/em> button, this will carry out the rest of the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s also worth noting that if you check out Themes<\/em> and Plugins<\/em> pages, each one has the Network Enable<\/em> or Network Disable<\/em> option:<\/p>\n\n\n\nWordPress Multisite<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Why You’d Want to Create a Network With WordPress<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What You’ll Want to Consider Before You Create a Network<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.designbombs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/local-multisite.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHow to Decide Whether to Use a Subdirectory or Subdomain for Sites in Your Network<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to Create a Network Using WordPress (In 4 Steps)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Enable WordPress Multisite for Your Single Installation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
wp-config.php<\/code>, and it should be in the root directory for your site:<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.designbombs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/config-root.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Editing](\"https:\/\/www.designbombs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/onivim-config.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n\/* That's all, stop editing! Happy publishing. *\/<\/code> line or any define<\/code> or require<\/code> functions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\/* Multisite *\/\ndefine( 'WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE', true );<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n2. Create a Network Within the WordPress Dashboard<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.designbombs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/network-setup-link.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.designbombs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/network-screen.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Enable Your Network in the
wp-config.php<\/code>, .htaccess<\/code>, and Nginx Files<\/h3>\n\n\n\nwp-config.php<\/code> file again.<\/p>\n\n\n\ndefine( 'MULTISITE', true );\ndefine( 'SUBDOMAIN_INSTALL', false );\ndefine( 'DOMAIN_CURRENT_SITE', '<YOUR~DOMAIN~HERE' );\ndefine( 'PATH_CURRENT_SITE', '\/' );\ndefine( 'SITE_ID_CURRENT_SITE', 1 );\ndefine( 'BLOG_ID_CURRENT_SITE', 1 );<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.designbombs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/enable-network.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nwhich nginx<\/code> command to find the right right path.<\/p>\n\n\n\nglobal\/wordpress.conf<\/code> file.<\/li>.htaccess<\/code> file, and this will be on the same screen as your wp-config.php<\/code> information.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n.htaccess<\/code> file, you’ll need to log in again. At this point, your network is almost ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n4. Administrate Your Network of Sites from Within WordPress<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.designbombs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/my-sites-option.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.designbombs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/add-new-network-sites.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.designbombs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/themes-page.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.designbombs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/site-themes.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n