wordpress multi-network
DESCRIPTION
WordPress is an amazing and flexible tool, and becomes even more incredible when set up in a multisite environment. For many higher education institutions, though, even multisite is not broad enough to fit the information architecture of our websites. That's where Multi-Network comes into play. At UMW, the university website is built on a WordPress Multi-Network environment, with nearly 30 multisite setups running inside of a single WordPress installation. This session will touch on the basics of setting up WordPress to work as a Multi-Network tool, and some tips to get plugins and themes working more efficiently in this unique environment.TRANSCRIPT
WORDPRES
S MULT
I-
NETW
ORK
WO
RD
PR
ES
S M
ULT
I SI T
E S
QU
AR
ED
A LAY
MAN’S
EXPLA
NATION
SINGLE WORDPRESS
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwthompson2/139445633/
SINGLE WORDPRESS
A S I N G L E - F A M I LY H O M E
Paint your siding & shutters
Install climate control, hot water heater, alarm system, etc.
Responsible for snow & trash removal, upkeep, etc.
Fires, break-ins, burglaries are your problem
A S I N G L E W P S I T E
Install your own WP theme
Install plugins for podcasting, caching, security, etc.
Responsible for keeping WP updated & clear of spam
Website & server problems are your problem
WORDPRESS MULTISITE
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevenm_61/5087629050/
WORDPRESS MULTISITE
T O W N H O M E
Painting , climate control, alarms, etc. probably require approval
Might have to use contractor specified by property manager
Not responsible for trash/snow removal, upkeep, etc.
W P M U LT I S I T E
Plugins and themes must be installed by Super Admin before you can activate
Some plugins will be network-active, so you have no control over them
Not responsible for keeping WP updated
WORDPRESS MULTI-NETWORK
WORDPRESS MULTI-NETWORK
S U B D I V I S I O N
Same basic responsibilities as a townhome
Property managers probably oversee superintendents for each group of houses
M U LT I - N E T W O R K
Same responsibilities as site owner in multisite
Normal Super Admins only control own network, each network has its own Super Admin
HOW D
OES IT
WORK?
In Multisite, there will only be 1 network, so the site ID will be 1
Multi-Network uses multiple “site IDs”
HOW DOES IT WORK?
HOW D
O YOU T
URN IT O
N?
HOW DO YOU TURN IT ON?
Install and activate a single plugin.
You have three choices:
1. Networks for WordPress by David Dean (Current versions of WordPress)
2. WP Multi Network by John James Jacoby (Versions 3.0-3.1 of WordPress)
3. Networks+ by Ron and Andrea Rennick (All versions of WordPress)
Make sure you follow the instructions!
WHAT
DOES IT
DO?
Networks as subdomains, sites within those networks as subdirectory sites
Nested subdomains (single subdomains as the networks, second-level subdomains as the sites)
YOU CAN CONFIGURE IT IN TWO BASIC WAYS:
BUT WAIT… THERE’S MORE!
SIDE EFFECTS OF WORDPRESS MULTI-NETWORK INCLUDE…There are some disadvantages to running WordPress in a multi-
network set up.
• New level of uncertainty with add-on compatibility
• If a plugin can’t be network-activated, it can’t be multi-network-activated
• Potential conflicts
• Serious issues with plugins & themes that are coded poorly
• MU-Plugins will be active everywhere
Be diligent about themes & plugins
Pay attention to setup and updates
WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?
Twitter: @cgrymalaWebsite(s): http://umw.edu/ (Multi-Network Setup)
http://ten-321.com/http://svn.ten-321.com/ (SVN
Repo)Email: [email protected]
[email protected]: http://spkr8.com/s/10608
http://about.me/cgrymala