When multisite is the right install
Multisite is one database and one set of core files. A super admin can add sites, share plugins and update everyone at once. That suits a university, a franchise or a set of campuses you will always operate.
It is a poor fit when a client will later want their site on their own account. Splitting a site out of a network is harder than moving a normal install. Separate WordPress installs are then the simpler choice.
Subdirectory or subdomain
| Subdirectory | Subdomain | |
|---|---|---|
| Address | example.com/shop | shop.example.com |
| DNS | No extra record | Wildcard record |
| Shared hosting | Usually allowed | Ask before you choose it |
Ask support@webji.services whether the account allows wildcard DNS before you pick subdomains. Mail is staffed 24/7. The phone +91 141 4941811 is business hours only. The account type is explained on WordPress hosting.
Run Network Setup
- Back up files and the database. Deactivate plugins for the setup.
- In wp-config.php, above the line that tells you to stop editing, add define('WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE', true); and save.
- In the dashboard open Tools, then Network Setup. Choose subdirectories unless wildcard DNS is already in place. Install.
- Paste the extra lines the screen shows into wp-config.php and into .htaccess, exactly as printed. Those lines differ for subdomains and subdirectories, so do not reuse a snippet from another site.
- Log in again. Network Admin is where you add a site. Then turn your plugins back on and test one subsite.
Migrating a Multisite Network to a New Host
Moving a network is not the same as moving one WordPress site: there are extra tables for every subsite, and each domain or subdomain must resolve at the new host before the network works. Back up the files and the whole database, then test on a temporary domain.
- Export all tables, not only the main wp_ set; a network also stores wp_2_posts, wp_2_options and the same pattern for every subsite.
- Search-replace the old domain across every table, including wp_blogs and wp_site, with a serialisation-aware tool.
- If the network uses subdomains, recreate the wildcard DNS record and the wildcard SSL certificate at the new host before you switch traffic.
- Mapped custom domains need their own DNS records and certificates; a missing one shows a certificate warning, not a 404.
- Keep the old host online until the new one passes the test list, then cancel it after the DNS TTL has expired.
The website migration service is the route when the network has mapped domains or more than a handful of subsites.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set up WordPress multisite?
Back up, add WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE in wp-config.php, open Tools then Network Setup, and paste the lines that screen gives you into wp-config.php and .htaccess.
Should I use subdomains or subdirectories?
Use subdirectories unless the host has already allowed a wildcard DNS record. Subdomains fail quietly when that record is missing.
Is multisite the same as two separate WordPress installs?
No. Multisite shares one core, one database and one super admin. Separate installs can be moved or handed to someone else one at a time.
Can I undo multisite later?
It is awkward. Take the backup before you add the constant. A site you may need to give away should start as its own install.
Is WebJi® an Indian company?
Yes. WebJi® is headquartered in Jaipur, Rajasthan and has operated since 2005. Billing, support and governance all run from India.
Do you provide GST invoices?
Every purchase and renewal gets a GST invoice with our GSTIN, and hosting prices are quoted exclusive of 18% GST. Claim input credit as applicable.
Can I split one site out of a multisite network?
Yes, but treat it as a migration: export that subsite's tables and uploads, import them into a fresh WordPress install, then point the domain at the new install. Core WordPress has no one-click split.