Install in root or sub domain? What's the difference?

  • Resolved MajorEasy

    (@majoreasy)


    10 years, 2 months ago

    Hi,

    I am planning to set up a Multisite blog host of sorts.

    I’m new to the forum (and to Multisite, and hosting) and have many questions. I’m still going through all the threads to find answers. (Where is the forum topic search by the way? i’m going through multisite forum page by page) This is one I cannot find an answer to.

    I read that some people install Multisite in the root and some install in a sub domain. I am wondering what are the practical differences. If anyone can help me understand, it will be greatly appreciated. (Would be good to know before I click install, methinks. : ) )

    Here is a second one, I’m just putting this out here. If I should start a new topic for a second question, please let me know.
    I read many posts where people are throwing a lot of codes around. People say, edit this here, and edit that there…It is scaring me because I know nothing about coding. (I don’t even understand the files names they say to open to find the codes to edit.) My impression is that WordPress is ‘plug and play’. I’m now worried that I cannot be an admin on my own site if I don’t know how to code. Can anyone please relate experience on whether a person who doesn’t know codes can still be a site admin (or super admin in a Multisite.)

    Thanks in advance folks.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
  • Moderator Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)

    (@ipstenu)

    ?????? Advisor and Activist

    root: example.com

    Subdomain: foo.example.com

    The difference? Well it’s pretty obvious ?? A subdomain of foo.example.com would be sitename.foo.example.com and MAY NOT work on your host.

    If you want to change sitename.foo.example.com to foositename.example.com it’s slightly more of a hassle, but it can be done.

    Figure out what URL structure you want WP to have for your sites and go from there./

    Thread Starter MajorEasy

    (@majoreasy)

    Hi Mika,

    Thanks for that.

    Are you saying that if I install multisite on foo.example.com, then I cannot access example.com? Or do you mean that installing on foo.example.com means the installation / multisite won’t work? Or that my host won’t allow me to have sitename.foo.example.com?

    Sorry mate, I am a bit thick on this. Please tell me like I am 12 years old.

    I read that some people use example.com as their ‘main site’ and the subdomain for their multisite. This is why I am confused. Maybe I am reading their statements wrong but I don’t understand what a ‘main site’ is either. (I assume it means like their home page, welcome page or something like that).

    Anyway, you are right that I need to know what URL structure I want which was exactly the question mate. I do not undertsnad it and do not know the benefits or problems of installing in root or in a sub domain.

    Any pros and cons of each method would be fantastic.

    Thanks again.

    Moderator Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)

    (@ipstenu)

    ?????? Advisor and Activist

    If you install WordPress on foo.example.com then it doesn’t touch example.com

    Your host may or may not allow you to have subdomain.foo.example.com – You’ll have to ask them.

    I read that some people use example.com as their ‘main site’ and the subdomain for their multisite.

    Yes. They install WP in example.com and pick the subDomain setup for WordPress, which makes new sites as sitename.example.com

    Thread Starter MajorEasy

    (@majoreasy)

    Thanks Mika. Much appreciated.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
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