Multisite setup is not working

[ Moderator note: Formatting fixed. It’s the backtick character and not the single quote for code blocks. ]

I’m trying to set the MS version of WordPress but ran into problems.

My ISP is organized in the following structure:

public/sites/www.domainname.nl

I have installed WP in the https://www.domainname.nl
and I have followed all instructions from the MultiSite Codex.

I have tried the subdomain and the subdirectory version, but in both cases I do get problems. Subdomains do run into 404 errors and subdirectories, I can not log gin anymore …. Please find blow the details from both senario’s.

I have cleaned both the WP environment and the database to ensure a complete fresh environment.

SUBDOMAINS
In case of Subdomains, the installation goes well, I can create sites with WP, but I do het a 404 error when I go to the specific sub site.

WP is also giving a message during the installation:

Warning! Wildcard DNS may not be configured correctly!
The installer attempted to contact a random hostname (4f3050.dansen.nl) on your domain.
To use a subdomain configuration, you must have a wildcard entry in your DNS. This usually means adding a * hostname record pointing at your web server in your DNS configuration tool.
You can still use your site but any subdomain you create may not be accessible. If you know your DNS is correct, ignore this message.

I do have the “*” configured in the DNS – both “*” and ‘WWW” are pointing to the same IP-Adress.

SUBDIRECTORIES
The installation goes according to the instructions:
1) Activating the network
2) Select the directory version
3) Create blogs.dir – chmod to 775
4) Update wp-config.pho according to instructions given
5) update .htaccess file

When I select the directory version, a .htaccess exist on the server.
This files contains the folling conent after the modification:

# BEGIN WordPress
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
</IfModule>

# END WordPress

RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]

# uploaded files
RewriteRule ^([_0-9a-zA-Z-]+/)?files/(.+) wp-includes/ms-files.php?file=$2 [L]

# add a trailing slash to /wp-admin
RewriteRule ^([_0-9a-zA-Z-]+/)?wp-admin$ $1wp-admin/ [R=301,L]

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -f [OR]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -d
RewriteRule ^ - [L]
RewriteRule  ^[_0-9a-zA-Z-]+/(wp-(content|admin|includes).*) $1 [L]
RewriteRule  ^[_0-9a-zA-Z-]+/(.*\.php)$ $1 [L]
RewriteRule . index.php [L]

The first part that starts with

# BEGIN WordPress
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
</IfModule>

# END WordPress

was already there.

The problem here starts when I try to log in again. Then the password is not recognized. Even with a reset via the password email is not working. The whole procedure of configuration went well. I have tried it 4 times – with simple names and passwords to avoid typos. I have followed also the instructions to reset the password via PHPMyAdmin – even with no password – but not able to login.

I hope someone has a nice tip or direction for me!