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Editorial Team
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Asked: 2026-06-17T17:31:39+00:00

I am about to develop two websites using wordpress with its multisite functionality. So

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I am about to develop two websites using wordpress with its multisite functionality. So www.domain1.com and www.domain2.com should point to the same wordpress installation.

The problem I have is that the domains are in productive use, so I cannot make them point somewhere else until development is not finished. I also do not have (and do not want to buy) two unused domains to create the develop setup, so what I would like to know is:

Can I setup subdomains for development and change it into »real« domains later on?

What I would like to know is how to setup the project so that after development is finished, deploying is as painless as possible. The project setup should be close the »real world scenario« it is meant for as possible and I am interested in any kind of hints, advises, links and stuff which guides me setting up the projects.

Which are the pitfalls, where are the »dangerous« parts?

Greetings…

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1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    I’d suggest the following route:

    Install the Multisite with a sub-domain set-up in a third domain that will be the Main Blog (example.com). In your host, you’ll need Wildcard subdomains enabled. Otherwise, each sub-domain has to be manually created. With the wildcard, creating a new site is a matter of clicking Add site.

    Then, in /wp-admin/network/sites.php, add two sites: domain1.example.com and domain2.example.com. And develop until they are ready.

    You’ll need the plugin WordPress MU Domain Mapping to map Top Level Domains to the sub-sites/sub-domains. With it, domain1.example.com will be a fully working domain1.com.

    After all this is in place, is just a matter of changing the NameServers to point to the Multisite addresses.

    Well, it seems simple but Multisite is not for the faint of the heart. But, one of WordPress.org wizards, Mika Epstein, aka Ipstenu, has two great eBooks that cover lots of ground. Please, check the following Answers in WordPress StackExchange where I cite them.

    An interesting case study document.

    Plugins of interest:

    • BackupBuddy: paid solution, although it’s considered Beta, exporting and importing sites out and in the networks works ok.
    • Add Clone Sites for WPMU (batch), in the Repository, although hasn’t been updated in a while, still works fine, doesn’t exports/imports, but useful for duplicating sites inside the network.
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