Comments on: Running multiple WordPress installations using the same MySQL Database

By: matt

matt — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 21:19:27 +0000

that IS my definition of easy! thanks

By: Vaibhav

Vaibhav — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 22:17:13 +0000

Well Matt, depends on what you call easy. It is a simple matter of deleting the web files, and the tables for the second installation which will be clearly marked because of the prefix.

Your first installation is not affected in anyway.

By: matt

matt — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 14:18:33 +0000

will it be easy/possible to uninstall just one version of wordpress later on? I just need the second one to try some stuff out.

By: chris

chris — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 12:46:47 +0000

Hey,
Thanks for this.
Yep we wanted to use a multi-lingual plugin but they just don’t work well enough yet – the translation from English to Russian was awful and the client rejected it – so its easier to create 3 websites.
It also enables the client to tailor content for each site audience.
Thanks,
Chris

By: Vaibhav

Vaibhav — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 03:43:09 +0000

If I was in your place, I would do the same thing – i.e. install multiple wordpress installations but point them to the same database, just with different prefix. Also, I wouldn’t prefer using the webhost’s automatic scripts to install, since it will probably create three separate databases.

Here are some points to consider however:
- the reason I would do this in one database is because it makes it easier for me to manage backups.
- some hosts charge you per database
- the reason I wouldn’t do it per database is if your websites are going to become very popular, then one database may not be enough, and it might slow everything down.

Finally, if the three sites are going to have the same content, then why aren’t you considering a multi-lingual plugin? Search google for “wordpress multilingual plugin”.

By: chris

chris — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:32:24 +0000

I have a site I am creating that will have 3 different language versions.

For whatever reason we are intending to create 3 different wordpress sites all running under the same domain name and off one database.

e.g.

http://www.domainname.com/ (this will be the default UK site)
http://www.domainname.com/russia
http://www.domainname.com/czech

Should I just create new wordpress installs in the directories above e.g. russia and then change the table prefix for each one?

The webhost automatically installs wordpress – will this cause a problem?

Thanks in advance for your help. Great post!

Chris

By: Vaibhav

Vaibhav — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 01:51:47 +0000

Are these going to have the same content, just different look and feel (and URL, I assume)? If yes, then I don’t think so. The WP database will only work with one URL.

Although, I am guessing that you can probably customize the WordPress installation itself to support what you are doing (so that it loads different themes depending on where the user is coming from).

By: Macoway Advertising

Macoway Advertising — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:35:57 +0000

Hello, we use wordpress for our News Section. Is there a way to use the same database but have 2 different wp themes/ alias 2 differen folders of wp, using same database? Thanks. Still under development.

By: Paulo

Paulo — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:26:53 +0000

Thank you for lesson, buddy! That info was very helpfully.

By: Zoran

Zoran — Wed, 20 May 2009 06:23:33 +0000

Hi,

Great tutorial. This is just what I needed. Thanks!

Take care.

Zoran

By: Vaibhav

Vaibhav — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:45:16 +0000

Hi William, I have sent you a more detailed reply on email. But here’s the crux of my answer:

- What I describe is essentially equivalent to separately installed blogs. The only thing you are avoiding is to create a separate database for each one.

- WordPress MU (multiuser) on the other hand is a single installation which allows you to have multiple blogs on that single installation. It allows you to administer all the blogs centrally.

I have never noticed how heavy a WordPress install is (I think it is in the region of 2-3 megabytes).

By: William

William — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 21:12:11 +0000

Vaibhav,

Hi, I am mostly new to web publishing but have known for four years that WordPress would be the way to go. I have had a bit of experience FTP’ing files to a Unix account at school a couple years ago and having the pages appear on the web. I am comfortable tweaking .ini type files if given the how-to directions.

I have 3 domains reserved, each for a weblog. I will signup soon with a hosting company. I like to plan carefully and well at the start and am reading about WordPress. I understand most of the basics and concepts of what I am reading about so far.

But…

Could you help me understand the difference, if any, between these two concepts:

- a single WordPress install to be used for multiple blogs (VIrtual Multiblog; WP-Hive)
- multiple WordPress installations on the same MySQL database (your post)

The first implies that the newbie would typically have a unique (repeated) WP install for each blog but can get around that; the second sounds like you can have several blogs using a single database.

Are these two things distinct and different considerations or are they identical situations just expressed in different words? — If they are different, please describe the differences and which of these 2 categories is the more fundamental and primary/preliminary consideration and decision.

Any guidance in the thought process for deciding these two things would helpful.

PS – How many Megabytes does “a WordPress install” tend to be before you start adding blogpost content to it?

Thanks in advance!

By: unactive

unactive — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:07:33 +0000

Thanks for the article, I have been looking for articles about this to have a better understanding about it.

By: Vaibhav

Vaibhav — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:25:03 +0000

Hello bk,

Yes, you are doing good. A couple of obvious things just so you are clear:
1. The new wordpress will be in a separate directory/folder/path than the original one.
2. You will still need to install WordPress (but that will happen on its own, when you first try to access it on your server).

If you run into trouble, let me know.

Cheers.

By: bk

bk — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 00:03:41 +0000

Hi I already have one instance of WordPress running which I installed using Fantastico but I need to add another blog using the same database as I have no more databases left. Fantastico won’t let me install on the same database as it wants to give it a whole new one. Therefore it looks like I have to manually install WordPress so can you help me with this please?

I think these are some of the steps I would need to take:

Download wordpress
Rename wp-config-sample.php to wp-config.php.
Change default $table_prefix of ‘wp_’ in the wp-config.php file from default wp to say ‘xx_’
Update config file with details of db_name etc
Upload wordpress to server
Set permissions

Am I on the right track here. Seems like a lot of effort to get this working or am I making it hard work.