This page should hopefully help out with the most common questions people have. I will be adding to this page as time goes on. If you don’t find answers here or in the readme, please feel free to ask questions. 
- Okay, I’ve made a directory for a second blog. Now what do I put in it?
- Does Virtual Multiblog work with WordPress version x.x?
- The new version is missing the plugin folder. What happened? Do I still need it?
- Can the blogs have different themes and plugins?
- What is a “symbolic link” (symlink) and how do I make one?
- I’ve redirected different domains to my site, and set up the config files, but the domains all show the same blog. What’s going wrong?
- How do I upgrade from version 2.1 to version 2.2?
- Is there a way to make it so that when you log on to one blog you’re logged on to them all?
- Q: Okay, I’ve made a folder for a second blog. Now what do I put in it?
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A: Nothing. In fact, get rid of the folder. If you want a “virtual” blog in a subdirectory, that subdirectory isn’t going to actually be a folder, it’s going to be a symbolic link. (See more on Symbolic Links.)
If you’re making a virtual blog in a subdomain (e.g. newblog.example.com ) you don’t even need the symlink. Simply point the subdomain to the same location as your primary domain.
The whole point of this exercise is that all your blogs will run off a single set of WordPress files. You should never have to have multiple copies of the files in different places.
- Q: Does Virtual Multiblog work with WordPress version x.x?
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A: As of this writing, Virtual Multiblog 2.2.2 (with plugin v2.2) has been tested through WordPress 2.5.1. Because of the nature of the VMB system, I do not anticipate basic functionality breaking in future versions, unless WordPress radically changes the way it works.
Although people tend to refer to VMB as a “plugin” for WordPress, it really isn’t: Virtual Multiblog doesn’t run on top of WordPress, WordPress runs on top of Virtual Multiblog! (This is why I consistently refer to it as a “system” rather than a “plugin”.) Because of this, there is very little in the basic function that depends on how WordPress works. That makes it pretty future proof.
It does have some “plugin-like” functions that are more dependent on WordPress, and thus may change or break over time. At this time that code adds no major functionality beyond a diagnostic page in Admin.
- Q: The new version is missing the plugin folder. What happened? Do I still need it?
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A: Sorry, that’s two questions. The plugin is no longer needed as of VMB version 2.4. Before upgrading, you should deactivate the “Virtual Multiblog Support” plugin in all blogs. The easiest way to do that is to delete the file. The functions formerly handled by the plugin are still there; I just got rid of the plugin, which was acting as a bootstrap.
- Q: Can the blogs have different themes and plugins?
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A: Yes. Each blog runs as a completely separate install of WordPress. As such, they have separate Admin sections, separate Users, and separate settings (including which themes or plugins are active).
- Q: What is a “symbolic link” (symlink) and how do I make one?
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A: A symbolic link, or “symlink” is a type of shortcut originating in Unix-like operating systems. Basically, it is a second representation of a particular file (or in this case, directory). A symbolic link basically acts as though it is the target file or folder. In the case of this system, you can put WordPress files in one folder and make a symlink pointing to that first folder. The symlink acts as a second folder that has all the contents of the original.
As for making them, that’s a huge topic, and too big for this page. It totally depends on your system, your OS, settings within your OS, and so forth, though I can say that they can be made in Unix or Linux; I have personally made them in Mac OS X (using Cocktail); and I am informed by commenters that you can make them in Windows.
If you don’t know much about them, it might be best to ask your hosting company to make them for you. That’s what I do.
For further information, you might find the page at Wikipedia useful.
- Q: I’ve redirected different domains to my site, and set up the config files, but the domains all show the same blog. What’s going wrong?
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A: It could be many things. First off, a URL redirect will not work; the domains must all point directly to the server (or name server). Next, the server must have those domains pointing to the same directory with the install of WordPress. (In Apache the server admin would most likely set up “Virtual Hosts” that all point to the same place.)
A bit of info that might help with troubleshooting: if the system can’t figure out what VUSER to use, it will try to use the default. (If you’ve set up the
$vusers[]list, the default is the first on the list.) Thus, problems determining VUSER can result in different virtual blogs displaying the same content. - Q: How do I upgrade to a new version?
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Step 1: Set your configuration files aside.
Step 2: Delete the existing
/wp-content/multiblog/folder. Replace it with the new copy. Put your existing config files back into the/config/folder.Step 3: In the root WordPress folder, replace the old wp-config.php with the new one.
Step 4: If you have the
multiblog-supportplugin installed in your plugins folder, delete it. You don’t need it anymore.NOTE: If you previously had to do strange things to your
$vusers[]or table-prefixes relating to double-slashes, I think that’s fixed as of in 2.2. So if you’re having trouble, you may try undoing whatever you had to tweak in the old version. (I was never able to reproduce that error, so I don’t know what exactly caused it, but I’m hearing that it’s fixed now.) - Q: Is there a way to make it so that when you log on to one blog you’re logged on to them all?
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A: Not at present. Somewhere down the line I would like to implement this, but I don’t expect it any time soon.
25 Comments
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I am working on a clients website and have installed Nerdaphernalia(multi-blog). When I try to activate the plugin I get:
Fatal error: Call to a member function plugin_calls() on a non-object in /home/content/p/a/m/pamgibbs/html/wp-content/plugins/multiblog-support/multiblog-support.php on line 43
I am using Wordpress 2.5.1.
What am I doing wrong?
LK
Lucie — My first guess: are you using a newer version of the plugin with an older version of the system in
/wp-contents/multiblog/? Or vice-versa? There were changes recently that require that you upgrade them together.(The error you got suggests that the plugin is trying to call a function that should — but doesn’t — exist in the
/multiblog/files.)Strider,
Thanks for your quick response - I will download 2.2 and check my coding of the subdomains again - If I have more problems I’ll let you know..
Thanks again,
Lucie
Strider,
Let’s see if I can get all this in here…using WP 251 and VBLOG 2.2.
I have set up three subdomains pointing at the root of my webspace, traveler, desert and sentiments. So I should have traveler.middleagedmadness.com…etc.
I have set up folders in the root with the same names / used or not(don’t care just so long as I get seperate blogs).
I replaced the root wp-config.php with the one provided.
I have a new database, Wordpress is not installed.
mp-functions.php and a wp-config.php reside in wp-content/multiblog.
mp-autoconfig.php resides in wp-content/multblog/content with the correct database information.
mp-user.php is in same directory with database settings - it has 3 vuser settings - coded as traveler, desert, sentiments and the mydomain as middleagedmadness.com - no redirect optional settings.
I defined 3 mp-config-VUSER_com_VUSER.php files with database settings and table prefixes of desert_, traveler_ and sentiments_.
When I try to install, from the domain or any subdomain I get a blank page.
HELP PLEASE - I need to make this work!
Lucie — I don’t think you need the folders. Set up the system at the site root and point the subdomains to that same site root.
“mp-autoconfig.php resides in wp-content/multblog/content”
I assume you mean
wp-content/multiblog/config?Also, you keep saying “mp-whatever”. Should be “mb-” (as in “MultiBlog”)
Do double-check for typos in file names and their contents.
The subdomain’s are pointed at the root, and no mention of them in any config file. I AM sorry about the mp - I just typed them incorrectly and meant mb.
The mb-autoconfig.php file is in the wp-content/multiblog/config folder.
I’m still getting a blank page - today I will recopy all the base files, replace the wp-config with the one VBlog provides and go at it again.
Wish me luck!!
Lucie
I do have another question - I am at a loss as to how to set up Wordpress. I would like pretty url’s - do I just create categories and start posting?
The problem lies within the wp-config.php for the plugin. Everytime I move the file to the root, replacing the existing wp-config file - I get a blank page.
?!?! I must be missing something…
Lucie –
RE pretty urls: one thing at a time. Get the system working first, then fiddle with URLs.
The wp-config is the file that ties this system to WordPress. If you use the basic WordPress version, you aren’t using this system at all.
Look in your config files, and make sure all vusers are surrounded by single quotes in wp-users. (There may be a typo in the sample — I think there’s a missing quote mark in one of the $vusers[] )
I just installed multiblog after updating to WP 2.5.1, and it appears to have erased my site. Is there any way to get my info and posts back, like is it all in the WP folder still, but because of the multiblog system it now doesn’t see the old posts? Please help. I installed multiblog to set up shank.bighutch.net, and both sites installed fine, but everything I had been posting on the main site for the last year is now gone, and like an idiot I didn’t back-up before instaling. Please let me know if you know of any way to find that data.
Adam –
If you used Easy Setup it’s auto-generating a different table-prefix, which means it’s not going to see your old data. To relink your old blog, create a specific config file for the old blog’s URL, and set the table-prefix to what it was on the old blog (probably ‘wp_’).
Strider, thanks for getting back to me. I think I know what you are talking about, but I am not entirely sure. Do I need to create a ’second’ wp-config file, or am I now making a new config file in which I make your adjustments? I guess I dont really know at all, now that I think about it, and if you could take a few minutes to show me how to do it here, I’d much appreciate it, and it might be something to include in a troubleshooting section of the download. THanks again for your help.
Adam — read the “readme” included with the download; pay attention to Advanced Setup. Yes, you are creating a config file specific to the particular blog.
Hi Stephen, nice piece of software you wrote. Thanks !!
I’ve just installed it in an existing blog directory. Had to play around a little in the database, to change the prefixes, but all is working fine now.
Having a problem with the new to be added blogs though.
I have a strange problem that my .htaccess redirects seem to only function for one blog. This main-site is working great. I have other virtual domains pointing to the same directory. The urls however result in a 403 error. I already updated the .htaccess according to your readme file.
When removing the .htaccess file, the other blogs are reachable, but my pretty permalinks on the mainsite no longer work.
Would you happen to have a suggestion, or better a solution?
Thanks,
Arnaud
Hi. I am looking to create a system for my clients. Essentially I need them to each have a blog, which this allows for, but does it allow them to all have access only to their blogs? For example, if I wanted to create a way for them to have their own wordpress (like if you went to wordpress.org and created your own blog), will this essentially allow that without giving each client access to the other client’s site?
So I set up one wp, and one set of wp plug-ins and this download allows a consistent set up with plugins? And they can do their own skin work?
Sorry for dumb questions.
Rick —
From the FAQ, regarding themes and plugins:
Hi Stephen,
Very nice hacks! I was wondering. Is it possible to have the same user table for all blogs? I would like to set up several blogs but dont want user to register several times?
Symbolic links are new to me. Creating them will be something new to learn, which is cool. However, I am confused as to what links I need to make. The documentation does not provide me with that info… what’s symbolic links are we needing to set up?
I am running WP2.6
[Please do not use advertising links in comments. Link removed -- ed.]
MW — You have a folder somewhere with WordPress installed in it: e.g.
example.com/blogYou want a second blog at
example.com/blog2Rather than a
blog2folder, you make a symbolic link (symlink) namedblog2that points to/blog. That symlink will act as a folder with all the same contents as the target,/blogGood day and thanks for the info. But I do have two quesions…
1. How do you handle things like xml sitemap generation for google, msn and such? Each site wants to store flat xml files in the root of the wordpress install.
2. How do I handle temp folders within the wordpress install? For instance, one of my plugins saves a running report folder within the plug-ins folder.
thanks!
Frank.
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