can i have more than one wordpress on a site?

[DennisJ]

can i have more than one wordpress on a site?

whats the best way to do this?

[twn]

Hi DennisJ,
Yes, you can have one or more wordpress on a site, you just install a second/third wordpress in a subdirectory, for example mydomain.com/mysecondblog/ . And with a little extra work you can configure your server that this subdirectory is reachable with a subdomain like: mysecondblog.mydomain.com . Or you can try installing wordpress mu, which allows multiple wordpress blogs.

[walrus]

In fact you can not only have more than one install of WP as twn described but you can have them share the same database by changing this line in wp-config.php

$table_prefix  = 'wp_';   // Only numbers, letters, and underscores please!

[jayeff]

Originally Posted by walrus

you can have them share the same database...

The snag being if that database gets mangled, none of your blogs will work: something which would usually only happen with more widespread server/SQLserver issues.

[walrus]

Originally Posted by jayeff

The snag being if that database gets mangled, none of your blogs will work: something which would usually only happen with more widespread server/SQLserver issues.

If you run a business there are certain things you need to do to maintain that business and keep it safe. In the brick and mortar world, you sweep the floors, take out the trash, lock the doors and set the alarms. If your running a web business, you backup your sites on a regular basis, which includes your databases so that if / when an emergency happens you are in a position to pickup the pieces.

Of course I had to learn this the hard way by losing a couple databases. Except according to your theory, that probably shouldn't have happened because I was only running one blog per database. Since then, by doing proper maintenance and keeping daily backups, I haven't lost a thing and it has been over a year and I'm much more active than I was then.

[jayeff]

Originally Posted by walrus

Of course I had to learn this the hard way by losing a couple databases. Except according to your theory, that probably shouldn't have happened because I was only running one blog per database.

I'm not sure why such a prickly response...

If one is offering advice or suggestions, isn't it reasonable to point out the pro's and con's of the various options, so that people can make informed choices? In any case, what does my observation have to do with the sense of regular maintenance? Or vice versa...

You pointed out that a single database is possible for multiple sites. I pointed out a potential drawback. Not exactly the stuff of drama.

[walrus]

I didn't think I was necessarily being prickly nor creating drama, I simply stated why I believe your con was invalid.

[DennisJ]

Originally Posted by twn

Hi DennisJ,
Yes, you can have one or more wordpress on a site, you just install a second/third wordpress in a subdirectory, for example mydomain.com/mysecondblog/ . And with a little extra work you can configure your server that this subdirectory is reachable with a subdomain like: mysecondblog.mydomain.com . Or you can try installing wordpress mu, which allows multiple wordpress blogs.

out of the 3 options above which one is better?

[DennisJ]

Originally Posted by walrus

In fact you can not only have more than one install of WP as twn described but you can have them share the same database by changing this line in wp-config.php

$table_prefix  = 'wp_';   // Only numbers, letters, and underscores please!

mm can you give an example of the line changed, u mean i just change the 'wp_' with the name of the main database im using rite?

[DennisJ]

Originally Posted by jayeff

The snag being if that database gets mangled, none of your blogs will work: something which would usually only happen with more widespread server/SQLserver issues.

you mean as if i lost the database? or does the sharing database create some conflicts on the blogs? or does sharing it mess up the whole database?

[walrus]

Originally Posted by DennisJ

mm can you give an example of the line changed, u mean i just change the 'wp_' with the name of the main database im using rite?

Lets say you have a amateur blog you could change 'wp_' to 'am_'. I will build a blog on the root of my domain and use the 'wp_" and then any blogs I create in subdirectories I change the first two initials to something that would relate to that blog.

[walrus]

Originally Posted by DennisJ

you mean as if i lost the database? or does the sharing database create some conflicts on the blogs? or does sharing it mess up the whole database?

Damn, I forgot to use the nifty little multi-quote feature. Anyway he means that is something were to happen to the database itself it would affect all the blogs tied to that database.

Sharing the database does not create conflicts and sharing does not mess it up. His stance is that the more you access the database, the greater the chance of some type of corruption.

[DennisJ]

Originally Posted by DennisJ

out of the 3 options above which one is better?

Walrus can you answer this one?

also what does that line on the config does exactly? , i guess the line is just for creating a table inside the database, so i just type the same database name while installing the WP instances rite?

[walrus]

Originally Posted by DennisJ

Walrus can you answer this one?

also what does that line on the config does exactly? , i guess the line is just for creating a table inside the database, so i just type the same database name while installing the WP instances rite?

I tried WPmu while it was still in beta so I can't really tell you much about it but my impression was that it really was to complex unless you want to use it to open a free host.

As far as a sub-domain versus a folder off of the root, I think it kind of depends on what your doing. I built xxx blog maniac as a folder because I wanted to add some depth to my blog directory. I built some as sub-directories because I wanted blogs that deviated from the niche that was on the root.

Your correct, all your doing when you change that is putting the information in a different table inside your database so database name, password, etc. would all remain the same

[twn]

Originally Posted by DennisJ

out of the 3 options above which one is better?

I would say in general the wordpress in a subdirectory which can be reached from a subdomain. With this setup you can use the normal wordpress and all the plugins/themes that come with it. Some plugins & themes don't word with wpmu.

But i recommend you do a google on the difference between subdomains and subdirectories and see if the advantages of a subdomain compared to subdirectories fit your needs. There are a lot articles written about this subject.

[jayeff]

Originally Posted by walrus

His stance is that the more you access the database, the greater the chance of some type of corruption.

That is a consideration, but my view had more to do with there being two things which cause SQL-based sites to fall over (apart from the same issues which affect any site): problems with the SQL server and database corruption. The former will bring down all your sites, whether or not they share databases. The latter (usually) only affects the site(s) using the damaged database.

Since it only takes a few seconds to give each site its own database, I prefer to do so. I'm still not clear why Walrus assumed I was implying anything about the wider aspects of maintenance etc., from that choice.

[walrus]

Originally Posted by jayeff

Since it only takes a few seconds to give each site its own database, I prefer to do so. I'm still not clear why Walrus assumed I was implying anything about the wider aspects of maintenance etc., from that choice.

Probably cause you caught me on a bad day when I was already in a pissy mood over something totally unrelated.

But thats only a guess, since I would never admit such things actually happened.

[Thumbler]

Originally Posted by walrus

Probably cause you caught me on a bad day when I was already in a pissy mood over something totally unrelated.

But thats only a guess, since I would never admit such things actually happened.

I thought it was because somebody had pissed in your Cheerios