Title: Cloning Multisite for testing environment
Last modified: August 20, 2016

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# Cloning Multisite for testing environment

 *  Resolved [Carmdq](https://wordpress.org/support/users/carmdq/)
 * (@carmdq)
 * [13 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cloning-multisite-for-testing-environment/)
 * Hi. I’m currently running a multisite for my portfolio site (example.com). At
   first, I created a sub-domain (sub.example.com) to upload the content and customize
   my template. Then I moved everything to the root folder by following the information
   on the codex. Now that the site is live, I would like to create a test environment
   for further customization without touching what’s live right now.
 * I was hoping to somehow clone my current site to a sub-domain or somewhere protected,
   so I can test the customization with the actual content.
 * What do you guys think is the best procedure here? Should I go with a sub-domain
   or go local? And do you think I should do a manual WP install and import the 
   database or is there an automated process that you recommend?
 * Thanks

Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

 *  Moderator [Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ipstenu/)
 * (@ipstenu)
 * 🏳️‍🌈 Advisor and Activist
 * [13 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cloning-multisite-for-testing-environment/#post-3486580)
 * I would do it locally. Cloning Multisite on your live server is … scary IMO.
 *  Thread Starter [Carmdq](https://wordpress.org/support/users/carmdq/)
 * (@carmdq)
 * [13 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cloning-multisite-for-testing-environment/#post-3486584)
 * Thanks Mika. I will look into this. I guess the most complicated part would be
   the database references and links. I have found [this method](http://sboneham.com/blog/2012/11/cloning-a-large-wordpress-multisite-network-for-local-development/)
   to make a copy to a local environment.
 * What do you think?
 *  Moderator [Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ipstenu/)
 * (@ipstenu)
 * 🏳️‍🌈 Advisor and Activist
 * [13 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cloning-multisite-for-testing-environment/#post-3486587)
 * I would copy all the posts and the DB down to my local host and then just search/
   replace the DB for example.com and make it example.loc
 * Then add in my hosts file that example.loc lives on my computer, and have a day
   with it 🙂
 *  Thread Starter [Carmdq](https://wordpress.org/support/users/carmdq/)
 * (@carmdq)
 * [13 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cloning-multisite-for-testing-environment/#post-3486597)
 * I assume .loc is for local. But I’ve never tried messing with the hosts file.
   Do you just need to insert the IP address and example.loc in it?
 *  Moderator [Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ipstenu/)
 * (@ipstenu)
 * 🏳️‍🌈 Advisor and Activist
 * [13 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cloning-multisite-for-testing-environment/#post-3486626)
 * Read [http://wpmututorials.com/how-to/using-a-hosts-file/](http://wpmututorials.com/how-to/using-a-hosts-file/)
   🙂
 * .loc is a made up TLD, I just use it since I know it’s not real 🙂
 *  Thread Starter [Carmdq](https://wordpress.org/support/users/carmdq/)
 * (@carmdq)
 * [13 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cloning-multisite-for-testing-environment/#post-3486633)
 * What I don’t quite get yet, is why would you would change .com for .loc since
   you’re modifying the hosts file. Wouldn’t that be redirecting the browser to 
   your computer avoiding the need to touch the database?
 *  Moderator [Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ipstenu/)
 * (@ipstenu)
 * 🏳️‍🌈 Advisor and Activist
 * [13 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cloning-multisite-for-testing-environment/#post-3486641)
 * Because everything, including the DB, is on my computer. I use it for running
   MAMP (or XAMMP or whatever) locally, so I can edit _everything_ without fear 
   for messing up the real site.
 *  Thread Starter [Carmdq](https://wordpress.org/support/users/carmdq/)
 * (@carmdq)
 * [13 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cloning-multisite-for-testing-environment/#post-3486655)
 * Thanks Mika.

Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

The topic ‘Cloning Multisite for testing environment’ is closed to new replies.

 * In: [Networking WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/multisite/)
 * 8 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [Carmdq](https://wordpress.org/support/users/carmdq/)
 * Last activity: [13 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cloning-multisite-for-testing-environment/#post-3486655)
 * Status: resolved

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