Title: Multisite Upgrade Structure
Last modified: August 21, 2016

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# Multisite Upgrade Structure

 *  [Abacus13579](https://wordpress.org/support/users/abacus13579/)
 * (@abacus13579)
 * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-upgrade-structure/)
 * Hi there,
 * I currently have a number of sites, each with an existing WordPress installation.
   They are found at:
 * example.com
    sub1.example.com sub2.example.com etc.
 * I want to move over to a Multisite installation. All subdomain sites look and
   feel the same (same theme and setup) but the root site is totally different. 
   I am unsure about the best and safest way to proceed in upgrading (/ replacing)
   my current network to a Multisite install.
 * I’m pretty unsure about the best path to take, and any help would be much appreciated.
   I don’t mind taking sites down for maintenance but I need to preserve the current
   site files and content so they can be added to the new network sites.
 * The options I have come up with are:
 * 1. Upgrade the existing WP installation in the root domain (example.com) to enable
   multisite.
    - Will this work properly with a complex WP site at example.com?
    - How do I manage subdomain mapping given that there are already installations
      of WP in each subdomain? (This applies to the other options too.)
 * 2. Leave the root installation as it is. Install a new WP with Multisite in a
   different directory (example.com/multi). Run the subdomain sites from this installation.
 * 3. Install a new WP with Multisite in a different directory (example.com/multi)
   and run all sites, including example.com, from this installation.
    - If I do this, which seems ideal, how do I manage the transition on root and
      subdomains without losing files, content or settings?
    - As you can see, I’m really looking for the best way to bring all my sites 
      together under a Multisite with a smooth transition, without losing any content.
    - Thanks in advance for your help!

The topic ‘Multisite Upgrade Structure’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [multisite](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/multisite/)
 * [subdirectory](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/subdirectory/)
 * [transition](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/transition/)
 * [upgrade](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/upgrade/)

 * In: [Networking WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/multisite/)
 * 0 replies
 * 1 participant
 * Last reply from: [Abacus13579](https://wordpress.org/support/users/abacus13579/)
 * Last activity: [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-upgrade-structure/)
 * Status: not resolved

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