Title: Multisite / WordPress Network errors, details, screenshots Last modified: August 22, 2016 --- # Multisite / WordPress Network errors, details, screenshots * Resolved [WebPrezence](https://wordpress.org/support/users/webprezence/) * (@webprezence) * [11 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-wordpress-network-errors-details-screenshots-1/) * **Note for WordPress.org admins: I mistakenly posted this in the wrong forum; it belongs in this forum. I’m not trying to SPAM the forums, so you can delete the other post. Thanks! * Hey all! I’m just about out of options here. I’ll explain what I’ve done with this domain, where I’m trying to have 4 subdomains. This may be long, but I don’t wanna leave any stones unturned. * **The Basics** - On a BlueHost VPS; they say they don’t give multisite support, so I’m on my own - WordPress 4.0; all plugins up-to-date. - My primary domain is installed in the /public_html/ root, but I’m not even working with my primary domain — it’s old & obsolete; each subsequent domain has its own add-on domain in it’s own folder (e.g., /public_html/nationalcdp/, which is the WordPress installation this thread deals with. - One of the primary domains I purchased through BlueHost is nationalcdp.org; so the path to that is /public_html/nationalcdp/, which is a WordPress domain like all of my domains. - It’s running on the Genesis framework & Genesis child theme and was functioning perfectly. I have a copy of the DB (and files that were altered) prior to attempting to Multisite it - nationalcdp.org is fully SSL’d and I use [WordPress HTTPS](http://wordpress.org/plugins/wordpress-https/). - Prior to launching the multisite effort, I had already made a subdomain, cases. nationalcdp.org, purchased an SSL certificate for that, installed it, and it was working fine; I just had to log into it separately, and since have decided I wanted 3 more subdomains, but haven’t purchased an SSL certificate for the other 3 subdomains at this point, although I have like $50 in my namecheap. com account so I can do so at any time * **What I’ve Done:** So I started multisite using all of the codex / WordPress instructions. I changed files as such: * (near the top of wp-config) * ``` /* Multisite */ define( 'WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE', true ); define('MULTISITE', true); define('SUBDOMAIN_INSTALL', true); define('DOMAIN_CURRENT_SITE', 'nationalcdp.org'); define('PATH_CURRENT_SITE', '/'); define('SITE_ID_CURRENT_SITE', 1); define('BLOG_ID_CURRENT_SITE', 1); define( 'SUNRISE', 'on' ); ``` * (replacing the bottom of htaccess and using it solely as my htaccess) * ``` # BEGIN WordPress RewriteEngine On RewriteBase / RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L] # add a trailing slash to /wp-admin RewriteRule ^wp-admin$ wp-admin/ [R=301,L] RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -f [OR] RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -d RewriteRule ^ - [L] RewriteRule ^(wp-(content|admin|includes).*) $1 [L] RewriteRule ^(.*\.php)$ $1 [L] RewriteRule . index.php [L] # END WordPress ``` 1. I then created 3 additional subdomains: directory.nationalcdp.org, forums.nationalcdp. org, and discuss.nationalcdp.org. I also added cases.nationalcdp.org, which it its own separate WordPress installation and already has an SSL certificate 2. BlueHost automatically updates your DNS records when creating a subdomain, so I also updated CloudFlare’s DNS to reflect these changes. 3. I added a wildcard subdomain (*) and pointed it to /public_html/nationalcdp/, and did the same with CloudFlare. I also tried pointing this to the /public_html/ but realized that’s not correct, since the WordPress installation is in /public_html/ nationalcdp/. It created a /nationalcdp/wildcard/ folder. I left it there, then deleted the folder it created. So there are folders /nationalcdp/directory/,/ nationalcdp/discuss/, /nationalcdp/forums/, and /nationalcdp/cases/. 4. I installed the [WordPress MU Domain Mapping plugin](http://wordpress.org/plugins/wordpress-mu-domain-mapping/), although I don’t have a clear concept of what “mapping” is other than simply redirecting. I didn’t upload this via the WordPress interface; I downloaded it and placed domain-mapping.php in my /wp-content/mu-plugins/ folder, and placed sunrise.php in /wp-content/. 5. I have W3 Total Cache installed. * The Problems: - I can log into my WordPress admin. There is no **Tools** >> **NetWork Admin** when I log in as myself (screenshot). All I see is this ([screenshot](http://i.imgur.com/EbhctgR.jpg)). - I see nothing saying I’m a **Super Admin**. The only way I can tell I’m a Super Admin is by going to **My Sites** >> **Network Admin** >> **Users**, and there, I can see I’m a Super Admin. ([Screenshot](http://i.imgur.com/korlFnJ.jpg)) - I do see my subdomain sites — but still, not Tools >> NetWork Admin. ([screenshot](http://i.imgur.com/YeeQptN.jpg)) - When I click on Dashboard in any of my subdomains, I receive a 404 Page Not Found error. Perhaps this is because I don’t have SSL installed on the others( yet). But I do have SSL installed on cases.natonalcdp.org, and I still receive a 404: ([Screenshot](http://i.imgur.com/2gQwFJF.jpg)) - The front side of the domain, cases.nationalcdp.org doesn’t work anymore. - My FTP utility looks like this: ([Screenshot](http://i.imgur.com/cdq9ZIq.jpg)), with the subdomains creating folders in the /nationalcdp/ folder. When opening a folder, nothing is in there other than an empty /cgi-bin/ folder ([Screenshot](http://i.imgur.com/tYoku0b.jpg)). * So if this is a matter of just purchasing 3 more SSL certs and installing them on the BlueHost VPS, that’s no problem; I could have all 3 domains SSL’d in 10 minutes. But I don’t want to purchase the certificates until I know this is going to work. * Or is it a matter of deleting those folders, or the /cgi-bin/ within ’em? * Other than that, I really don’t know what I’ve done wrong. I’ve logged out, rebooted, refreshed, tried different browsers, etc.; nothing seems to work. * I cannot get **Tools** >> **Network Admin** to show, cannot get any Super User option to show in the top WordPress toolbar, and cannot get to any of the dashboards of any subdomain. * I’ve pretty much followed everything to a tee. It could be a WordPress HTTPS or W3 Total Cache issue, or simply that I need to purchase SSL certificates. But I think it might have something to be done w/ the way I set up the subdomains. * Any guidance in helping me with this issue would be **greatly** appreciated! * Thanks! * [http://wordpress.org/plugins/wordpress-mu-domain-mapping/](http://wordpress.org/plugins/wordpress-mu-domain-mapping/) Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total) * Moderator [Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ipstenu/) * (@ipstenu) * 🏳️‍🌈 Advisor and Activist * [11 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-wordpress-network-errors-details-screenshots-1/#post-5293466) * Domain Mapping means you turn subdomain.site.com into otherdomain.com – You’re not doing this, ditch it and walk away from it for now. * > There is no Tools >> NetWork Admin when I log in as myself (screenshot). All > I see is this (screenshot). * That’s not wrong. You see a link to Network Admin, that’s all you’re supposed to see. If you mean Tools -> Network _STEUP_, that’s here: [https://codex.wordpress.org/images/7/75/network-create.png](https://codex.wordpress.org/images/7/75/network-create.png) * > see nothing saying I’m a Super Admin. The only way I can tell I’m a Super > Admin is by going to My Sites >> Network Admin >> Users, and there, I can see > I’m a Super Admin. (Screenshot) * This is normal. _NOTHING_ says you’re a super admin, except the fact that you can actually go to MySite >> Network Admin. _Only the super-admins can see that menu_. You’re fine. * > I do see my subdomain sites — but still, not Tools >> NetWork Admin. (screenshot) * There’s no such thing as Tools >> Network Admin. Don’t know where you got that idea to start with, and I can only guess you meant Tools >> Network Setup, see my first comment/ * > When I click on Dashboard in any of my subdomains, I receive a 404 Page Not > Found error. Perhaps this is because I don’t have SSL installed on the others( > yet). But I do have SSL installed on cases.natonalcdp.org, and I still receive > a 404: (Screenshot) > The front side of the domain, cases.nationalcdp.org doesn’t work anymore. * NOW we have a problem! Yay! The source code shows it’s looking for this. * `https://cases.nationalcdp.org/wp-content/plugins/ultimate-coming-soon-page/inc/ template/dd_belatedpng.js` * That page DOES exist, but I’m not sure if that’s right or wrong. * What I DO know is this: [https://www.whatsmydns.net/#A/cases.nationalcdp.org](https://www.whatsmydns.net/#A/cases.nationalcdp.org) * Two IPs? Not normal. * > When I click on Dashboard in any of my subdomains, I receive a 404 Page Not > Found error. * It’s not this: [http://nationalcdp.org/wp-signup.php?new=sdsdsvcases](http://nationalcdp.org/wp-signup.php?new=sdsdsvcases) * That’s expected for fake subdomains, and is good 🙂 what’s less good is it’s http, when you should be https all around. * > My FTP utility looks like this: (Screenshot), with the subdomains creating > folders in the /nationalcdp/ folder. When opening a folder, nothing is in there > other than an empty /cgi-bin/ folder (Screenshot). * That’s not right at ALL. ALL of your subdomains need to point to where nationalcdp. org is – NOT their own subfolders. * Thread Starter [WebPrezence](https://wordpress.org/support/users/webprezence/) * (@webprezence) * [11 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-wordpress-network-errors-details-screenshots-1/#post-5293477) * Thank you for taking the time to reply, Ipstenu! We’re an anti death-penalty 501(c)(3) coporation and we supply services to indigent prisoners in need of such (as an FYI), but I did read all of your ideas. * I’ll make the changes you’ve hinted at and report back ASAP. I also e-mailed you from your about.com/ page, and on FB, with a different message, although I didn’t see the caveat on your personal page until just now, so perhaps that e-mail/msg should be disregarded. * Yes, [http://nationalcdp.org/wp-signup.php?new=sdsdsvcases](http://nationalcdp.org/wp-signup.php?new=sdsdsvcases) gives me a 404 not found. I think I need to SSL discuss, directory, and forums… if you’re referring to them as fake subdomains. * I would like the URL to look like directory.nationalcdp.org, discuss.nationalcdp. org, etc. … * Again, thanks, and I’ll report back when I figure out why I’m having two separate IP addresses, and make all the other changes. * I should note that with CloudFlare, you always have 2 separate IP addresses; it’s just the way they operate. * Thread Starter [WebPrezence](https://wordpress.org/support/users/webprezence/) * (@webprezence) * [11 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-wordpress-network-errors-details-screenshots-1/#post-5293492) * I just got off live chat with a BlueHost VPS technician … he basically said as follows: 1. Having 2 IP addresses is appropriate when you’re using CloudFlare; the A-records should still point to 192.163.194.201, which is my Server IP. 2. He told me to ditch all of the subdomains I created (directory, forums, discuss, etc.) and told me to just create the * (wildcard) subdomain in the directory where my WordPress installation is located (/public_html/nationalcdp/). **I’m not sure if this is good information, however.** 3. He then told me to scrap the separate SSLs, and just purchase a wildcard SSL instead; he said this was his recommendation, although it would require a few extra compexities. * So I’m doing all of those things right now, on the horn with namecheap.com and getting that wildcard SSL. - I deleted the domain mapping plugin — which included the files sunrise.php and domain-mapping.php, since I don’t think I’m “mapping” any domains, but rather just creating a few subdomains. * Just one question — is there a reason I still don’t have **Tools** >> **Network Setup** on my dashboard? Did I do something wrong in setting this up? * Thread Starter [WebPrezence](https://wordpress.org/support/users/webprezence/) * (@webprezence) * [11 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-wordpress-network-errors-details-screenshots-1/#post-5293532) * I purchased a Wildcard SSL certificate for $100, installed it, and deleted the subdomains, per the BlueHost tech’s suggestion, and added this to my .htacess, per his suggestion: * ``` # .htaccess WildCard SSL + wordpress + subdomain RewriteEngine on RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^forums.nationalcdp.org$ RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !^/ RewriteRule ^(.*)$ /$1 RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^forums.nationalcdp.org$ RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d RewriteRule ^(/)?$ forums/index.php [L] # .htaccess WildCard SSL + wordpress + subdomain RewriteEngine on RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^dicuss.nationalcdp.org$ RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !^/ RewriteRule ^(.*)$ /$1 RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^discuss.nationalcdp.org$ RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d RewriteRule ^(/)?$ discuss/index.php [L] # .htaccess WildCard SSL + wordpress + subdomain RewriteEngine on RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^directory.nationalcdp.org$ RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !^/ RewriteRule ^(.*)$ /$1 RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^directory.nationalcdp.org$ RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d RewriteRule ^(/)?$ directory/index.php [L] # .htaccess WildCard SSL + wordpress + subdomain RewriteEngine on RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^cases.nationalcdp.org$ RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !^/ RewriteRule ^(.*)$ /$1 RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^cases.nationalcdp.org$ RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d RewriteRule ^(/)?$ cases/index.php [L] # BEGIN WordPress RewriteEngine On RewriteBase / RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L] # add a trailing slash to /wp-admin RewriteRule ^wp-admin$ wp-admin/ [R=301,L] RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -f [OR] RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -d RewriteRule ^ - [L] RewriteRule ^(wp-(content|admin|includes).*) $1 [L] RewriteRule ^(.*\.php)$ $1 [L] RewriteRule . index.php [L] # END WordPress ``` * Yes I’m at the same crossroads. No Tools >> Network Setup, and when I try to go to the dashboard of any subdomain (“fake subdomain”?), it returns a 404 page not found error. * Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! * Thread Starter [WebPrezence](https://wordpress.org/support/users/webprezence/) * (@webprezence) * [11 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-wordpress-network-errors-details-screenshots-1/#post-5293543) * I guess I’ll delete the A-records and start adding CNAMEs and see if that works better. * Thread Starter [WebPrezence](https://wordpress.org/support/users/webprezence/) * (@webprezence) * [11 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-wordpress-network-errors-details-screenshots-1/#post-5293551) * After switching to CNAMEs instead of A-records, and deactivating https (and the [WordPress HTTPS](http://wordpress.org/plugins/wordpress-https/): plugin altogether), I’m finally able to see how Multisite is supposed to work, and I’m able to access all of my subdomain dashboards. * > I should note that my objective is to have several subdomains — forums.nationalcdp. > org, discuss.nationalcdp.org, cases.nationalcdp.org, etc., etc. …. but I’m > thinking down the road, and I’d like for defense attorneys to want to list > themselves in our directory. **But I’d also like for visitors to be able to > create their own blog, such as johndoe-lawfirm.nationalcdp.org.** Based on > this, is it (recommended) to use CNAMEs instead of A-records? * I did purchase a Wildcard SSL certificate, however, and there will be payments, contact forms, etc., so I’d like really the entire site to be SSL’d. * So I’m sure it has something to do with htaccess or the way things are set up in the WordPress HTTPS plugin. So now it’s all about trying to figure out how to get this SSL working properly. * Still working on it! * Thread Starter [WebPrezence](https://wordpress.org/support/users/webprezence/) * (@webprezence) * [11 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-wordpress-network-errors-details-screenshots-1/#post-5293558) * Appears to be fixed. I’ll post a fix in here once I figure out what I did to fix things. * But I can say for sure here are some of the things I needed to do: 1. Change all my A records to CNAMEs — in CloudFlare as well as BlueHost’s DNS records. 2. Deactivate WordPress HTTPS plugin (rename it in your host’s file manager of via your FTP client) 3. Change your site URL from https to http (go into your database via phpmyadmin and search in your _options table for it) 4. Go into my WHM (ask your host if you’re not on a VPS), and find the SSL certificate that was creating clashes with another SSL cert. Click **Make Primary**, so the multisite SSL is the primary SSL 5. Change the name of your [WordPress HTTPS](http://wordpress.org/plugins/wordpress-https/) plugin back to normal 6. Log into your Multisite and go to your network plugins. Activate WordPress HTTPS. 7. Make sure your WordPress HTTPS is properly configured; for me, personally, I wanted everything SSL’d site-wide, so I just put a / in the textbox where it says **Secure Filters** >> **URL Filters**. See the [screenshot](http://i.imgur.com/bY8ddra.jpg) for the rest of my WordPress HTTPS settings that worked. 8. Change your site name and all that back to https (I had to do it via phpmyadmin, since it doesn’t show up in my General Settings. 9. Forget about all that “mapping” stuff — at least in my case; none of it really applied to what I’m doing. 10. You might need to use the [Search and Replace](https://wordpress.org/plugins/search-and-replace/) plugin after everything is done to tie up any loose ends. I just did a [http://nationalcdp.org](http://nationalcdp.org) and replaced with [https://nationalcdp.org](https://nationalcdp.org) and that fixed all the broken images within my WordPress admin. 11. My admin images are still broken for the subdomains, but it’s still easy enough to navigate for now. It’s nothing in my database, so I suppose I’ll just need a reboot or something to figure it out … might be an .htaccess thing; not sure. * That’s about what worked for me. The main thing was that the SSL certificate was clashing with another certificate on a completely separate domain; making the multisite domain the primary SSL domain in my Web Hosting Manager (WHM) was the main thing. * Then it’s just about configuring that WordPress HTTPS issue. * If anyone runs into a similar issue, hit me up and I’ll see if I can share things I learned. Anyway, that’s what worked for me. Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total) The topic ‘Multisite / WordPress Network errors, details, screenshots’ is closed to new replies. ## Tags * [multisite](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/multisite/) * [Wordpress Network](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/wordpress-network/) * [wpmu](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/wpmu/) * In: [Networking WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/multisite/) * 7 replies * 2 participants * Last reply from: [WebPrezence](https://wordpress.org/support/users/webprezence/) * Last activity: [11 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-wordpress-network-errors-details-screenshots-1/#post-5293558) * Status: resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics