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Introduction

Deploy a WordPress multisite on the Pantheon Platform.


This guide covers the process of requesting, configuring, and maintaining a new WordPress Multisite on Pantheon. We'll also explore supported use cases, considerations and some common troubleshooting tips.

About WordPress Multisite

Pantheon supports WordPress Multisite which lets you create a network of sites using a single copy of the WordPress codebase and a common database. For those responsible for maintaining several or dozens of similar sites, WordPress Multisite can make it much easier to fix bugs and deploy new features across all of those sites.

Multisite diagram

Supported Use Cases

Pantheon supports the most common use case for WordPress Multisites: a common codebase which powers a set of related sites. This includes, but is not limited to, networks of:

  • Blogs for faculty at a university
  • Franchise sites under a parent organization site
  • Sections within a media publication
  • Bedrock based or Composer based WP Multisite is a possibility and can be discussed during onboarding

Unsupported Use Cases

We do not support uses of WordPress Multisite that run functionally-different or uniquely-owned sites on the same WordPress installation. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Software as a service (SAAS) products
  • Agencies using one WordPress installation to support several customers
  • WordPress Multi-Network installations where multiple domains can be added aside from subdomains and subdirectories.

Request a WordPress Multisite

WordPress Multisite requires a special configuration that is only available to select customers. Access to WordPress Multisite requires a Gold, Platinum, or Diamond level Workspace plan. A Pantheon employee must create a custom WordPress Multisite upstream in your Workspace for you to be able to create Multisites. Existing WordPress sites cannot be converted to a multisite, however they can be migrated.

Reach out to your account manager to request that a new WordPress Multisite upstream be created for you. Once an employee of Pantheon has created the upstream, you will be able to use it create Multisites in your org. If you don't have an account manager, you can contact sales.

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