How to Map Domains with the WPMU DEV Domain Mapping Plugin

Today I’ve got a tutorial to show all of you WPMU DEV members how to use our domain mapping plugin. Domain mapping lets you map any domain onto your WordPress network, giving you the ability to offer domains to your network users.

So this:

http://mynetwork.com/networkuser

becomes:

http://www.networkuserdomain.com

The process can feel a little complex if you’re not familiar with fiddling around in your CPanel and playing with IP addresses. But it’s actually remarkably simple and after you’ve gone through it once you’ll be mapping domains all over the place.

Before we get started, here’s what you need:

1. A dedicated IP address. This means that the domain will be mapped onto a single IP. If you’re using shared hosting without a dedicate IP, your IP address will change pretty regularly. This means that there is no single IP for your domain to be mapped to. Contact your host and ask them to add a dedicated IP to your account – this may come as part of your hosting package or you could be charged a small fee.
2. Access to CPanel
3. A domain to map and access to its settings
4. The WPMU DEV Domain Mapping Plugin
5. WordPress Multisite install

If you’re a fan of learning by watching rather than reading, you can watch this video made by Mason who goes through all the steps for setting up domain mapping.

WPMU DEV Domain Mapping from Zebedee Films on Vimeo.

Here we go.

1. Set up your domain

I have a domain set up at Godaddy that I’m going to map onto another site. I need to point this to my dedicated IP address.

Login to your domain registrar and find the area that lets you change these settings. At Godaddy it is called “DNS Manager.” There you will find a record under A(Host) with @ pointing to an IP Address. We want to change this.

Click edit and insert your dedicated IP.

2. Park Domain

As my multisite is on shared hosting I’ll need to park the domain. To do this log into your CPanel and scroll down to “Parked domains”

Click Parked Domains and input the domain you want to park.

Now we get to play with WordPress!

3. Create a new site

Log in to your network admin and add a new site:

I’m going to call mine domainmap

Here it is:

4. Install Domain Mapping

Download Domain Mapping and open up your site in your favorite FTP program. You need to install the components of the plugin in a few different folders. Let’s do these one by one:

a) Copy domain-mapping.php to the mu-plugins folder

b) Copy the sunrise.php file to the wp-content folder

c) Open wp-config.php and add the following line before /* That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */

define( 'SUNRISE', 'on' );

5. Configure Domain Mapping

Log back into Network Admin dashboard and go to Network>Network Settings

Scroll down and you will find your domain mapping configuration. Here you need to add your dedicated IP.

Save

6. Map Domain

Go to the dashboard for your new site:

Scroll down to Tools > Domain Mapping

Add the domain that you want to map:

Click Add

7. Visit

There it is!

And don’t forget, you can use the WPMU DEV Supporter plugin to offer this as a premium service to paying members. In the next few weeks I’ll look at some of the awesome things you can do with the supporter plugin.

The WPMU DEV Domain Mapping plugin is available now for members – non-members can sign up or buy a copy for $39.