Setting up WordPress: A Comprehensive Guide

WordPress is an open-source website creation platform that integrates with Referins. If you run WordPress websites, you can manage them all in one spot from the Referins dashboard. With the search and replace feature, Referins will check for all URLs with HTTP and HTTPS and update them in the new domain.

If you are using plugins to extend the functionality of your site or utilizing themes to control its appearance, you can manage those here. Another helpful feature is the backup and restore feature, which allows you to return sites if they break. Follow along for setting up a WordPress site and the features available within the menu:

Step One: Setting up a new WordPress Site

• Navigate to Sites > WordPress
• To set up your WordPress site, you need to have purchased the WordPress hosting feature under the Sites tab. Once you have done this, you can get started by clicking the "+ Create Site" button.

• Select whether you want to build a site from scratch, use a template, or clone an existing site.

Note: Cloning permissions are role-based, ensuring only authorized users can access this feature.

• Fill in the Site and User details.

• Wait for 10-15 minutes until the installation is complete.

Manage Multiple WordPress Site Installs Under the Same Account: Users can add and view all their sites within the WordPress Tab.

To add a new site, enter the required details and complete the payment.

To switch between sites, use the site info screen to toggle easily.

Step Two: After the installation is complete, you will have access to the following: 

Section 1: The WordPress Dashboard

After installation, you gain access to the WordPress Dashboard. This is your central hub for site management. You can access your site, handle administrative tasks, and monitor its performance here. It includes the following features:

1. Staging Environment:

Staging environments are crucial tools for WordPress users aiming to refine their website development process, reduce risks, and uphold a polished online image. A staging environment mirrors your live website, placed on a separate server or directory, vital for various tasks pivotal to web development and upkeep.

• Click on "Create Environment" under the staging access section.

• After selection, the staging setup begins, which typically completes in 2-5 minutes, based on your WordPress site's size.
• Post creation, make necessary adjustments, and run tests before committing changes to the live website.
• After finalizing changes, click on the "Publish" button. A confirmation prompt appears. On validation, your website will update within the next few minutes.
• If needed, you can delete your staging setup and restart by clicking the "Delete" button.

2. Live Access:

Access Details for Your Primary WordPress Site. Modifications made through FTP or the Database will be reflected in your Live site.

3. Manage Your Domains

Here you can manage your Additional Domains and Primary Domain.

• When setting up the root primary domain, users can choose the "www" version of their domain as the primary domain, providing more control and flexibility in domain management.

• SSO - One Click WP Admin Access: Users can access their WordPress Admin panel with a single click, directly from the dashboard, eliminating the need to enter login credentials. 

4. Import Your Existing Website

Import an Existing WordPress Site using the All-in-One WP Migration plugin

Section 2: User Management:

Manage all users for your site directly from the Dashboard.

• First Name and Last Name fields are optional when creating or editing a user profile, offering more flexibility.
• Users can include spaces in the First Name and Last Name fields, allowing for more personalized user details.

• To improve security and content management, a new admin user must be assigned before an existing admin user can be deleted. This ensures a smooth transition and maintains content control.

Section 3: Plugins and Themes

Update, disable, or change the status of plugins and themes.

• For more information please see article “WordPress Plugin and Theme Management”
• Auto Update Plugins: Control automatic updates for each plugin directly from the Auto Update Settings panel.

Update Themes: Set up automatic updates for installed themes within their specific settings.

Section 4: Backup & Restore

Referins provides a robust automatic backup feature to enhance data security and operational continuity.

Backup and Restore:

• Backing Up:

Backups run daily at 05:00 AM CST; you can access them whenever needed.

• Restoring:

Should you encounter any issues or need to revert unexpected changes on your site, simply utilize the 'Backup' feature. This allows you to easily restore your website to any state from the previous 30 days, based on the saved backups.

• Manual Backups: Manual backups for WordPress provide users with greater control over their website’s data, ensuring security and stability. Users can create and name their own backup versions for added protection. This feature helps safeguard important updates and site changes, reducing the risk of data loss.

Note: Manual backups do not extend the storage duration beyond automatic backups and should be used strategically for critical updates.

Section 5: Advanced Settings:

Fine-tune your site's performance with advanced settings. You have control over cache management, enabling you to optimize your site's speed and responsiveness. You can manage FTP Access and Communication Settings here.

1. FTP Access:

You can manage FTP Access and Communication Settings here.

• By default, the visibility of passwords for Site, User, and FTP accounts is hidden to enhance security. FTP accounts support strong passwords, providing better protection for account access.

2. Cache Management

Cache Management can be accessed from Advanced Settings. This ensures that your site performs at its best.

3. WordPress Debugging:

Turn WordPress Debugging on or off to view PHP error messages, warnings, notices, and other developer-related notifications for your website.

4. Server Settings:

Manage your WordPress database efficiently through phpMyAdmin, allowing you to view, edit, and optimize database settings.

• Database Access via PHP MyAdmin: Select "Database Access" to Access Database Management and click the "phpMyAdmin" button to manage your WordPress database via the PHP MyAdmin interface.

 Note: Enable the checkbox to ensure that you make database changes credibly

• PHP version: This allows users to adjust their site's PHP version through the hosting control panel. This feature supports better security, performance, and compatibility with newer plugins and themes by enabling the selection of a supported PHP version.

5. WordPress Management:

Core Update Preferences – Manage automatic updates for WordPress Core in the Advanced Settings, with the following options:

• Off – Disable automatic updates.
• Latest Version – Always update to the latest WordPress release.
• Minor Version Only – Limit updates to only minor versions.

6. Delete Site:

This allows you to delete a WordPress site, including all files, databases, and domains.

FAQs

Q1: I'm unable to add the same domain to my other account/location:

The same domain/subdomain can't be used in 2 locations

Q2: Why can't I update my primary domain?

The primary domain can be updated if you have added an additional domain.

Q3: I've added the A / CNAME record, but the domain is still not being added

This can happen for a few reasons.

1. There is a typo in your domain name.
   In this scenario, fixing the typo will resolve your issue
2. Your DNS changes haven't been propagated yet.
   In this case, you must wait longer and try again after a few hours or the next day to see if it works.
3. Your DNS configuration is not set up correctly.
   Please contact your Domain Provider and discuss the errors with their support team.
4. Maybe you have conflicting (multiple) records for the same subdomain [for example, if blog.mydomain.com has a CNAME record pointing to wp3.msgsndr.com but it also has an A record pointing to some other provider]
   In such cases, removing the other duplicate record will fix your issue.

Q4: I can't connect my root domain (ex., mydomain.com)

Please make sure there are no additional AAA, TXT, records, etc if you plan to use that slug/root domain for WordPress

Q5: How many WordPress sites can I have per account

Only one site per account at the moment.

Q6. How can I import an existing WordPress site into Referins?
To import an existing WordPress site, use the All-in-One WP Migration plugin. Install the plugin on your current WordPress site, export the data, and import it into your new WordPress setup on Referins.

Q7. What should I do if my WordPress site breaks?
If your WordPress site breaks, you can use the Backup & Restore feature in the WordPress Dashboard on Referins. Daily backups are performed at 05:00 AM CST and stored for the past thirty days, allowing you to restore your site to its previous state if needed.