I just helped a friend set up a WordPress Web site at Network Solutions. I’ve set up a ton of WordPress sites with Site5 (the hosting company I use) and GoDaddy but never Network Solutions. I wasn’t sure if it would be a smooth installation or if I’d run into issues.
I ran into an issue.
After uploading all the files, we got a database error but couldn’t figure out what was wrong. I went to Google and found a blog post with a tip on solving the problem.
The post said to enter the site’s IP address in the “DB_NAME” field (in the wp-config file) but I think he meant “DB_HOST” field. That’s what I did anyway and it fixed the database error that we were getting. The site is now working like it should.
Thanks to Andrew at Fungible Convictions for the tip. It made my life a whole lot easier.
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Jay, all Network Solutions shared hosting accounts actually come with 4 pre-installed Word Press blogs. It “should” be as easy as clicking a few buttons and the blog appears on your own URL. I wrote about it in a blog post here:
http://samsonmedia.net/blog/free-hosted-wordpress-blogs/
Thanks for signing up for my newsletter! -gene
Gene,
It makes sense that Network Solutions would offer one-click installation for Wordpress sites. The company I host with does that as well. I prefer installing Wordpress manually. I have a little more control over how things are named. Plus, there is the satisfaction knowing that you did it yourself. Thanks for the comment!
Jay
So in your “How to Create and Manage Your Website” class at U of L’s Delphi Center, do you teach the one-click install or the more satisfying method?
Mariam,
I will talk about the one-click install but will show everyone how to manually set up a Wordpress site. As a matter of fact, all the students will do it in the class.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Jay
Hi Jay, just to expand on my initial comment about the one click install, yes, we just click a button on Network Solutions or Go Daddy and the WordPress blog is “live” but we still go in using a combination of FTP and the blog itself to get rid of the default “Hello Dolly” template and install something much nicer and customized. The only thing I really value about the one-click install is that all the “plumbing” works, the hook-up with the MYSQL database, etc. All we have to focus on then is the blog itself and not the technology behind it. Hope that clarifies things. It’s really the best of both world. -gene
Just so everyone is aware, Network Solutions DOES provide a one-click installation. Very simple except for one problem, if you’re adding a blog to a site, you’re golden, if the blog IS you’re site the URL will look like this:
http://www.mysite.com/blog.
Network Solutions does not allow Wordpress to be installed in the root with their one-click install. You HAVE to manually do it if you want the domain to be used alone: http://www.mysite.com.
Otherwise you can one-click install, then re-point your domain to the sub-directory “blog”. I can only imagine the havoc that will play with SEO.
Gene & Michael,
Thanks for the great comments. I wasn’t aware that Network Solution’s one-install worked that way (installing in a subdirectory). That’s a little goofy. It doesn’t really help the average person that’s not comfortable with a WordPress install. I’m sure Network Solutions will come around eventually (when customers start complaining).
Jay
I Have recently tried moving a clients wordpress site to network solutions ( A simple process really) only for my site to break. mysite.com/info is now looking for a folder as opposed to a wp page.
All these issues even after the dbName= ip address issue which is ridiculous in itself. Get it together network solutions.
Thanks for the post Jay.