I uploaded a phpinfo file to the server and checked it for “mod_rewrite” entries. Having found none, I contacted DreamHost support and asked them to activate it for me. I got a prompt response. Very polite. I love this hosting company. They told me I also needed a wildcard DNS entry which they took care of for me. They also pointed me to their wiki on WordPress MU installations.
I sure hope that JJ in support also set up “a wildcard ServerAlias entry” like it says to ask for in the wiki. JJ’s email only mentioned the wildcard DNS entry. We’ll see if that ends up being a problem.
I have yet to create a new user account to see if the subdomain.bevvy.org gets created automagically. Right now I am looking into anti-spam plugins for WPMU. There’s Askimet and Dave’s Spam Karma. I have seen mentions of activating the backend and leaving it deactivated. The activation of the backend, I assume would allow the plugin settings to be passed through to each blog user’s blog. I’m all for giving options but sometimes less choice makes for a smoother operation.
I will also be installing some sort of CAPTCHA for WPMU. I have to be mindful that any plugin I hear about must have a WPMU counterpart. If not, things will break.
One thing I am unclear about at this point is how I enable people to sign up and begin creating their own blog/user page from an index page. Requiring Admin approval is a good safe guard. Right now the only “new user” creation option is in the Site Admin section of the Administrator’s account. I want one front and center on the main page. Perhaps it is also a plugin.
Update I: I have been able to create two new blogs on the site. One for me and one for viscousplatypus. The Edit for the profile does not appear to be working. One can post to the blog and change personal blog settings but that is about it.
Tags: askimet, backend menu, captcha, DNS, installation, mod_rewrite, MU_Plugins, spam karma, subdomain, tech support, wiki, wildcard, wpmu
