Staging Sites are sites that duplicate your Production Sites (same hardware, same software, same settings) so that any change can be tested and evaluated before being placed into production. In other words, it’s a complete but independent copy of your production site, including the database.
The MainWP Staging Extension allows you to create and manage staging sites without hassle.
The MainWP Staging Extension requires the WP Staging plugin on your Child Sites.
Please note that the Staging extension works only with the free version of the WP Staging plugin.
How it works
Once you trigger the process of creating a staging site, the WP Staging plugin will duplicate all site files and copy them to a subdirectory. Also, all database tables will be duplicated, but the prefix will be changed. Once this process is done, the necessary data will be updated in the wp-config.php file in the staging site. Within a couple of seconds, you will have a replica of your child site where you can test updates.
After creating a staging site, the MainWP will automatically install the MainWP Child plugin on the child site and connect it to your MainWP Dashboard.
MainWP Staging Extension is extensively tested by the MainWP team; however, it’s still a work in progress (Beta release). If you find any issues, please contact MainWP Support.
Install and Set the MainWP Staging Extension
Installation of the MainWP Staging Extension requires two important steps:
Installing the Extension itself on your MainWP Dashboard site
Installing the WP Staging plugin on Child Sites
Installing the Extension
The MainWP Staging Extension needs to be installed only on your MainWP Dashboard site. You can install it as any other MainWP Extension.
Installing the Plugin
For the proper use of the MainWP Staging Extension, you need to install the Staging Plugin on your child sites.
Please note that the Staging extension works only with the free version of the WP Staging plugin.
Install from MainWP Dashboard
Login to your MainWP Dashboard
Go to the MainWP > Plugins > Install page
In the Search field, enter the plugin name (WP Staging)
Press enter on your keyboard
After the search results appear, locate the plugin
Select the Install this Plugin option
Select your child sites
In the Installation Options box, make sure that the Activate after installation option is selected.
Click the Button to complete the installation.
Once the Installation is complete, Sync your MainWP Dashboard.
For additional help with installing WordPress plugins from the MainWP Dashboard, please review this help document.
Install directly on Child Site
Login to your child site
Go to the WP > Plugins > Add New page
In the Search field, enter the plugin name (WP Staging)
After the search results appear, locate the plugin
Click the Install button
Click the Activate button
For additional help with installing WordPress plugins, please review this help document.
After installing the WP Staging plugin, it is required to Synchronize your sites so your MainWP Dashboard becomes aware that the plugin has been installed and activated.
Create Staging Site
To create a staging site for a child site,
Login to your MainWP Dashboard
Go to the MainWP > Extensions > Staging page
In the list of child sites, locate the wanted child site and click the Create Staging Site action
On the Create Staging Site page, set your preferences
Enter the Staging Site Name
Exclude/Include database tables
Exclude/Include files
Click the Create Staging Site button
Update a Staging Site
Updating a staging site will copy the database and files from the live site to the staging site again. To do that,
Login to your MainWP Dashboard
Go to the MainWP > Extensions > Staging page
Locate the wanted child site
Click the Manage Staging Sites action (you will be redirected to the page where you can see your staging sites for the child site)
Locate the staging site that you want to update
Click the Update action link
Delete a Staging Site
To delete a staging site,
Login to your MainWP Dashboard
Go to the MainWP > Extensions > Staging page
Locate the wanted child site
Click the Manage Staging Sites action (you will be redirected to the page where you can see your staging sites for the child site)
Locate the staging site that you want to delete
Click the Delete action link
Run Updates on Staging Sites
To run updates on your child sites,
Login to your MainWP Dashboard
Go to the MainWP > Updates page
Select Staging Sites
After selecting the staging sites, updates will be performed only on staging sites. After you verify that everything is ok on the staging sites, you can run updates on your live sites.