Cloning a WordPress site for use in another location can be sometimes be a fairly involved process, requiring the use of an FTP client, phpMyAdmin, and multiple file edits. I’m excited about the Duplicator plugin, because it reduces this process to three easy steps:
1. Create a package
2. Download
3. Install in the new location
Primary uses for the Duplicator plugin:
Migrate a site from one location to another location
Pull a production site down onto your local machine
Push a local development to a production server
Watch how easy it is to export a package of a live site for development on your local machine:
The Duplicator plugin even has special options for working with larger WordPress installations. The options allow you to change the max execution time, max memory limit, exclude certain directories, and receive an email when the package creation is complete.
Another use for the plugin is to replicate a specially configured site template for mass site generation. Create a specialized site package and install it any time you need a new WordPress site with everything configured and ready to go.
The more you can automate site creation, duplication and migration, the more time you’ll save on tedious, routine processes. The Duplicator plugin is available for free from the WordPress plugin repository. Download it today to start streamlining some of your routine tasks.
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What a great plugin looking forward to using it in anger. I often develop sites on my local machine and this plugin will be a great help when I deploy it out in the wild. Great work!
Except its not free and costs $20 per month (ish). As much as a great plugin it looks, I will save myself some cash and use a free option…even if it means editing a few files.
I wish I knew about this plugin before. Months ago I spent long hours to migrate my blog to another host, most of it was my faults, to think it was safe just to dump the database and download WordPress directory.
I’ve tested it twice, restoring to 2 different hosts.
Each time my restore had “EVERY” directory set to permission “1341″.
If I “Extracted” the file directly, via Cpanel, all the original directory permission were restored. (But, this doesn’t restore the database.) But any restore with Duplicator gives me all “1341″ folder permissions.
Any fix for this?
Also, in both tests, Duplicator failed to add the new mysql user “password”, but instead retained the password used by the source site. It did change the database name and database user name, but not the password. I had to manually correct the wp-config.php .
I’ve been using the Site Creation Wizard, but it doesn’t replicate everything (like tagline, header image, etc).
We are doing a network multi site option for our clients and are using templates that they choose from in order to create the initial site. However, it doesn’t copy everything over. Does anyone know of a good way to do this? Anyone ever hack/tweak the Site Creation Wizard to copy more items over, or is there a better tool? This seems nice but it is too much, as we don’t need to copy the whole package over via importing, etc, we just want to make a solid clone for the user to begin their site.
Did you ever find a quick way to do this? We have the same challenge…need to reproduce a basic WP site with plugins for individual posters to use. The cloning tools we have found all pull the posts in as well and obviously that isn’t acceptable!
If you need to replicate one site/blog from within a multisite installation to another site/blog within the same multisite installation, try the WP Replicator plugin ($35): http://wpebooks.com/replicator/
I have tried this plugin earlier when it is launched . Everything went smoothly and finished the re-storage with out failure .
But the new domain is simply redirecting to the Old domain. I have opened a ticket at Plugin author’s website and still waiting for his reply for 4 days
Anne – It’s mentioned in the title and then near the first paragraph under “Primary Uses for the Plugin” – “Migrate a site from one location to another location”
thanks for sharing i am gonna migrate to new server and was trying all the plugins some one them giving me errors now just gonna give a shot this duplicator
I am surprised no one mentioned BackupBuddy, by iThemes. BackUpBuddy does migrations plus scheduled backups and restorations. It will work on single site and multi-site installations. It can even pull a single site out from within a multi-site for migration. iThemes BackupBuddy
I’m in the process of migrating my websites to a new server. The information out there on the Internet for doing this process manually is confusing and contradictory. Yesterday, I wasted my time buying software, which didn’t work after trying to use it for hours. This morning, I discovered the Duplicator Plugin. I was delighted to find that it works! Brilliant.
I am trying to install but i am getting this error
DATABASE CONNECTION FAILED!
Can’t connect to local MySQL server through socket ‘/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock’ (2)
I am using godaddy hosting now…can anybody help please
fortunately i found this free plugin for cloning wordpress site.
but unfortunately after i try to clone my site from one host to another host appear warning ask file “install.php” even though i’ve download 2 file package and install.php and upload both file to my new host, how to fix this problem?…
thanks
The migration process went well, but as one of the user before, I get a redirect to the old site when I try to enter the admin section. Does anyone know why or what to adapt manually?
It worked just fine from Localhost to Godaddy hosting (note that you must specified the Host name (it can be found on the Database menu on your godaddy account)
I sometimes get a blank white screen after the success screen. What is happening to cause this. Its not consitently happenening. Just sometime.
I am using hostgator
It worked for me up to a point. Site was duplicated on another domain but permissions seem to be wrong. I can’t edit files via ftp and don’t seem to be able to change permissions via ftp either. If this was fixed it would be amazing.
this is good news for those of us using domain mapping, and want to move the site to a standalone over time
my bad, you can use it for a single install only i think.
What a great plugin looking forward to using it in anger. I often develop sites on my local machine and this plugin will be a great help when I deploy it out in the wild. Great work!
This plugin looks like really helpful and handy… Trying it now on my local site and wil try to see hw easy it is…
If you like what Duplicator does, you’d like Clone tool in ManageWP.com – does the same thing but with less manual work.
Shameless plug Vladimir! Haha. I am using your ManageWP.com system and it’s fantastic for so many reasons!
Except its not free and costs $20 per month (ish). As much as a great plugin it looks, I will save myself some cash and use a free option…even if it means editing a few files.
Agree with @Grant. i LOVE using ManageWP.com for Clone tool as well as mass plugin and theme installs.
Thank you so much! Just what I needed!
Nice! I’m just about to migrate a site so I will be using this :D
Wow. Exactly what I needed. Can’t get enough of your posts Sarah. Good job.
The plugin looks awesome, sadly I’a trying to use it to migrate a site from localhost to godaddy but all I get is DATABASE CONNECTION FAILED! error
I wish I knew about this plugin before. Months ago I spent long hours to migrate my blog to another host, most of it was my faults, to think it was safe just to dump the database and download WordPress directory.
Thanks for the info.
I’ve tested it twice, restoring to 2 different hosts.
Each time my restore had “EVERY” directory set to permission “1341″.
If I “Extracted” the file directly, via Cpanel, all the original directory permission were restored. (But, this doesn’t restore the database.) But any restore with Duplicator gives me all “1341″ folder permissions.
Any fix for this?
Also, in both tests, Duplicator failed to add the new mysql user “password”, but instead retained the password used by the source site. It did change the database name and database user name, but not the password. I had to manually correct the wp-config.php .
Beautiful and comfortable this plugin ..! Congratulations. With the release of WordPress 3.1.3 but I can not get the install.php file
Love the look of is but will it let me clone an existing MultiSite from one host to another? Or this onlyfor use with standalone WP sites?
I’ve been using the Site Creation Wizard, but it doesn’t replicate everything (like tagline, header image, etc).
We are doing a network multi site option for our clients and are using templates that they choose from in order to create the initial site. However, it doesn’t copy everything over. Does anyone know of a good way to do this? Anyone ever hack/tweak the Site Creation Wizard to copy more items over, or is there a better tool? This seems nice but it is too much, as we don’t need to copy the whole package over via importing, etc, we just want to make a solid clone for the user to begin their site.
Help would be appreciated.
Did you ever find a quick way to do this? We have the same challenge…need to reproduce a basic WP site with plugins for individual posters to use. The cloning tools we have found all pull the posts in as well and obviously that isn’t acceptable!
This plugin is probably what you’re looking for: http://premium.wpmudev.org/project/new-blog-template/ . It’s on wpmudev. I’m surprised no one suggested it yet.
Really Helpful Plugin,surely try on my site ,hope it will grow rapidly!!!
you might also try myEASYbackup available at http://myeasywp.com/plugins/myeasybackup/ to backup and migrate with a couple of clicks :D
Looking at the forum comments, there seem some bugs yet, especially with the carryover of widgets – as in regular text widgets
holy crap I’ve lost days of my life on this task and I’ve broken more sites going local than I care to remember, this is awesome
I look forward to trying this!
I love you guys for this :o) You have no ideae how much of a time saver this is going to be on the dev side. Phew
When I click create package, nothing happens. Anyone else having this problem?
same problem as mine, waiting for an hour but still nothing happen.
@DHS:
If you need to replicate one site/blog from within a multisite installation to another site/blog within the same multisite installation, try the WP Replicator plugin ($35):
http://wpebooks.com/replicator/
~Jeff
I have tried this plugin earlier when it is launched . Everything went smoothly and finished the re-storage with out failure .
But the new domain is simply redirecting to the Old domain. I have opened a ticket at Plugin author’s website and still waiting for his reply for 4 days
Does anybody got a problem like this?
Thanks !
I have the exact same problem.
How was it fixed?
Can this plugin also be used to transfer a blog to another server or hosting account please?
@Anne
That’s the actual purpose of Plugin :)
Thanks Asshu
That function seems to be the only one not mentioned!
Annie
Anne – It’s mentioned in the title and then near the first paragraph under “Primary Uses for the Plugin” – “Migrate a site from one location to another location”
Sorry, I did not fully understand the meaning of ‘migrate’ in this instance.
English please!
thanks for sharing i am gonna migrate to new server and was trying all the plugins some one them giving me errors now just gonna give a shot this duplicator
The plugin doesn’t support Site based on Multisite Environment. Try that and let me know if it works for you
I am surprised no one mentioned BackupBuddy, by iThemes. BackUpBuddy does migrations plus scheduled backups and restorations. It will work on single site and multi-site installations. It can even pull a single site out from within a multi-site for migration. iThemes BackupBuddy
i cloned a site from my localhost to godaddy.com and it worked flawlessly. this is super-useful!
thanks,
clyde tressler
@Kerry Backupbuddy doesn’t officially support multisite. You can make it work, but it’s not easy for a complex array
I’m in the process of migrating my websites to a new server. The information out there on the Internet for doing this process manually is confusing and contradictory. Yesterday, I wasted my time buying software, which didn’t work after trying to use it for hours. This morning, I discovered the Duplicator Plugin. I was delighted to find that it works! Brilliant.
Awesome! It’s really a great plugin.
Hi There,
I am trying to install but i am getting this error
DATABASE CONNECTION FAILED!
Can’t connect to local MySQL server through socket ‘/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock’ (2)
I am using godaddy hosting now…can anybody help please
Hi Guys
Don’t worry found the solution actually i was entering old site username, password and db name….but when i used the new settings it worked. lucky me
Hi!
Exactly what should I be putting in the database fields. Do I have to create the db ahead of time? Im also with Godaddy and Im getting
DATABASE CONNECTION FAILED!
Can’t connect to local MySQL server through socket ‘/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock’ (2)
Thanks!
fortunately i found this free plugin for cloning wordpress site.
but unfortunately after i try to clone my site from one host to another host appear warning ask file “install.php” even though i’ve download 2 file package and install.php and upload both file to my new host, how to fix this problem?…
thanks
My question is … can you duplicate a standalone wordpress website and install / import the file to a wordpress multisite setup?
Hi Jake,
Exactly what I’m also looking for.
Have you tested it? Did it work for you?
The migration process went well, but as one of the user before, I get a redirect to the old site when I try to enter the admin section. Does anyone know why or what to adapt manually?
Hi Sarah,
I tried the duplicator plugin but not seem to work with WPMU + Buddypress.
After creating a package and refreshed. I got no package.
Any thoughts on this?
Regards,
Patrick
It worked just fine from Localhost to Godaddy hosting (note that you must specified the Host name (it can be found on the Database menu on your godaddy account)
It does not work on multi-site..:(
Tried it and nothing happened.
Ran the plugin and just got a blank white screen.
Moves the files, but not the site. Looks like it doesn’t create an index file, so all I get is a list of files. Not useful.
You just made my day Duplicator… :))))
I sometimes get a blank white screen after the success screen. What is happening to cause this. Its not consitently happenening. Just sometime.
I am using hostgator
It worked for me up to a point. Site was duplicated on another domain but permissions seem to be wrong. I can’t edit files via ftp and don’t seem to be able to change permissions via ftp either. If this was fixed it would be amazing.
how to use this plugin for cloning a single WP site to a WPMU? thanks in advance!
Just what I was looking for.
This plugin looks great, but the dependencies it has on server installed software makes it difficult to use.
I run my own server, but MySQLi is something I don’t want to have installed — even if it’s just for using this plugin.