Alex at Neatorama.com enlisted my help to customize and install WP Hive so that he can provide some niche and specialty blogs in addition to his main site. So, I created a new version of WP Hive that features fully-functioning Subdirectory Sites and Single-Sign-On across the sites in the Hive – read about it here. Neatorama’s first site using WP Hive is the Neatorama Spotlight, which quite frankly looks awesome.

So, now I’m busy packaging up these new WP Hive features and merging in a a few more items currently being worked on. I’ll be releasing all of this as the next version of WP Hive, coming out in the near future.

As previously mentioned, WP Hive’s licensing model will change with the next release.  Stay tuned to see how you can get in on the ground-floor and receive 50% off WP Hive Pro for life and help to fund this release, all future releases, support services, new add-ons, and much much more!

Core Improvements:
*  Vastly improved Subdirectory sites, now using Apache’s Mod-Rewrite functionality.
*  Option to use former redirect / cookie method for subdirectory sites (if Apache is not supported).
*  API to facilitate development of Add-Ons
*  Compatibility with some Database Caching plugins

Premier Add-On Modules:
* Quick Installer – Allows a new site to be set up with just a few clicks, or to copy an existing site.
* Single Sign-On – Allows users to remain logged in when traversing sites in the Hive.
* Unknown Root Redirector – Handles some unique subdirectory installs where a site is not installed in the root.

With this release, there will be a *NEW* licensing model:
*  The core features of WP Hive will remain available through the WordPress Plugin Repository.
*  The Support Forums and the Premier Add-On Modules will be available through this site only with the purchase of a WP Hive Pro Subscription.

There are more details to follow about the WP Hive Pro Subscription. Stay tuned to find out how you can get yours for less than half the regular price!!

Download Here

This version resolves many of the issues plaguing subdirectory sites.

Enjoy!

This version fixes a few issues that came up after the 0.5 release.

Changelog:
* Resolve php4 compatability
* Resolve plugin activation issues
* Ignore orphaned db.php

There is still a known issue with links within wp-admin for subdirectory sites. This issue is being worked on and will be resolved in a future version of WP Hive.

Enjoy!

Please read the post on my other website for more information.

New Features Include:

* Easier / Single-click installation
* Administration GUI
* Support for subdirectory sites
* Support for wildcard domains and subdomains
* Fix for favicon.ico handling
* Much of the code was re-written and cleaned up.

The installation instructions have been updated.

This represents a major milestone in the project. Many thanks to everyone who contributed and supported so far!

*Note* This release works well, provided that WordPress is installed and accessed from the root (eg: domain.com/ or sub.domain.com/) for all sites in the hive.

There are reports of problems when WordPress is installed in a subdirectory (read the post about subdirectories) or when it is installed in it’s own directory. An update is in the works to address this issue.

Download here: http://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/wp-hive.0.5.zip

I expect this version to stay in RC for only a very brief time (read <24 hours). I’ll do some more serious testing tomorrow and will fix up some documentation. If all goes well, it will be posted as the official current version in the WP plugin repository tomorrow evening.

This one includes all the features that I think will be in the RC.

Upgrades from v0.4.x are supported. Just remove all the files in wp-content/plugins/wp-hive/ and place the new files for v0.5 in that directory instead. Make sure db.php is in /wp-content, and load the site in your browser as normal.

Here’s one extra feature in v0.5 that I didn’t put on the previous list: Wildcard sub-domains are supported!

At this time there are no known issues.

Notes:

• WP Hive depends on the plugin. If WP Hive loads (eg: db.php is in place in /wp-content), then it will force the WP-Hive plugin to be active as well.
• All new sites must be added through the GUI (WP-Admin > WP Hive > Add New)

Feedback is much appreciated. Please join the WP Hive Developers Group for discussion and/or bug reporting.

Happy Testing!!

Change Log:
- New GUI
- Supports Subdirectories
- Updated the way favicon.ico is handled in PHP <5.

Do not install on a production site. This is an alpha release, so it will probably break something.

Installation instructions are a little different (and easier):

• Install one copy of Wordpress according to standard instructions. Make sure it works.
• Put the contents of wp-hive plugin folder into /wp-content/plugins/ wp-hive.
• Copy db.php into /wp-content.
• To add a new site, go to WP Admin > WP Hive.
• Run the WP Install for the new site by clicking “Install Site”.

If you are adding a new domain or subdomain, you must also point it (using DNS and Webserver) to the directory that contains index.php (as per previous instructions). Subdirectory sites can be added at will,  without mucking with the Webserver.

Known Issues, to be fixed:

• Won’t upgrade an existing version of WP Hive. (Must install on a clean db / site).
• If you can’t access a subdirectory site (eg: domain.com/site1) after a new install, log into the root site admin (eg: domain.com/wp-admin) and re-save the permalinks by going to Settings > Permalinks > Save Changes.

Notes:

• If you are in WP Admin for a subdirectory site (eg: domain.com/site1/ wp-admin), you must log-out in order to edit the root site (eg: domain.com/wp-admin) or any other sites for that root (eg: domain.com/site2/wp-admin)
• WP Hive depends on pretty permalinks.  WP Hive will force WP to use default permalinks if / when it notices that they are not active. You can change the permalink structure to whatever you want, as long as you leave it enabled.
• WP Hive depends on the plugin. If WP Hive loads (eg: db.php is in place in /wp-content), then it will force the WP-Hive plugin to be active as well.
• Sites cannot be ‘auto-added’ by bringing it up in the browser anymore. It was a security issue. The only way to add new sites now is through the Admin GUI.

Feedback is much appreciated. Please join the WP Hive Developers Group for discussion. Send bug reports / issues to bugs@wp-hive.com