Domain mapping on wordress 3.0 Multisite with different IP adresses, single server

The last couple of months, since the release of WordPress 3.0 Multisite I have been searching everywhere without a clear answer about domain mapping on wordress 3.0 Multisite with different IP adresses on a single server installation. I think this can be a very cool feature. Since it could save you a lot of time if you are working with clients that want to use an unique IP address. Or if you have bad intentions and want to create a (blackhat), multi C-CLASS IP addresses, Multi site linkfarm.

I thought it was best to ask the question at the Multi site forum on wordpress.org.

Unfortunately Andrea one of the developers of WordPress MU (Multisite 3.0) didn’t want to help out, because in her opinion its not necessary. It brought up a different discussion (She even wanted to share Mat Cutt’s personal thought on it ) which is more about (blackhat) SEO and link farming then just making this idea happen.

I decided to go ahead with figuring this out by myself and came up with a solution that only works with the latest DirectAdmin Update installed on your server. Its actually very simple!

The solution:

Since version 1.36 there is a BETA feature where you can add an IP address to your domain. Previous it was only possible to add a domain to a user/reseller.

How does it work? To start using this method you need of course a working wordpress (Multiuser) network with subdomains and the domain mapping plugin installed:

On your server using DirectAdmin

1. Add an IP address to Direct admin. | Admin Tools > “IP Management” in Admin mode
2. Assign the Ip to Admin
3. go to “Modify User”. Show all users> click user> click button modify user.
4. Add Additional IP. Choose the new IP address and click the add button.
5. login as the User.
6. go to “Domain Setup” click on the domain you want a second IP for. (The domain you have installed WordPress on). At the bottom, “Add Another IP to yourwordpressdomain.com”

Ok thats for the server settings.

In WordPress:

1. In the domain mapping plugin settings you need to use the CNAME option. Server CNAME domain: (yourwordpressdomain.com). Or else it won’t work.
2. create a Site (something.yourwordpressdomain.com)
3. Map a new domain to it: http://www.newdomain.com (primary) and newdomain.com (without the www and not primary) to the something.yourwordpressdomain.com ID

Now go you the DNS settings of your newdomain.com

1. Add 2 A records:

• http://www.newdomain.com A 123.123.123.1 (the added second IP in DirectAdmin)
• www A 123.1123.123.1 (the added second IP address in DirectAdmin)

Thats it. you now have 2 domain names with different Ip addresses pointing to a single wordpress installation.
Just wait until everything resolves. It can take some time.

…and to finish the discussion why it has no added value using multiple IP addresses. It has no value. if you doing it for SEO google will find out.

To make it actually Google proof you should probably also have different nameservers and ICANN registration names.

Yes, you can also setup multiple nameservers for a single wordpress multisite:
 It will cost you many IP addresses. Consider if its worth even trying. It also won’t benefit the IP4 exhaustion

Good luck!