WPMU

Tag: WPMU

Wordpress MU redirect loop during install

by Brad on Apr.20, 2009, under Tutorials, Wordpress MU

I am using Wordpress MU for a project that I am working on right now and I have run into and found a solution to a problem that seems to be plaguing the blogsphere. The sad thing is that the solution was already posted in the MU forums, but not given the proper attention. I am here to fix that.

Problem Description

When installing WPMU, if the installation is not completed because of a database issue, an endless loop will occur. This happens because the DB is not populated with the correct information, but the wp-config.php has already been written. Every time you hit the index.php, it tries to look at the DB and notices that the information is not there. Default behavior seems to be to try again, which has the same behavior as the first time through. Endless loop, here we come.

Yeah, I know it is more complicated than that. I am trying to keep it simple.

To be truthful, this was my fault for not having my DB permissions set up correctly during install.

The Fix

The simple way to resolve the issue is to rename or delete the wp-config.php that was generated during the first install. After this is done, reload the site and go through the install again. Make sure you have corrected the DB problem before you go through the install again.

The Bitch

While it was my fault that I had the DB permissions jacked up, the WPMU installer needs to be tweaked a bit to avoid this issue. If the DB stuff fails, we should probably avoid writing the wp-config.php with information that isn’t going to do a whole lot of good and will probably scare off someone that isn’t as determined as I am.

This is the part where I get comments and emails telling me to fix it if I am that worried about it. This is also the part where I tell you that I am not a programmer. I am an admin and an enthusiast. If I could fix it, I would damn well do it.

This is also the part where I explain that this isn’t a gripe against Wordpress MU or Wordpress in general. They are great tools. I am just trying to help someone that might be having the same problem I had.

Ok. That’s all. Go about your business.