To clone an entire WordPress installation and/or copy the content from one installation to another can be used in several scenarios, e.g. if you want a staging website or if you wish to set up a new site using an old one as a template.
In WordPress Toolkit, you have access to tools for both cloning and copying data, and in this guide we’ll go through both.
Keep in mind that if the site you create a clone or copy from uses object cache via Redis, you will have to either disable it on the clone/copy, or edit the settings of the clone/copy so a different prefix is being used. If you don’t do this, the original site and the clone/copy will use the same object cache, which will cause problems.
Clone
You cannot use the clone feature on a multisite installation of WordPress.
WordPress Toolkit’s clone feature can be used to create an exact copy (a clone) of an existing WordPress installation. You do not need to install WordPress on the target domain before cloning, everything will be cloned in the process.
To get started, begin by accessing WordPress Toolkit. Then click the row for the WordPress installation you wish to clone, and click the option Clone.
In the box that pops up you get to adjust the settings for the cloning process.
You select the domain/subdomain where the clone shall be created. You can either let the tool create the subdomain for you, or you can select one already created earlier. You can also set a name for the database if the randomised one doesn’t feel right.
If you let WordPress Toolkit create a subdomain during the cloning process, the document root for the subdomain will be set directly under the root for your web hosting account, i.e. under /home/cpanelusername/thesubdomain.
When you’re happy with your settings, click Start.
Copy data
The copy feature in WordPress is used to transfer data from one WordPress installation to another existing installation. Therefore, you need to install WordPress on the domain/subdomain you wish to copy data to.
If you want to create an exact copy of an entire website, the clone feature described above may be more suitable.
To get started, begin by accessing WordPress Toolkit. Then click the row for the WordPress installation you wish to copy data from. You find the option for copying data under Copy Data.
In the box that pops up you get to make selections regarding the data that shall be copied.
Select the Target where the data should be copied. Then choose what data and what database tables that you want to copy.
Once you’re done selecting, click Start to commence the copying.
Staging
As mentioned in the introduction of this guide, the features for cloning and copying can be used for management of WordPress installation staging.
When you have a working WordPress site online and running, you can use the clone feature to create a staging copy – i.e. an identical copy of the live site.
Please note that if your live site is using premium themes and/or plugins for which you have bought licenses, you may have to buy additional licenses for the staging site.
Once the cloning process is done, log on to the cloned staging site and edit it to your heart’s content. Your live site should not be affected by any of your changes to the clone.
Once you’re done with the edits you can use the copy data feature to transfer parts of your new content from the clone back to the live site.
Be very careful when transferring data from the staging clone to your live site. This to avoid overwriting database tables containing important live data, such as orders if you have a web shop.