I have been playing with the multisite feature and encountered some difficulties, so I went to the privilege group settings to turn it off. This was done (I thought). My "site 2" which is a remote site needed to be restored. I had tried to copy "site 1" to "site 2" and then integrate them, but it hadn't quite happened the way I wanted it to.
 
When I reinstalled my backup copy of "site 2", that too did not work, so I decided on a clean install, keeping the old "site 2" database. Whilst doing this and checking on the dns for the database, I happened to check on "site 1". I am glad I did, because various user blocks on the index.php on "site 1" are now showing the install screen that is on "site 2"
 
I am not 100% sure, but I think the link between the two sites can't be turned off properly once it has been established, and that is affecting my live site "site 1" and causing difficulties with restoring "site 2" from my back up copy.
 
I hope I have written this clearly enough for people to understand as it is a little confusing and it is 1am here and I have been working on it all day

Kum
 
One odd thing you have to watch in admin is that you can select a site to work on - go to the CMS section you want to edit and find that admin has reverted to site 1.
 
You have to check that you are on the correct site EVERY time before proceeding with changes.
 
Sorry I can't help with other things as I got Viart to do the set up for me.
 
What I can say is it is a great future and I hope you don't suffer too much angst in the process.
 
Best wishes
 
Chris

Kim
 
Another tip.
I was given to understand that I need to copy all my PRODUCT IMAGES to each domain. That is not necessary - if you specify the image source as the full url to your main site you only need to maintain one set of images.
 
That is a major benefit where there are hundreds or thousands of products; it also saves the tedium of making copies of images for each domain and uploading each.
 
Of course, by having images on each domain you can vary images if that is a benefit.
 
And, if your main site goes down all other sites lose their images.
 
For me, with five sites, I will use the url eg:
http://www.malikstores.co.uk/IMAGES/small/W/WAHL08PencilStraightener.jpg
Beware that the path is case sensitive
 
As I work with multi sites I find so much flexibility!
One example, you can have a different payment system for each domain. May seem unnecessary but there are situation where this may be useful.
 
I am realising that there could be value in a forum on multi sites!
 
In the meantime I hope someone can come to your assistance but I fear that there are not yet many of us going this route.
 
Chris

Chris
 
Thanks for the tips.
 
Another question for support and others using multisite....
 
I have been running viart separately on 2 sites, which means I have 2 databases. One, site 2, has the old 3.3.2 database structure, which is very different to the new one.
 
I have backed up the database before copying site 1 to site 2 in preparation for (trying again) the multisite function. Because of the different structure, phpMyadmin is refusing to squeeze the old data into the new database. There are many issues, not least of which are identical order numbers and customer numbers.
 
So, does anyone have a suggestion about what to do with this. Manners please! Answers on a postcard please to cretin in colchester. (alas far from bristol)

Hi Kim
 
Setting up multi-sites raises many issues. It's a good job that it is worth the effort.
 
I guess your databases have a large number of records?
 
Is this practical:
 
Export DB1 to Excel.
Change all the ID numbers in Excel so that when you import into DB2 you will not have conflict.
Whilst in Excel you can add/delete fields etc?
Import DB1 to DB2 and will append records?
 
A bit tedious but might be a practical solution?
 
[ btw I worked briefly in Colchester many years ago - my family home is Brentwood. Still doesn't bring the answers any closer but I still hope I can help ]
 
Best wishes
 
Chris

Spooky, I was born in Brentwood too