A WordPress testing site is a clone of your active site where you can test new features, themes, and plugins before you deploy them to the active site. This way, you can correct errors and test changes before adding them to the active site.
In this tutorial, we will show you how to properly set up a WordPress test site.
Set up a WordPress test site
Some web hosting providers offer a one-click test setup, which is the easiest and recommended way to set up a test site.
Bluehost, belgium phone number data WP Engine and SiteGround are some of the few hosting providers that offer a one-click preparation setup. If your web hosting provider does not offer a one-click preparation setup setting, it may be best to migrate your hosting to a host that offers a preparation option. Alternatively, you can also create a test site with a WordPress plugin or even manually.
How to Create a Test Website with a WordPress Plugin
Duplicator is a powerful WordPress backup plugin that can be used to create a backup or migrate your site.
It uses a process of creating a file package and database of your website. Then you can store that package securely in the cloud or on your local computer to always have a copy of your website.
You can also use this package to create a clone or a test site.
To create a test site using Duplicator, you need to have access to your web hosting cPanel.
That being said, we’ll show you how to create a test site where you have full control over the environment.
Step 1: Create a subdomain
First, you will need to create a subdomain for the test site at your hosting provider. For this tutorial, we will use Bluehost.
In the Bluehost control panel, go to Domains” Subdomains. On the next page, enter a new subdomain name for your test site. Use something distinct and specific for the task, such as “staging,” and then click Add Subdomain.
The URL of your test site will be similar to “staging.mysite.com”. After creating a subdomain, you will be redirected to the list of subdomains of your site.
Then, still in the Bluehost dashboard, today’s stock price hit the daily limit go to the Advanced menu, which will redirect you to cPanel.
In cPanel, navigate to the Databases tab and then go to MySQL Databases.
Create a new database here. We suggest that you give him a name that you can quickly associate with your preparation site, such as “staging”.
Then add a new username and password to your new profile. Click Create and let the page reload again.
Step 2: Setup the Duplicator
With its subdomain ready, we go to the WordPress dashboard to set up Duplicator. Note that both the free and premium version of Duplicator can help you create a test site, as the feature is available in both.
The configuration of the free and premium versions of Duplicator is fast and direct. Follow our tutorial on how to set up a plugin if you need help with any of them.
After installing and activating the plugin, go to Duplicator” Packages and create a new package.
On the next page, Duplicator will run tests to ensure that there are no errors and that your site is ready for cloning. If all the tests are successful, b2b phone list you will see “Good” written in green next to each line of text. Now, proceed to Build.
Wait a few minutes for Duplicator to create the files; the page should be reloaded automatically after completion. Then download the archival file and the archiving installer.
Just a quick overview: Your website files reside in the File. On the other hand, Archive Installer will help us install the test site without installing WordPress or setting up anything. This makes it relatively easier to create a test site manually. These features are just some of the advantages of using Duplicator to create a test site and, in fact, to migrate and back up a website.
Step 3: Set up the test site
With the Archive File and the Archive Installer ready, we will need to load them into the subdomain of our test site next.
We can use cPanel or an FTP client. Using an FTP client, such as Filezilla, may require more experience with WordPress. However, an FTP client is an excellent way to upload large databases without error message.
For this tutorial, we will use cPanel. However, please refer to this tutorial if you want to know how to use an FTP portal to move the files.
Log in to cPanel directly or through the hosting control panel by selecting Advanced. Then go to the File tab and locate File Manager, which will open a list of files.
In the list of files on your left, locate the root folder, “public_html”. In this folder, scroll the screen and find the test site folder.
Delete everything in that folder, and then locate the Upload tab at the top of the page. After you select it, you will be redirected to upload the Archive file and the Archive Installer.
And that is it! You have successfully created a test site.
FTP client alternative route: Remember that the processes of using cPanel and an FTP client portal are the same when transferring preparation files. You will still access the root file public_HTML, locate the subdomain folder, delete everything, and finally load the archive file and the archive installer on the test site through an FTP portal.
Step 4: Deploying the test site
Replace “staging” with the subdomain name you created and replace “mysite” with your domain name. After pressing Enter, this URL should redirect you to the Duplicator installer wizard.
Go to Setup and use the previously created database information to populate this section and Validate (Valilate).
Duplicator will run your validation process to verify that there are errors. When this is done and all tests pass, proceed to Next.
The next step is automated; Duplicator will uncompress your WordPress files and upload the database to the test site. Once completed, you will see a page showing the results of the installation.
Then log into the WordPress dashboard of your test site and run the tests.
You have completed the creation of a test site manually using Duplicator.
Test new plug-ins, check for security threats, test the user experience and perform any other necessary tests on your preparation site.
