Follow this path to launch a WordPress site on Pressidium Managed WordPress Hosting: prepare the site, test it, point DNS and HTTPS, then verify. When the live site is verified, initialize staging.

This path is not for a site that uses only Pressidium EDGE without Pressidium hosting.

Hosts-file testing before you change public DNS applies only to Pressidium Advanced Network. It does not apply to Pressidium EDGE. Do not add a hosts-file entry for an EDGE site. The Dashboard has no documented preview control for this test.

Prepare

Choose one path to follow, either “Create a new WordPress site” or “Move an existing WordPress site“.

Create a new WordPress site

If you do not already have a WordPress site to move, create a hosted website in the Dashboard.

Log in to the Pressidium Dashboard. On the homepage, go to Hosted Websites and click New Website.

Follow Create a new hosted website.

After the site is created, it is served at https://website-name.onpressidium.com/. website-name is the Website name you entered. Pressidium provides the .onpressidium.com hostname so you can build the site before you map a custom domain.

Move an existing WordPress site

If you already have a WordPress site, log in to the Pressidium Dashboard and open a migration from either drop-down. Both include Migration Request and Migration Wizard.

  • After you select a team, the account overview uses Migrate.
  • On Websites overview, the drop-down is Migration.

Then choose one path:

Submit credentials only through the Dashboard form. Do not send passwords by email or unsecured messages.

After the site exists on Pressidium, continue with testing.

Test

Confirm the site’s network before you change public DNS.

Confirm Advanced Network or EDGE

  1. Open Website Overview for the site.
  2. Look at the Summary widget.
  • If Summary shows the Pressidium EDGE label, the site is on Pressidium EDGE. Hosts-file testing does not apply. Skip the Advanced Network hosts-file steps.
  • If Summary does not show that label, the site is on Pressidium Advanced Network. Continue with hosts-file testing if you want this computer to open the site on its Pressidium cluster IP before public DNS changes.

Advanced Network: hosts-file testing

On Pressidium Advanced Network, add a local hosts-file entry so this computer uses the Pressidium cluster IP for your domain. That override applies only on this computer.

Follow Test your migrated site before DNS switch. Use the same procedure if you created a new hosted website on Pressidium Advanced Network and need this computer to open the custom domain on the cluster IP before you change public DNS. Do not use it for Pressidium EDGE.

That article covers:

  • the hosts-file line format (IP www.example.com example.com)
  • Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista
  • Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP
  • Linux
  • macOS Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, Sonoma, Sequoia, and Tahoe
  • Mac OS X 10.6 through 10.8

On macOS Big Sur through Tahoe, flushing the DNS cache with sudo dscacheutil -flushcache && sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder is optional.

If you need the cluster IP, see Where can I find my website’s IP addresses. On Advanced Network, open Domains and SSL and expand CLUSTER IPs.

While you test, check that:

  • the site loads
  • WordPress Admin access works
  • key pages and forms work
  • images and assets load
  • plugins and theme functionality behave as expected
  • redirects work as intended

Pressidium EDGE

Hosts-file testing does not apply to Pressidium EDGE. There is no documented EDGE equivalent of a local IP override, and a local hosts-file entry is not a valid pre-DNS test on EDGE.

If Summary shows Pressidium EDGE and you still need help before a DNS change, contact Support. Include the domain and that the widget shows the Pressidium EDGE label. Do not use the hosts-file procedure.

When you are ready for live traffic, continue with DNS and HTTPS.

DNS and HTTPS

Map the domain, update DNS, then enable HTTPS.

Pressidium Advanced Network

Follow Add a domain (Pressidium Advanced Network).

That procedure:

  1. Maps the domain from the Domains screen (Add Domain).
  2. Updates A records at your DNS provider to the IPs shown for the site.
  3. Sets www and non-www redirect behavior.
  4. Enables HTTPS with a Let’s Encrypt certificate or a custom certificate.

DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate. The domain article names whatsmydns.net as a check.

Pressidium EDGE

If Summary shows Pressidium EDGE, this hosted website uses Pressidium EDGE at the edge layer. Keep using this Managed WordPress Hosting launch path. Do not mix in setup for a site that uses only Pressidium EDGE without Pressidium hosting.

DNS details can differ for each domain mapped to the site. Where can I find my website’s IP addresses describes opening Domains, then Configure – DNS Details or Configure – DNS Settings.

For the EDGE add-domain steps on a hosted website follow the article Add a domain or subdomain and update DNS records (Pressidium EDGE).

Enable SSL if you have not already

If HTTPS is not enabled yet, follow How to enable SSL after the domain points to Pressidium.

Verify

Treat the launch as complete only after all of the following are true:

  • The domain resolves to the Pressidium site.
  • The frontend loads.
  • WordPress Admin works.
  • Forms, checkout, login, or membership flows work if the site uses them.
  • Images, CSS, JavaScript, and uploaded media load.
  • Redirects and canonical URLs behave as expected.

If the site does not load correctly, contact Support before sending more live traffic.

Next task

When the live site is verified, initialize staging so later changes can be tested without affecting production.

Follow Initialize your Staging environment.

Need help?

If testing fails, DNS does not resolve, or HTTPS does not load after the domain points to Pressidium, contact Support before changing records again.

For an Advanced Network hosts-file test, include the domain, the Pressidium IP you added, and what you see in the browser. For EDGE, include the domain and that Summary shows the Pressidium EDGE label.

Open a support request