Webhosting Shootout – Installing WordPress at MediaLayer

I’m excited to start using MediaLayer after my excellent introduction to their services.

MediaLayer’s Installatron is a nice change from other ‘one-click’ software installers. Installatron gives you real information and choices with your WordPress installation that I find refreshing.

Installing WordPress at MediaLayer

1. To get started, Choose Installatron, then WordPress, then ‘Next’.

Installing WordPress on MediaLayer with Installatron

2. Choose the domain you want to install to, and the path – root, /blog, etc. I’m using /installatron.

Step 2 - Installing WordPress on MediaLayer

Step 2 - WordPress Install Location on MediaLayer

3. Hey, you get to choose your version of WordPress! That makes my webhosting shootout a little easier. Chose the version you want to install, then accept the GNU license.

Step 3 - Install WordPress on MediaLayer

Step 3 - WordPress Version Installer on MediaLayer

4. If you choose ‘Let me manage the database settings’ you get to enter database name, username, password and table prefix. I guess it’s a nice middle ground between gentle user and WordPress pro. I’ll let Installatron manage things for me so I can see the confirmation screen.

Step 4 - Install WordPress on MediaLayer

Step 4 - WordPress Database Settings on MediaLayer

5. Installatron gives you a nice screen to view and change your admin username, password, email and blog name. I’ll leave it all for now, then press ‘Submit’ on the next screen to get installed.

Step 5 - Install WordPress on Media Layer

Step 5 - WordPress Admin Settings on Media Layer

6. Almost done now. Installatron gives a nice summary message of all the WordPress application settings – app, version, URL and path; database type, host, name, username, password and table prefix; and admin username and password.

Step 6 - Install WordPress on MediaLayer

Step 6 - WordPress Installation Confirmation on MediaLayer

Configuring WordPress on MediaLayer

I log in to WordPress on MedialLayer and there are no surprises – it’s time to configure my admin user, and install the theme and plugins.

One nice thing I discover right away – MediaLayer doesn’t require me to use my FTP information in the Plugins when installing and deleting plugins.

I’ll install the same plugins – Akismet, All in One SEO Pack, Bad Behavior, WP-SpamFree and WP Super Cache. Installing plugins on MediaLayer is damn fast.

WP Super Cache WP-Config.php Message

When I installed WP Super Cache I had to configure it, and guess what? I get a weird error message:

“WP-CACHE constant added to wp-config.php”

What’s confusing is the next line.

“If you continue to see this warning message please see point 5 of the FAQ. The WP_Cache line must be moved up.”

I’m confused! (not really, but I can fake it.) Lets find out how good their Support team is.

11:10am – email sent
11:11am – confirmation email from MediaLayer
11:35am – reply from support and I’m on my way. I like their response – it’s email, but it’s fairly good.

Back to the WP Super Cache setup. I’m happy with wp-config.php but WP Super Cache is telling me I need to add this to my HTACCESS file:

 # BEGIN WordPress

 RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f

 RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d

 RewriteRule . /index.php [L]

 # END WordPress

I don’t know why this HTACCESS portion is not part of the installation process, so I FTP in, upload my own HTACCESS and set CHMOD. I get a nice message that “Gzip encoding rules…were created”, never saw that before but I sure like knowing that compression is set. I complete the WP Super Cache setup by submitting the update to the HTACCESS file

I’m done and ready to do all the generic WordPress configuration.