Windows Azure : Using WebMatrix to Create Wordpress Multisite in Azure

English In case you have not tried Windows Azure to host your blog, I think it is time todo so; because Windows Azure is also capable to host many types of blogging platform such as Wordpress.  I stumbled upon “Convert a Wordpress Site to Multisite” - when trying to figure-out how to host my blog in Windows Azure. Instead of using FTP or GIT as described in that article, I use WebMatrix and standard Wordpress configuration in Windows Azure. The WebMatrix allow us to load deployment configuration XML directly from the Windows Azure web sites - so basically we don’t need to perform extra configuration on the client side. By default, Windows Azure website will provide sub-domain under *.azurewebsites.net ; for example contoso.azurewebsites.net. To use custom domain, Windows Azure must be able to validate that you are the owner of that domain. There are 2 method of validation, using name alias (CNAME) or using address (A) record. For example, to validate that you are the owner of www.contoso.com, Windows Azure will perform one of following validation:

1. Using name alias (CNAME),  checking that www.contoso.com is name alias of contoso.azurewebsites.net. Limitation, you can’t use wildcard validation - because you will not be able to map contoso.com as contoso.azurewebsites.net alias.- OR-
2. Using Address (A) record, add address (A) record of www.contoso.com to point to IP address of contoso.azurewebsites.net . Add name alias (CNAME) for A record validation, in this case awverify.www.contoso.com as name alias of awverify.contoso.azurewebsites.net. This method will enable mapping default domain to Windows Azure website. For example, @ contoso.com will need validation alias awverify.contoso.com as name alias of awverify.contoso.azurewebsites.net .

For more detail about custom domain configuration, please refer to Configure a custom domain name for a website article. For complete step using WebMatrix to create Wordpress multisite in Azure, check-out following web-cast: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K0KIk-muTA&feature=youtu.be