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Last Reviewed: March 21, 2023

Add a Site

Create or migrate a site on Pantheon.

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There are dozens of ways to add a site on Pantheon. This section covers the most common scenarios for new users: creating a new CMS site (a site running WordPress or Drupal), or migrating an existing WordPress or Drupal site. For additional scenarios, see the Adding a Site to Pantheon section at the end of this document.

Create a New CMS Site

To create a CMS site:

  1. Go to the workspace and select the Create New Site button:

    Create new site button

  2. Select WordPress or Drupal.

    Select CMS

    If you select Drupal, you will have the option to select the Drupal version you want to use.

    Select Drupal version

  3. Enter the name and select a region for this site. If this site is to be part of a Professional Workspace, select a Workspace from Choose a Workspace for the Site. Click Continue. It can take several minutes to create a new site on Pantheon.

    Note

    Site names are limited to 51 characters and can contain only numbers, letters, and dashes. Site names cannot start or end with a dash.

    Site names cannot be changed after site creation.

    Enter site information

    Note

    You can navigate away from this page during this process, but later, you'll have to go to the Sites tab to access your site. If possible, stay on this tab to simplify accessing the site when the creation is complete.

  4. Click Visit your Pantheon Site Dashboard when the process is complete.

    Site creation completed

At this point, you have a Dev environment for your site code, but you do not have a Dev environment for your CMS. To create that:

  1. Click Site Admin. The Site Admin button

  2. You will be presented with either a Drupal or WordPress setup screen. Drupal and WordPress installation screens.

  3. Enter the information on the screen, and when done, return to the browser tab containing your Site Dashboard.

    Note

    Be sure to record your new username and password. You will use this to log in to your CMS in all environments (Dev, Test, Live).

You have successfully finished adding a site in its Dev environment!

Migrate an Existing Site

If you already have a site hosted elsewhere, you can move it over to Pantheon with minimal effort.

Warning

If your migration needs include any of the following, do not use this process, and instead refer to the specified documentation:

Before you Begin

  1. Check your plugins and/or modules against Modules and Plugins with Known Issues.

  2. Make sure your code is compatible with the latest recommended version of PHP for your CMS. If not, be prepared to adjust PHP versions.

  3. Remove unneeded code, database tables, and files.

Perform the Migration

The recommended way to migrate WordPress sites from another host is to use the Pantheon Migration plugin, developed by BlogVault.

Watch: Guided WordPress Migrations

  1. Open your Personal or Professional Workspace dashboard and select the Migrate Existing Site button on the lower right side of the page.

    Migrate site button

  2. Enter your current website URL, select WordPress, and click Continue.

    Enter URL and select CMS

  3. Enter the name of your new Pantheon site, select a workspace for the site (optional), and click Create Site.

    Install Plugin

  4. Select Generate Machine Token and re-authenticate if prompted.

    Begin process of installing plugin

  5. Select Install on /wp-admin. A new tab will open with your WordPress CMS for your existing site. Keep the Pantheon tab open in your browser. Install on /wp-admin

  6. Search for and install the plugin.

    Searching for plugin on WordPress

  7. Click Activate.

    Copying and pasting info

  8. Go back to the browser tab containing your Pantheon dashboard, copy the machine token from the Pantheon Dashboard, then go back to the WordPress Dashboard on your existing site. Paste the machine token and the site name, and click Migrate.

    Copying and pasting info

    When the migration is complete, the Migration completed successfully page appears.

    Migration successful

    You will also receive an email when the migration completes.

  9. Go back to the Pantheon tab and click Confirm migration progress. Your site's dashboard appears.

Note

The WordPress Native PHP Sessions plugin is automatically installed during the migration process. For more details on this plugin, see WordPress and PHP Sessions.

You have successfully migrated a site to its Dev environment!

Now it's time to purchase a site plan in preparation for launching your site.

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