Setup a testing WORDPRESS website on Plesk without DNS change

[RomanI]

Hi All,
I'm pretty new to Plesk and would like to setup a testing wordpress website without changing DNS yet. I assume I need to create a webspace for it. But do I use actual domain or an IP address? Wordpress ties up to the domain as far as I know. Any advise on that?
Thanks,
Roman

 

[abdi]

From within the control panel, there is a preview site button that allows you to see site through some sort of a temporary URL.

 

[RomanI]

Done that. It shows without any styles by some reason. I think that is related to the url
Here is a screenshot: http://d.pr/i/U0Af

 

[RomanI]

Done that, but it shows up with no styles to the theme and all the links are going to original domain - so I can't even log in to the admin page.
Here is how it looks like: http://d.pr/i/U0Af

 

[abdi]

That could be so because Wordpress uses the URL settings defined as the path to the CSS files. You would therefore need to change that to the Plesk temporary URL in the WP settings ...

 

[RomanI]

I'm not sure if that will work, since it looks like each time that URL will be different.

 

[abdi]

The standard URL (used) to be the same on the entire IP address of the server. It's the last part of the domain that keeps changing ...(It's a while since i used that feature, so I could be wrong ...)

If you can, paste here the full URL I can guide you on which part to use in WP settings...

 

[Jeff Huckaby]

I find the best way to test a site prior to DNS changes it to change the host file on your desktop.

If you search, you can find instructions on how to change your local host file.

Basically, you just set your local host file to the IP of the new server. This will allow you to test the site as if DNS has already changed which typically works much better than trying to use preview URLs.

 

[abdi]

That's right Jeff, I actually do this a-lot, I wonder why I forgot about this procedure ...

 

[Asaf]

Thank you! I was also having problems previewing a Wordpress site in Plesk (prior to making DNS changes live). Editing my local host file worked like a charm!

Instructions for the precise edit needed is found here: https://secure.revion.com/knowledgebase.php?action=displayarticle&id=29&useful=vote

Hope this helps!