Optimal solutions for plugin management?

[eCubation]

WordPress version: with WordPress 3.2.1.
Theme version: Theme Genesis
Site http://ecubation.com


What alternatives exist (or would be recommended) in relation to "Plugin Central" which is a dashboard plugin update notification, allows people to update all plugins at once and to move my plugins from one blog to another with plugin install?
Alternatively, is it better to have all the plugins stored in a folder ready to FTP rather than having to install each individually on a new blog?

Thanks.

[andrea_r]

The built in upgrades within WordPress already allow you to update all plugins at once. Check the box next to them under "Updates".

Alternatively, is it better to have all the plugins stored in a folder ready to FTP rather than having to install each individually on a new blog?

In cpanel, you can zip a folder - in this case your plugins folder - download it, then upload it to the new server & unzip it where you want it.

[eCubation]

Originally Posted by andrea_r

The built in upgrades within WordPress already allow you to update all plugins at once. Check the box next to them under "Updates".

Thanks, I was aware of that feature so does that feature effectively make "Plugin Central" a little bit redundant?

In cpanel, you can zip a folder - in this case your plugins folder - download it, then upload it to the new server & unzip it where you want it.

Thanks, I wasn't aware of that feature in cpanel so I appreciate that helpful information.

[andrea_r]

If you have a little more advanced knowledge of WordPress, you may want to look into the multisite feature. One install, multiple blogs, one plugin & theme directory. ;)

[eCubation]

Originally Posted by andrea_r

If you have a little more advanced knowledge of WordPress, you may want to look into the multisite feature. One install, multiple blogs, one plugin & theme directory. ;)

Thanks Andrea. I'm still only a basic WordPress user but I was aware of that multisite feature although I'm not totally clear on whether it would be what I need. Essentially, I have a large number of domains, which I will be building individual sites on each domain. These are all WordPress based sites. There will be 260 hosted on my server. However, each site will be uniquely customised and have it's own business model for generating income. Also, some of these sites may be sold and/or leased to other users so they will need access to their own WordPress admin panel. So is the multisite feature capable of catering to all of those needs?

[andrea_r]

Everything but the splitting it off to be sold.

Ye they all have their own admin area, but you;re still working off one install in one web account. Maybe not for now, but it;s something to investigate for the future.

(for multiple domains, you'll need a plugin and some DNS work)