Trying to setup a dev subdomain, but url loads as /dev/ instead

Question

I created a subdomain (dev.mysite.com) and I duplicated my live site into this subdomain. However, when I go to dev.mysite.com, it loads mysite.com/dev instead.

I changed siteurl and home in wp_options to dev.mysite.com, removed the entire .htaccess, deleted W3 Total Cache, and it still does it.

When I just put a test index.html file, the subdomain loads correctly. It's only after I add the Wordpress files that it does this.

Am I missing something? What would cause this?

Answer 1

Sounds like it is something left in your database. Try to make a new backup and import it again then run this SQL in your MySQL.

Input your old domain as http://www.old-domain.com and the new in http://www.new-domain.com, also if you have changed the prefix (wp_) to something other, change it before run.

UPDATE wp_options SET option_value = replace(option_value, 'http://www.old-domain.com', 'http://www.new-domain.com') WHERE option_name = 'home' OR option_name = 'siteurl';

UPDATE wp_posts SET guid = replace(guid, 'http://www.old-domain.com','http://www.new-domain.com');

UPDATE wp_posts SET post_content = replace(post_content, 'http://www.old-domain.com', 'http://www.new-domain.com');

This SQL changes all possible url:s from the old domain to the new one.

And you have not forgot to change the database in wp-config.php file?

Answer 2

Or simply enable Wordpress network functionality. It'll then automatically handle all this for you, and even better you'll only have to do all your "network" updates once.