Is anyone familiar with WP Desktop or any alternatives that would help with managing large numbers of Wordpress sites? I mainly need a good program that could be set up to deal with Wordpress database backups, frequent CMS and plugin upgrades, and tracking users and passwords. A preference would be a program installed on my computer, so it is (hopefully) more secure. Are there any tools or tricks or ideas you can suggest for large numbers of Wordpress installs? I know there has to be a better way, an easier way, somewhere out there Thank you for any help you may be able to provide, Ken
I can build you a custom 1 off program to manage all your sites, with loadable data from a csv file easy to manage. Let me know if your interested by PM. TJ
Till now, there is nothing like that. But if you want, you can make one, or get a programmer to do it. There is one plugin which can automatically take backup. But nothing else available for automatic task
TJ, Thank you for your response. If you have already written a program with known features, PM me the capabilities for a starting point. I am already using Excel to track WP installs and service, SQL database names with assigned users and passwords, client user login passwords, etc. It has clickable links and is useful, but lacks a GUI specific to the functions and does not perform needed functions from within a single client application. I could use a way to do remote upgrades of versions and plugins, track changes by site, and run backups with remote software. Use of multiple different programs to address each needed feature would be fine also, so the search continues... After posting this, I found another program last night that has Wordpress management features WPManagerDX.com It doesn't fit my requirement for a program that resides on my computer, and even worse - it is a subscription :~( , but seems worth a look later today. As for the WP Desktop manager program, I will download and install that today to take a look at it, as it is inexpensive enough. The only problem I see is that it is no return, no refund, so it's time to read a manual first :~D
I would custom tailor a program to your needs. I have built other programs and have wordpress sites myself. I dont see any problem making one that will update your wp version, create log, update all plugins, create log, generate backup, and create log all working from a excel sheet with wordpress admin link, user, pass and rotate through all of them easily with a easy to use UI area. TJ
@adbox Thanks! It's good to know there is another option out there. I looked at the site and read their manual this afternoon. The ManageWP uses a plug-in that enables their site to perform management functions on the Wordpress sites without a password through the OpenSSL implementation of secure communication protocol using encryption. I have to tell you, that ran chills down my spine :~( even with SSL and encryption keys. Wordpress has passwords, that have to be used each time the sites are accessed, for a reason. I would be totally irresponsible to my client base if I put a back door into their sites, just to save me time, on a platform running an interface I did not have complete access to, from a web site I did not own. Even for my own sites, I will not give somebody else's program access I cannot track and control. This has a monthly (or yearly) fee as a subscription, so it's like the WPManagerDX site in that respect also (as both are online only). It's new, so they don't have a price set. I suppose they will also publish a similar limitation of liability, so they won't be responsible if there is a problem. That's okay, my preference is to not expose my sites to the potential for future problems that can be avoided. ...so I'm still on the hunt for a program I can install as a local client to replace Excel and Access, that has tracked management functions :~D I welcome, and will research, any and all ideas. Thanks again, Ken