Hi,

Does anyone know if it is possible to have 2 Joomla websites, both with separate urls, eg 1. www.site1.com.au and 2. www.site2.com.au but to both share the same database?

The only difference between site1 and site2 will be the logo will be different for each.

Currently the sites (not built in Joomla) are 2 separate sites with 2 separate databases and the client therefore has to update the sites twice. What they want is to only have one instance to update, therefore only 1 database to update and both sites will automatically show the same content.

They also need to share any installed components such as DocMan, events registration component, MailChimp subscribers.

I have had a bit of a look at JMS Multisites (JMS2win) but am not entirely sure that this component will do this. It looks like it works with a main url and the 2nd url being a subdomain of the main one but not another main url.

Anyone had any experience with building something similar or can offer any advice?

Hi,

I'd recommend virtual domains extensions.joomla.org/extensions/core-en...aXphdGlvbiI7fQ%3D%3D.
I've successfully used this to have several domains running off one Joomla installation. You can use this extension to select a different template to use for each domain - which will help regarding your logo issue.
The extension is in beta stage - but I've found it to be quite stable. There should be a new release coming for 1.6 soon.

Another way you could think about doing this is to use 2 URLs mapped to exactly the same site (both database and file structure).

You then would need to use a bit of cleverness to switch the logos depending on the URL. Unfortunately at the moment, I can't think exactly what that cleverness would be.

Thanks PtrNrs and ecweb for your suggestions.

My client has now informed me that site2.com.au will actually be phased out in the next 12 months so we have decided to have one single site site1.com.au which will display both logos and simply redirect site2 to this site.

I have had this query before from clients before though so I will look in to the virtual domains extension.

And PtrNrs I did wonder if your line of thought was possible when I was exploring the options but at that stage I had thought that as soon as someone went beyond the home page the url would always begin with site1 even if you were initially in site2.

Really appreciate the responses.

Try this...

extensions.joomla.org/extensions/core-en...OToibXVsdGlzaXRlIjt9

I bought this sometime ago but never had the chance to play with it. The reviews suggest it is really good. It installed no problems, but I never took it further..

Perhaps this might be worth looking at...

Thanks RicRaftis, that's the one I mentioned I was having a look at but wasn't sure if it only worked with a main url and a subdomain. It also looks quite complex for the requirements I had.