301's not working with multisite

Question

I had moved over my website a few months ago from a normal WordPress install to a multi site install.

It’s obvious that 301 redirection is something that needs to be set up with a new site after you create properly named pages and you want the old to redirect to the new, so I know I set this up. However, now I’ve used a couple different plugins over the last while, checked my .htaccess file, and no matter the plugin I use or the updates I do makes it work. I have a ton of 404 pages and of course it’s not pretty.

Do I have to do something different with a multisite install for 301’s to start working? Currently I’m using EPS Redirection plugin but checking any of my pages I’m redirecting causes me to go to a 404 page and not the redirected link.

Any help on this would be much appreciated. Been trying to figure out what is going on for a while now.

EDIT:

I’ve added my .htaccess code here

# BEGIN iThemes Security - Do not modify or remove this line
# iThemes Security Config Details: 2
    # Enable HackRepair.com's blacklist feature - Security > Settings > Banned Users > Default Blacklist
    # Start HackRepair.com Blacklist
    RewriteEngine on
    # Start Abuse Agent Blocking
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Mozilla.*Indy" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Mozilla.*NEWT" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^$" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Maxthon$" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^SeaMonkey$" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Acunetix" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^binlar" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^BlackWidow" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Bolt 0" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^BOT for JCE" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Bot mailto:[email protected]" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^casper" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^checkprivacy" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^ChinaClaw" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^clshttp" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^cmsworldmap" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^comodo" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Custo" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Default Browser 0" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^diavol" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^DIIbot" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^DISCo" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^dotbot" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Download Demon" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^eCatch" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^EirGrabber" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^EmailCollector" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^EmailSiphon" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^EmailWolf" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Express WebPictures" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^extract" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^ExtractorPro" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^EyeNetIE" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^feedfinder" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^FHscan" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^FlashGet" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^flicky" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^g00g1e" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^GetRight" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^GetWeb!" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Go!Zilla" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Go-Ahead-Got-It" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^grab" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^GrabNet" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Grafula" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^harvest" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^HMView" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^ia_archiver" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Image Stripper" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Image Sucker" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^InterGET" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Internet Ninja" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^InternetSeer.com" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^jakarta" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Java" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^JetCar" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^JOC Web Spider" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^kanagawa" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^kmccrew" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^larbin" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^LeechFTP" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^libwww" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Mass Downloader" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^microsoft.url" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^MIDown tool" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^miner" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Mister PiX" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^MSFrontPage" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Navroad" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^NearSite" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Net Vampire" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^NetAnts" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^NetSpider" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^NetZIP" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^nutch" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Octopus" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Offline Explorer" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Offline Navigator" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^PageGrabber" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Papa Foto" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^pavuk" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^pcBrowser" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^PeoplePal" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^planetwork" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^psbot" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^purebot" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^pycurl" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^RealDownload" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^ReGet" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Rippers 0" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^sitecheck.internetseer.com" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^SiteSnagger" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^skygrid" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^SmartDownload" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^sucker" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^SuperBot" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^SuperHTTP" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Surfbot" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^tAkeOut" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Teleport Pro" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Toata dragostea mea pentru diavola" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^turnit" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^vikspider" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^VoidEYE" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Web Image Collector" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Web Sucker" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^WebAuto" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^WebBandit" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^WebCopier" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^WebFetch" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^WebGo IS" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^WebLeacher" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^WebReaper" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^WebSauger" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Website eXtractor" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Website Quester" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^WebStripper" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^WebWhacker" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^WebZIP" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Wget" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Widow" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^WPScan" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^WWW-Mechanize" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^WWWOFFLE" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Xaldon WebSpider" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^Zeus" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "^zmeu" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "360Spider" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "AhrefsBot" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "CazoodleBot" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "discobot" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "EasouSpider" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "ecxi" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "GT::WWW" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "heritrix" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "HTTP::Lite" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "HTTrack" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "ia_archiver" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "id-search" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "IDBot" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "Indy Library" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "IRLbot" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "ISC Systems iRc Search 2.1" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "LinksCrawler" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "LinksManager.com_bot" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "linkwalker" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "lwp-trivial" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "MFC_Tear_Sample" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "Microsoft URL Control" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "Missigua Locator" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "MJ12bot" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "panscient.com" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "PECL::HTTP" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "PHPCrawl" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "PleaseCrawl" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "SBIder" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "SearchmetricsBot" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "SeznamBot" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "Snoopy" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "Steeler" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "URI::Fetch" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "urllib" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "Web Sucker" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "webalta" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "WebCollage" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "Wells Search II" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "WEP Search" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "XoviBot" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "YisouSpider" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "zermelo" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} "ZyBorg" [NC,OR]
    # End Abuse Agent Blocking
    # Start Abuse HTTP Referrer Blocking
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} "^https?://(?:[^/]+.)?semalt.com" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} "^https?://(?:[^/]+.)?kambasoft.com" [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} "^https?://(?:[^/]+.)?savetubevideo.com" [NC]
    # End Abuse HTTP Referrer Blocking
    RewriteRule ^.* - [F,L]
    # End HackRepair.com Blacklist, http://pastebin.com/u/hackrepair

    # Enable the hide backend feature - Security > Settings > Hide Login Area > Hide Backend
    RewriteRule ^(/sagekey/)?dashboard-access/?$ /sagekey/wp-login.php [QSA,L]

    # Protect System Files - Security > Settings > System Tweaks > System Files
    <files .htaccess>
        <IfModule mod_authz_core.c>
            Require all denied
        </IfModule>
        <IfModule !mod_authz_core.c>
            Order allow,deny
            Deny from all
        </IfModule>
    </files>
    <files readme.html>
        <IfModule mod_authz_core.c>
            Require all denied
        </IfModule>
        <IfModule !mod_authz_core.c>
            Order allow,deny
            Deny from all
        </IfModule>
    </files>
    <files readme.txt>
        <IfModule mod_authz_core.c>
            Require all denied
        </IfModule>
        <IfModule !mod_authz_core.c>
            Order allow,deny
            Deny from all
        </IfModule>
    </files>
    <files install.php>
        <IfModule mod_authz_core.c>
            Require all denied
        </IfModule>
        <IfModule !mod_authz_core.c>
            Order allow,deny
            Deny from all
        </IfModule>
    </files>
    <files wp-config.php>
        <IfModule mod_authz_core.c>
            Require all denied
        </IfModule>
        <IfModule !mod_authz_core.c>
            Order allow,deny
            Deny from all
        </IfModule>
    </files>

    # Disable Directory Browsing - Security > Settings > System Tweaks > Directory Browsing
    Options -Indexes

    <IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
        RewriteEngine On

        # Protect System Files - Security > Settings > System Tweaks > System Files
        RewriteRule ^wp-admin/includes/ - [F]
        RewriteRule !^wp-includes/ - [S=3]
        RewriteCond %{SCRIPT_FILENAME} !^(.*)wp-includes/ms-files.php
        RewriteRule ^wp-includes/[^/]+.php$ - [F]
        RewriteRule ^wp-includes/js/tinymce/langs/.+.php - [F]
        RewriteRule ^wp-includes/theme-compat/ - [F]

        # Disable PHP in Uploads - Security > Settings > System Tweaks > Uploads
        RewriteRule ^backend-files/uploads/.*.(?:php[1-6]?|pht|phtml?)$ - [NC,F]

        # Filter Request Methods - Security > Settings > System Tweaks > Request Methods
        RewriteCond %{REQUEST_METHOD} ^(TRACE|DELETE|TRACK) [NC]
        RewriteRule ^.* - [F]

        # Filter Suspicious Query Strings in the URL - Security > Settings > System Tweaks > Suspicious Query Strings
        RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ../ [NC,OR]
        RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ^.*.(bash|git|hg|log|svn|swp|cvs) [NC,OR]
        RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} etc/passwd [NC,OR]
        RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} boot.ini [NC,OR]
        RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ftp:  [NC,OR]
        RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} http:  [NC,OR]
        RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} https:  [NC,OR]
        RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (<|%3C).*script.*(>|%3E) [NC,OR]
        RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} mosConfig_[a-zA-Z_]{1,21}(=|%3D) [NC,OR]
        RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} base64_encode.*(.*) [NC,OR]
        RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ^.*(%24&x).* [NC,OR]
        RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ^.*(127.0).* [NC,OR]
        RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ^.*(globals|encode|localhost|loopback).* [NC,OR]
        RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ^.*(request|concat|insert|union|declare).* [NC]
        RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} !^loggedout=true
        RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} !^action=jetpack-sso
        RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} !^action=rp
        RewriteCond %{HTTP_COOKIE} !^.*wordpress_logged_in_.*$
        RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^http://maps.googleapis.com(.*)$
        RewriteRule ^.* - [F]

        # Filter Non-English Characters - Security > Settings > System Tweaks > Non-English Characters
        RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} ^.*(%0|%A|%B|%C|%D|%E|%F).* [NC]
        RewriteRule ^.* - [F]

        # Reduce Comment Spam - Security > Settings > System Tweaks > Comment Spam
        RewriteCond %{REQUEST_METHOD} POST
        RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} /wp-comments-post.php$
        RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} ^$ [OR]
        RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^https?://(([^/]+.)?rcboa.com|jetpack.wordpress.com/jetpack-comment)(/|$) [NC]
        RewriteRule ^.* - [F]
    </IfModule>
# END iThemes Security - Do not modify or remove this line

# BEGIN WordPress
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php
</IfModule>

# END WordPress

Most of it’s generated by my iTheme Security plugin.

multisite redirect

Pat J · Answer

Make sure you're using the right .htaccess rules for Multisite.

Generally, these days, they should look like this:

Subfolder

RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index.php$ - [L]

# add a trailing slash to /wp-admin
RewriteRule ^([_0-9a-zA-Z-]+/)?wp-admin$ $1wp-admin/ [R=301,L]

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -f [OR]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -d
RewriteRule ^ - [L]
RewriteRule ^([_0-9a-zA-Z-]+/)?(wp-(content|admin|includes).*) $2 [L]
RewriteRule ^([_0-9a-zA-Z-]+/)?(.*.php)$ $2 [L]
RewriteRule . index.php [L]

Subdomain

RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index.php$ - [L]

# add a trailing slash to /wp-admin
RewriteRule ^wp-admin$ wp-admin/ [R=301,L]

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -f [OR]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -d
RewriteRule ^ - [L]
RewriteRule ^(wp-(content|admin|includes).*) $1 [L]
RewriteRule ^(.*.php)$ $1 [L]
RewriteRule . index.php [L]

For more on WordPress and .htaccess files, check the .htaccess page on the Codex.

301's not working with multisite

One Answer

Subfolder

Subdomain

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