Reply To: WPMU BP Install
– What you need to know about WordPress MU : https://mu.wordpress.org/
– While using WP 3.5.1 you can activate a network by adding define multisite=true into wp-config.
Aside, you have two possibilities: sub-folder sites (hxxp://example.com/my_second_site/ or sub-directory site (my_second_site.example.com/) This choice need a wildcard on your host DNS. Both need also some consequent storage capabilities and preferably a VPS/VPN/dedicated server.
– The main site is where WP is installed (normally at the root > hxxp://example.com/wp-content, etc)
– Now you install BP and give your members the possibility to create a blog (or not, and you create them yourself). Those blogs will appear on the BP Blog Directory. Each blog has his own admin interface and individual settings and theming. From the main blog you have to allow or not some of these settings and themes/plugins
– <cite>BP Root Blog and for what purpose?</cite> defining a root blog gives priority to the designed blog over other blogs, activities and different other informations (i.e latest post in the latest post widget) Secondary blog posts will only appear in the site wide activity and on their own sidebar, if the latest post widget is set (for example).
BP shows only a community style template sytem (over some customised components), but it is WP who manage the network.
i recommand you to read the WP codex:
https://codex.wordpress.org/Create_A_Network
https://codex.wordpress.org/Multisite_Network_Administration
also test a fully operationnal BP install on http://testbp.org/ to try to undestand how all this works. 🙂
