wordpress updates

[Orion]

Not sure if this is the right category or not..

I know quite a few of you use wordpress quite often as a CMS or simply for blog sites. I too have been using it more and more to both my and my clients delight!

My question is this: Has anyone come across a plugin or a way to keep wordpress updated across many domains. As I use it more and more I'm finding it increasingly difficult and time consuming to go through the sites which use the software and update them one at a time.

If there isn't a way to do this either through a cronjob, serverside script or plugin how do you handle it?
a) do you just let them get outdated?
b) bite the bullet and update them one at a time
c) do you charge your clients for the updates? Is it decided up front or as needed?

Second part to this would be has anyone used the wordpress.com software. Meaning the actual software that wordpress uses to run their .com site, as it is available to create subdomains etc. Any pros and cons to it?

I'm gearing up to grow my business again in the next couple of months and would like to use wordpress regularly but I'll quickly end up spending all my time updating the software and plugins if I can't find a solution.

I appreciate any input. Thanks!

[incrediblehelp]

Updating is a laborious issue you are right, but it is not one to be taken lightly. You should never automate the process as many plug-in issues can spring up. You could also have numerous theme issues as well. Doing them one by one and doing the proper duedilligence is absolutely necessary.

[Orion]

I was looking at the mu version of wordpress...

it seems to cover it and is what the software was originally made to do.. one install runs multi domains... does anyone out there have any experience with it I wonder?

[nickyoung]

If you are running more than like 10 WP installs, I'd definitely consider using Mu. Never used it personally, but I ought to test it out one of these days. If WordPress runs Mu them self, then it must be good.

Do you charge? I guess it depends on the customer relationship, but yes, it's an important part of maintaining a CMS. You may even have to train customers if their backend interface changes. If there is a large variation in the time it takes to update because of plugin compatibility, then I would charge depending on the work required. If upgrades always run smooth every time, I would charge a minimal fee or offer it free of charge.

I also want to hear about Mu. Are you using Mu at Orion yet?

[Orion]

I haven't tried Mu as yet.. however I have helped a few friends set up wordpress.com sites on their set up it's pretty limited.. and I didn't like the way it integrated using their own domain name... it just basically forwarded or framed the site, so no real SEO benefit to my clients using Mu that way...
I do NOT know though if that's just how wordpress has it configured on their end or possibly a server thing.
I have in around 10 sites now using WP to power them, or part of them (some are actual blogs on the back of another site lol)...
I appreciate the input though, thank you!