2 domains, 1 database is doable ?

so I want to use 2 similar domain names, like DriveHonda.com and DriveHD.com but I don't want to redirect or or build 2 separate sites, I want to intergrate those 2 sites into 1. so that the content on both sites will be populated into each other automatically. Like I post a picture on DriveHonda.com the DriveHD.com will also have that picture AUTOMATICALLY. 

What I have done as an experiment is like this:

I installed and configured Dolphin on DriveHonda.com, then I copy all the files to DriveHD.com. when people go to DriveHD.com they're taken to DriveHonda.com automatically.

I think the reason is because in your header.inc file (i think this is right file) will be coded to direct to the original domain ... maybe someone else can confirm if you could add a second domain also ?!

you can certainly have 2 totally seperate sites working from one DB ...

just add the DB details to your second domains files (header.inc)

$db['host']                = 'localhost';
$db['sock']                = '';
$db['port']                = '';
$db['user']                = '*********';
$db['passwd']              = '*********';
$db['db']                  = '*********';

 Thanks, I was thinking if I can modify the .htaccess file or the header.inc file to change the ReWrite rules, to point the domain to DriveHD.com but the database info kept the same. 

 Im doing it right now, will let you know in a few minutes.

read above ^^^^ MY PREVIOUS POST!

the thing is also ... when people join one domain they will also have access to your second domain and be able to login etc to either ...

Content will not be shared between both domains as these are files and I think would need to be present in both domains files ...

 yup, tested it and failed. 

I modified 2 fields below in the header.inc file, I got it working but the uploaded files (stored under diff directory) will not display on DriveHD.com if I upload anything from DriveHonda.com.

$site['url']               = "http://DriveJD.com/";

$dir['root']               = "/home/username/public_html/DriveHD.com/";

It shed some light though, if we can find out the rules where Dolphin looks for the uploaded files then we're good to go. so instead of /uploaded/files/video we change it to DriveHonda.com/uploaded/files/video , and any update should be done on the DriveHonda.com (the primary site).

doing the way I said will allow your DB to work with multi sites etc BUT .....

is it really important to you that both sites have exact content etc ?!

Personally I would make users of either domain they join aware that they also have access to the other site BUT make one of the sites slightly different from the other even though they are based on the same thing / niche

^^^ this way you will not be penalized by Google and other engines for have 2 sites with duplicate content and you can have your members using both sites without issue!

I hope you see why I have the better idea about your sites!

Your members from either site would be infact more happy thinking they are a part of 2 unique sites that are partnered with each other rather that being on one site and another exact double ...

I can't stress enough how much you would regret having duplicate sites if you get caught by Google ... when they penalize you it would take you years to then get the sites where you would like to see them if at all !

I understand very well how the internet, rankings and natural listings work etc and I can see you wasting your time and money trying to make something awesome and then having the engines blacklist you ... Especially if both sites have exact content

You can not have two sites sharing a single database.

Think about this; I go to site one and upload a photo.  On site two, the scripts checks the database and sees the recently added photo but since the photo is uploaded to the first site, the second site can not find the file, so it either displays an error or it displays a while box instead of the thumbnail.

Now what you do is that you point both domains to the same site, the same server; they both resolve to the same site although if you want either domain name to be displayed in the URL, you are going to have rewrite some code.  Normally when two different domains point to the same site, only the main site URL shows up in the browser bar.  Say coke.com, coke.net, coke.org, coke.us, etc.  they are registered for brand protection but you may not want all going to different sites, you send them all to coke.com and the browser shows the user they are at coke.com.

geek_girl is totally right .... I was thinking about what I done when I had 2 sites working from one DB but both sites had the exact files and photos and everything else.  I just changed what the domain was in the second site's header.inc ... in the end it didn't work out like I wanted so stuck to having totally individual sites

once more some priceless information .... this is in fact possible although not inexpensive ... click here it can be done I think scriptologist updated it for 7.01 but I am sure if you message him he will update it for 7.04

Happy thoughts

The module mention does not allow to sites to share a single database.  If you follow the link and read, it allows two independent sites to have the same members; a member logged into one site is automatically logged into the other site.

Thank you for all your information, especially about google banning your site for duplicated contents.

As I said above, I tried this afternoon and it worked, you can join 2 domains to 1 database, so that every site will have its own domain name. Everything in the database is shared, e.g members, articles etc...but uploaded media is stored outside of the database so you have to rewrite some rules to make the secondary site look for the uploaded media from the primary site. and whenever you update the contents you have to update from the primary site.  Like I did earlier, I created an article on 1 site and it also appear on the other site, I posted a thread from the secondary site and it also appeared on the primary site.

To make this work I think you need to install Dolphin on one primary site. After you're done setting up, configuring etc... you use FTP to copy the whole thing to the secondary site, or use File Manager in Cpanel to copy, and then you open header.inc file to edit the url and directory as stated above.

I am wondering if changing table names for content of second site and adding to DB would allow you to show content for the site it was uploaded from (site A) and not on site (B) and stuff added to site (B) would not be shown on site (A) etc ...

If this could be done your members could still use both sites plus it would save you from the duplicate content issue ... with one DB powering 2 individual sites ...

 Yeah, upsetting Google in the wrong way can be costly in lots of ways for webmasters and once scared your pretty much scared as domain ... Taking your domain forward for example with good natural listings would be very hard. You want to give search engines the right impression that both sites are unique in content and of quality.