Leave the $base_url alone. Drupal will figure it out automatically. You can have one install (single code base), and one database, and don't set $base_url. Then do something like this in template.php: <?php function phptemplate_preprocess_page(&$vars) { switch($_SERVER['HTTP_HOST']) { case 'site1.example.com': $vars['banner'] = 'something1'; break; case 'site2.example.com': $vars['banner'] = 'something1'; break; case 'site3.example.com': $vars['banner'] = 'something1'; break; case 'site4.example.com': $vars['banner'] = 'something1'; break; default: $vars['banner'] = 'somethingX'; break; } } Then in page.tpl.php do: <?php print $banner ?> That is all ... -- Khalid M. Baheyeldin 2bits.com, Inc. http://2bits.com Drupal optimization, development, customization and consulting. Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. -- Edsger W.Dijkstra Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. -- Leonardo da Vinci