Servers and URLs

Servers

Official University sites should be housed on University servers and within University address space whenever possible and should not be hosted on sites that require the carrying of advertising as a condition of service.

Individuals seeking to set up their own servers for pages linked to other parts of the University Web will be asked to meet with their divisions webmasters before doing so, in order to determine whether appropriate server space already exists. The use of non-University domain name services (DNS) is strictly forbidden.

It is recommended that server administrators check with the University Web Coordinator to review any plans to move or establish new servers. Web space is available on the central server for any University department, unit, or student organization at no cost.

URLs

Because the University's registered World Wide Web domain name is http://www.rochester.edu, the preferred address for locating Web sites within the University's name space is to place the identifying information for directories and files at the end of the full URL, keeping the www.rochester.edu of the University's address intact.

For example:

www.rochester.edu/yournamehere

is preferred to

www.yournamehere.rochester.edu

(The preferred style is all lowercase.)

Given the decentralized nature of the Web and of the University, having a consistent convention for identifying sites and resources on the Web benefits not only those who manage and maintain sites, but also makes it easier for those who are using the Web site to find information about the University and its research, teaching, scholarship, and services.

Since the University's Web site was launched in the mid-1990s, a number of servers on campus have set up addresses outside the preferred syntax, most typically by inserting identifying information between the "www" and "rochester" in the University's domain name. There are two different types of server set-ups that can result in these kind of domain names. The first are standalone servers that have their own domain names. The second results from the ability of one server to host multiple addresses. Known as "virtual servers," such addresses give the impression that a site is hosted on a machine separate from the main University server, but they actually share space with other sites.

Recognizing that those addresses would be difficult for most site managers to relocate and rename, the University does not require that the owners change to the preferred syntax. As of January 1, 2004, site managers requesting standalone or virtual servers must get approval from the University Web Group. For help in naming Web sites or for other questions, contact Information Technology Services Center at x5-2000, or send e-mail to webhelp@rochester.edu.

Also recognizing that, at times, the preferred syntax may require a URL of more than 76 characters (the character-per-line limit for many text editors and e-mail clients), and in order to make Web addresses easier to reproduce in print and in other media, campus departments, units, and programs may request that the University webmaster create a redirect to their directories using a shorter URL.

For example, the manager of

www.rochester.edu/universityunit/school/program/directory/

may request that a redirect be put in place from

www.rochester.edu/program

to capture Web traffic and route it to the proper site directory. The section of the address that defines the site (the "/program" in the example) must be specific enough to avoid confusion with sites of other University units and programs.

The redirect is not a place to keep files. The site would continue to "live" in its original location. Redirects can be set up on the central server to channel traffic to any server within the University's address space. The target directory does not need to be on the central server. For example, the address www.rochester.edu/program can be used to redirect visitors to a standalone server with the address of www.departmentname.rochester.edu/directory/sub-directory/program/.

Such requests for redirects must be approved by the University Web Group and should only be used for sites that represent the University in its academic and administrative duties. For sites outside the University's central administration, site managers also must have the permission of their unit's Web coordinator to use a shortened URL. The redirects also must go to an index page for a directory.

Content last modified: Tuesday, 17-May-2005 14:53:26 EDT
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