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Frequently
Asked Questions
Why can't I have
more than one alias?
The idea is to establish
a web identity that can be used for written
materials. Having a single one will help in
that effort; having more than one will simply
confuse people who are looking for pages. We
have allowed recognized sub-groups (such as
Benefits under Human Resources, etc.) to have
their own to allow them to establish their own
web identity as well.
Should I use capital
letters?
This is really a decision
that needs to be made in the department. It
is easier for people to type URLs that have
no capitalization, but if you have a reason
for using a capital in your name, you may do
so. Understand though, that someone typing the
URL without the capital will not gain access
to the site.
Why do I want to
do this?
If you have any need
to publish URLs on paper documents (documentation,
brochures, flyers, bookmarks, newsletters, etc.),
having a shorter URL will make that work easier.
The person reading the materials is more likely
to have a successful web visit if they do not
have a long URL to type, they are more likely
to remember it if they have since discarded
the paper, etc.
If an alias is created
for my site, will my URL change? Will bookmarks
to my site keep working?
Your URL will not change
and bookmarks to your site will continue to
work. Your web files will not be touched or
moved. Basically, the alias is designed to make
it easier to advertise your site in print.
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Introduction
The directory structure on Brown's primary web server
was set up in the mid 1990's, when the web was in
its infancy. Since then, the use of the web has exploded,
and the old directory structure has lost its usefulness.
Instead, departments are finding that writing their
URL's into printed documents is cumbersome and difficult
to understand. The current solution to this problem
is to use aliases in the web server to allow departments
to shorten their URLs for publication, while leaving
the files in their current locations. Further improvements
to simplify the actual file locations may take place
in the future, but this policy addresses the specific
desire to publish shorter URLs in paper publications.
Definitions
For the purposes of this document, a web publishing
group is defined as one of the following:
- Brown department, program, or center
- Brown student organization (approved by the Student
Activities Office)
- Recognized sub-group of a department, program
or center
- A standing or ad hoc committee or organization
- A conference to be held at Brown or sponsored
by a Brown department, program, or center
- A journal hosted at Brown
Note:
Student groups can request a web name that look like
this: http://students.brown.edu/groupname
This policy does not apply to course web pages, though
we will investigate options for shortening the URLs
of course web pages through other mechanisms. Any
issues relating to whether a group is included in
this listing will be referred to the Computing Accounts
& Access office to be verified in the same way that
ad hoc requests to be added to the EAB are handled.
An alias is a shortcut that allows a user of a web
browser to type a shorter name for a department web
site, but still get to the page that person is seeking.
Another technique (DNS entries ) would allow for even
greater shortening of URLs, but has a higher systems
impact, so we will not be using it for this service.
Guidelines and Policy
Selecting an alias
Each web publishing group is responsible for choosing
its own alias. The alias must be one of the following:
- Name of the group, sub-group, journal, conference,
committee, etc. or a recognized shortening of it
- An acronym that the organization is known by (CIS
for Computing & Information Services, for example)
The alias will come after the brown.edu domain. Example: www.brown.edu/alias.
The primary information provider, in consultation
with a department chair, is responsible for selecting
the alias for that area. Aliases will be issued on
a first come, first served basis. If there is a conflict
between two areas of the University, CIS will do its
best to resolve it, but the underlying rule will be
first come, first served.
Each web publishing group can have a single alias.
Therefore, every effort should be made to request
an alias that is selected with appropriate thought.
Reasonable accommodation will be made if special circumstances
arise that may require an additional alias.
This policy refers to web names of the form: www.brown.edu/name.
Requests for anything other than this are handled
on a case by case basis, at the discretion of CIS.
All sites under brown.edu/Students will take the format http://students.brown.edu/name.
Maintenance of alias
CIS will maintain these aliases indefinitely, in
an effort to make published URLs less transitory.
However, if a department would like to have an old
alias removed, we will do so upon request.
Request an Alias
After you have read the guidelines and policy above,
you can request an alias for your web publishing group.
Please read the following statement and click "I Agree"
if you agree to proceed. You will then be asked to
provide your Brown NetID and password before accessing
the request form.
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I have read and understand the "Guidelines
and Policy" section of this document. I have
discussed this request for an alias with my
department chair or group leader. I understand
that my web publishing group can have only
one alias and that requests for aliases are
on a first-come-first-served basis.
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| I
do not agree |
I
Agree
You will be asked to provide your Brown
NetID and password on the next screen |
Questions? Please send them to webpublishing@brown.edu.
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