Quick Start: Web Hosting Service

To get started with the Web Hosting Service, you need to request a Web site address, adjust the access permissions, and then upload the your Web site files.

Request a Web Site Address

First, choose an address for your Web site, following these guidelines:

• If you want a top-level sub-domain name within the .vt.edu domain, contact your department's network liason and have them request it from the hostmaster. Then, forward the approval email to hosting@vt.edu. Top-level sub-domain names are created only for department names and a few other specific entities, not for individuals or projects.

   

  Example: www.abc.vt.edu

   

• If you want an address within the domain of your department, send an email message to the network liaison for that domain, asking for approval and then forward the approval email to hosting@vt.edu. To find out who to contact, refer to the Network Liaisons page.

   

  Example: www.abc.eng.vt.edu, abc.eng.vt.edu

   

• If you are requesting a website for a Registered Student Organization, your address would be something like www.abc.org.vt.edu, which is within the ".org.vt.edu" domain. While you do not need approval to use this type of website name, you will need to be an officer of the student organization to request the website. Send your request to hosting@vt.edu. Only registered student organizations can request an org.vt.edu website.

Forward the approval message for the Web site's address or your request for an address within the ".org.vt.edu" to hosting@vt.edu. In your message, please also include:

• A short description of the purpose of the Web site to show that it is an organizational Web site, as opposed to a personal Web site.

   

  Note: For a personal Web site, use the Filebox service.

   

• An estimation for the projected space usage
• A list of Virginia Tech PIDs of people who should have administrative privileges
• Your name, department, and phone number

After receiving your email message, we will set up your Web site typically within 1 or 2 business days. As soon as your Web site is ready, you will receive a confirmation email message.

Adjust the permissions for your Web Site

Because of the security concerns, by default, a newly created Web site requires logging on and only grants access to the Web site's administrators. Typically, this is not what you want if you intend to run a publicly accessible Web site. To change this setting, use the Web Adminstration Tool and adjust the permissions to allow read access by everyone. For more information, see Using the Web Administration Tool.

Upload the files comprising your Web Site

Install and configure WebDrive or Goliath to get ready for uploading files to your website. Once WebDrive or Goliath are configured, upload the files.

Using Web Folders with Windows

To add a Web Folder to connect to your filebox or hosting site in Windows, refer to Adding a Web Folder to Connect to Filebox or the Web Hosting Service in Windows XP.

To use your Web Folder (once it is set up) to manage your Filebox files, refer to the appropriate knowledge base article:

• Using Your Web Folder to Access Filebox or Web Hosting in Windows 2000/XP
• Deleting a Web Folder in Windows 2000/XP

Support

If you need help getting started, please send an email to hosting@vt.edu.