Hosting a Domain

If you are hosting a website on KU IT's web servers, you website URL is probably fairly long, and a big ugly: http://www2.ku.edu/~mydepartment/ . This URL isn't easy to remember, verbally communicate, or print on brochures.

You have two options for a shorter address:

  1. Request a free "virtual host" domain, such as www.mydepartment.ku.edu
  2. Purchase a .org domain, such kuband.org

Request a free "virtual host" domain

Virtual Host domains are freely available to any official department, professional organization, grant project, research lab or campus publication. Virtual Hosts are NOT available for use by student organizations. The website must be hosted on a web server hosted on KU's campus.

The benefits of using a virtual host domain might include the following:

  • A concise URL for print or verbal communication
  • Obvious association with KU because "ku.edu" appears in the domain

You may choose almost any virtual host address for your website, but the name should resemble your organization's name. Many organizations choose abbreviations of their department name. The address you choose should be unique to your department or describe the content you are providing on your site.

Good examples include:

  • sparkproject.ku.edu
  • cte.ku.edu
  • law.ku.edu
  • music.ku.edu
  • phys341lab.ku.edu
  • oread.ku.edu
  • etc...

Request a virtual host

Purchase a .org domain

Some departments choose to purchase their own .org domain. Purchasing your own domain is like leasing office space on the web. You pay an annual fee to use that domain, and at the end of that term, if you choose not to renew your lease, you can no longer use that domain, allowing someone else to register it.

If your department does most of its interaction with people outside the University, or it is possible that KU will not always host your website, having your own .org domain might make more sense.

Note: Hosting for .com, .net and other TLDs are not available unless under extreme circumstance. Please do not purchase .com or .net domains with the intent of hosting them at KU.

Setting up domain hosting

  1. Email webservices@ku.edu for approval of the domain you intend to purchase for your website.
  2. If your domain is approved, register it through a domain registrar such as NameCheap or GoDaddy.
  3. After registering the domain, you must configure the domain's Name Servers (NS). If you are unsure where to set these options, please consult the FAQ/help documentation from your domain registrar. Enter these NS servers for your domain:
    • finch.cc.ku.edu
    • kuhub.cc.ku.edu
  4. Complete this form and tell us the domain you registered, and which web server it should point to.

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, (785)864-6414, 711 TTY.