Background
The Domain Name Service (DNS) provides domain name to IP address and IP address to domain name service for TCP/IP. The DNS uses a hierarchical naming scheme for structuring the name space.
Most hosts that are registered are placed in tamu.edu which results in a "very flat name space". For a couple of reasons, it is desirable to unflatten this name space. For instance, the large number of names in tamu.edu makes determining a unique, desirable name for a system more difficult.
Subdomains can help with this problem. However, it is important that sub-domains be created in a controlled manner. Haphazard creation of sub-domains will result in a name space that can not be managed.
Therefore, the following guidelines will be used in the creation of sub-domains. These guidelines are intended to help insure that sub-domains are created in a controlled manner, and that once created, that use of these sub-domains is "encouraged".
Creation and maintenance guidelines
- To prevent haphazard creation of sub-domains for tamu.edu and tamus.edu domains, sub-domains shall only be created for the following:
- Colleges
- Departments (Academic or non-academic)
- TAMU System entities
- "Permanent" University research organizations
- Large groups of related names (> 100)
[examples would be the resnet.tamu.edu. & rns.tamu.edu. sub-domains]Only one sub-domain will be allowed for any one of these above entities.
- To "encourage" use of the sub-domains, once created, all of the names associated with machines belonging to the organization for which the sub-domain was created should be moved underneath the sub-domain within one year.
- Authority of any new sub-domains will not be delegated. In other words, the DNS zone data must be managed by CIS through NIM. This restriction is necessary due to technical problems that arise in the management of the inverse name space.
- Subdomains that are not used will be candidates for deletion. A one year period in which none of the names within the sub-domain are active will indicate non-use. The organization associated with the sub-domain will be contacted before the subdomain is removed. In addition, sub-domains which no longer meet the guideline will also be examined for possible deletion.
Requesting a sub-domain
Requests for sub-domains in tamu.edu and tamus.edu must be sent in writing to:
Domain Request
The request must be signed by the organizational head (dept. head, Dean, director), as well as the person within the organization responsible for managing the organizations computing equipment. The request must specify the name of the sub-domain, what networks the domain will be used on, and the name(s) of the person(s) that will be managing the subdomain. The name must follow the requirements for names (alpha-numeric, starts with a letter). It is suggested that the name reflect the organization, and that it be of a reasonable length. The organization is responsible for updating the configurations of affected machines to reflect the shift into the sub-domain.
Networking & Information Security
3472 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-3472
Requests for changing the name of a sub-domain should be handled in the same manner as requesting a new sub-domain. The department should specify a date up to one year in the future that the old sub-domain should be removed. The organization is responsible for updating the configurations of affected machines to reflect the change.
Requests for tertiary sub-domains in tamu.edu and tamus.edu namespace (ex. new_net.current_net.tamu.edu) can be made by simply sending mail to nim@tamu.edu. The request should come from the person that is responsible for managing the organization's computing equipment.