Overview

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Campus units and departments are strongly encouraged to use only UC San Diego host names in order to avoid confusing Internet users and to preserve and promote the integrity of UC San Diego. In limited cases, business, outreach, and research requirements may make non-UC San Diego names desirable.   Learn how to request and register a host name, also called domain name, that does not end in .ucsd.edu or .ucsandiego.edu for a UC San Diego-hosted website or server.

 

Critical Concepts

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• The University policy PPM 135-8, “Registration, Management, and use of UC San Diego Domain Names,” lists the limited cases which may justify a non-UC San Diego name. All such cases must be approved by the Vice Chancellor with appropriate oversight for the requesting department.
• Names can't refer to commercial enterprises like .biz, .com, or .bz. Exceptions are on a case-by-case basis and require vice chancellor approval.
• Your system administrator can usually help request and register host names on your behalf.

 

Steps to Take

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Make sure you qualify for a non-UC San Diego host name

Check your eligibility on the list below. You may apply for a non-UC San Diego host name if you are a:

• Faculty member
• Graduate student (sponsored by a faculty member requesting a separate domain name for a specific laboratory, research project, or other work)
• Department, unit, or other recognized campus organization (when business requires "branding" services with outside communities)

Meet all relevant campus and university requirements

1. Configure your sites and servers to comply with all university and campus regulations, including:
   • Registration, Management, and Use of UC San Diego Domain Names: PPM 135-8 (PDF)
   • UC San Diego Network Security Policy: PPM 135-3
2. Make your UC San Diego affiliation clear on your websites / public-facing services.*
3. Acknowledge that UC San Diego provides the services your site offers. (You may use UC San Diego logos or text footnotes appropriately to meet this goal.)
4. Configure your Web servers to rewrite non-ucsd.edu host names as UC San Diego host names (e.g., a user types “ucsdhealthcare.org” in a browser, but when the page loads, the URL displays "healthcare.ucsd.edu").*

Choose your host name

Use these guidelines when choosing your host name:

• Ensure the name isn't already in use.
  • Check Network Solutions Whois Server for names already registered.
• Use appropriate department, unit, laboratory, or project names.
• Don't refer to another department or unit.
• Use appropriate top-level domains, such as:
  • .org
  • .info
  • .name
  • .net
  • Choose a back-up host name in case your first choice is taken.

Note: Names can't refer to commercial enterprises like .biz, .com, or .bz. Exceptions are on a case-by-case basis and require vice chancellor approval.

Request approval from appropriate campus authorities

Obtain written or e-mail approval for the host name from:

• Sponsoring faculty (where appropriate)
• Department chair or business officer
• Department's vice chancellor

Note: Keep record of authorizations, including names and dates.

Register the new host name

Complete the registration form, with the following information:

• The host name or IP address of the machine that will be used for the new domain
• 2 contact names
• A recharge index number for the network registrar's fee (see form for current fees)
• The number of years the host name will be registered
• Names and dates of approval from campus authorities

Note: Turnaround time is normally a few business days on non-UC San Diego domain name requests because of the dependence on outside registrars.