scripts.mit.edu

Can my group obtain a shorter URL?

If you have a reasonable reason for wanting a short URL (in specific technical jargon, a DNS CNAME pointing to the script server and a corresponding virtual host configuration on the server), you can request one using our hostname management system. Note that this step is absolutely not required to use scripts.mit.edu; the default LOCKER.scripts.mit.edu URL is usually sufficient.

There are several types of hostname you can request:

• By default, you are assigned a LOCKER.scripts.mit.edu host name; you can request arbitrary subdomains of this address (for example, blog.LOCKER.scripts.mit.edu). These host names are activated instantaneously, and do not require approval.

• If you own an external hostname (e.g. example.com), you can point it at the Scripts server. Configure your hostname with your registrar or DNS hosting as an A record for 18.4.86.46, then add your hostname using the online interface as usual. Alternatively, you can configure it as a CNAME for “scripts-vhosts.mit.edu.”, which is less cryptic but interferes with using your hostname with mail_scripts, and also doesn’t work for top-level URLs (i.e., you won’t be able to do it for example.com, but you could for www.example.com).

• For high visibility websites, you can request a .mit.edu hostname. You can use the stella command on Athena to check if the hostname you would like is available. You can also transfer hostnames that you or your group owns. These hostnames must be manually approved, and we recommend they be requested sparingly. All requests must follow IS&T’s master policy regarding .mit.edu hostnames:
  • MIT Departments, Labs and Centers are eligible for a custom domain name. All custom domain names are subject to yearly review. Personal sites, portfolio sites, and CV sites will not be given custom domain names.
  • MIT Student groups sponsored through formal channels (those that request and receive written approval to be sponsored by a department, laboratory, or center) or clubs recognized by the Association of Student Activities are also eligible for a custom domain name.
  • A custom domain name will only be assigned once a site is ready for final publication to the internet.

If our hostname management system doesn’t work for some reason, you can also request a hostname by e-mailing scripts@mit.edu. Please include the name you would like, and the directory you would like the host to point to (e.g., group.scripts.mit.edu or group.scripts.mit.edu/wiki/).