Registering a Subdomain

Overview

A subdomain is a name space within the TAMU domain (.tamu.edu) that can be requested by colleges, departments, A&M System entities and research organizations. 

Most hosts are registered in tamu.edu which results in a “very flat name space”. It is desirable names are easier to create. Subdomains can help with this problem. However, it is important that subdomains be created in a controlled manner. Haphazard creation of subdomains will result in a name space that cannot be managed.

Several guidelines are used in the creation of subdomains. These guidelines are intended to ensure that subdomains are created in a controlled manner, and effectively used once they are created.
   

Request

Requests for subdomains in tamu.edu and tamus.edu must be sent in writing to:

     Domain Request
     Networking & Information Security
     3472 TAMU
     College Station, TX 77843-3472

The request must be signed by the organizational head (department head, Dean, director, etc.), as well as the person within the organization responsible for managing the organization’s computing equipment.

The request must include:

• Name of the subdomain

           o Alpha-numeric

           o Start with a letter (a – z)

           o Reflects the organization

           o Be a reasonable length

• Networks the domain will be on
     
• Name(s) of the person(s) that will be managing the subdomain
     

Changes to a subdomain 

Requests for changing the name of a subdomain should be handled in the same manner as requesting a new subdomain. The department should specify a date up to one year in the future that the old subdomain should be removed. The organization is responsible for updating the configurations of affected machines to reflect the change.
   

3^rd level subdomains 

Requests for 3^rd level subdomains in tamu.edu and tamus.edu namespace (ex. New_net.current_net.tamu.edu) can be made by simply sending mail to infoblox@tamu.edu. The request should come from the person that is responsible for managing the organization’s computing equipment.
   

Guidelines 

Subdomains can be created for the following entities:

• Colleges
• Departments (academic or non-academic)
• TAMU System entities
• “Permanent” University research organizations
• Large groups of 100 or more related names

Only one subdomain will be allowed for any one of these above entities. Once a subdomain is created, all name associated with the organization’s machines should be moved underneath the subdomain within one year. The organization is responsible for updating the configurations of affected machines to reflect the shift into the subdomain. 

Authority of any new subdomains will not be delegated. In other words, the DNS zone must be managed by Technology Services through Infoblox. This restriction is necessary to avoid technical problems that arise in the management of the inverse namespace.

Subdomains that are not used will be candidates for deletion. A one year period in which none of the names within the subdomain are active will indicate non-use. The organization associated with the subdomain will be contacted before the subdomain is removed. In addition, subdomains which no longer meet the guideline will also be examine for possible deletion.