• Report an IT Security Incident
  • Request Help
  • Help & Support
    • COVID-19 Support
    • Request Help
    • Track a Ticket
    • Knowledge Base
    • Getting Started
    • Contact Us
    • ITS Alerts Sign Up
  • Service Catalog
    • Accounts & Access
    • Computers & Software
    • Email & Collaboration
    • Teaching & Learning
    • Network, Internet & Telephone
    • University Applications
    • Web, Servers & Data
  • About ITS
    • Our Team
    • Strategic Plan
    • Annual Reports
    • Awards
    • Student Employment
  • Working with ITS
    • Solution Request
    • Governance Committees
    • Portfolio and Project Management Office
    • Architectural Standards Review Board
    • Business Intelligence
    • Enterprise Data Integration Services (EDIS)
    • GMU-TV
    • IT Security Office
  • Alerts & Bulletins
    • Unplanned Outages
    • Phishing Alerts
    • Maintenance
    • Bulletins
    • Spotlights
    • After Action Reports
    • Archives
    • Known Issues
  • Report an IT Security Incident
  • Request Help
X Hide

Information Technology Services

Skip to content
  • Help & Support
    • COVID-19 Support
    • Request Help
    • Track a Ticket
    • Knowledge Base
    • Getting Started
    • Contact Us
    • ITS Alerts Sign Up
  • Service Catalog
    • Accounts & Access
    • Computers & Software
    • Email & Collaboration
    • Teaching & Learning
    • Network, Internet & Telephone
    • University Applications
    • Web, Servers & Data
  • About ITS
    • Our Team
    • Strategic Plan
    • Annual Reports
    • Awards
    • Student Employment
  • Working with ITS
    • Solution Request
    • Governance Committees
    • Portfolio and Project Management Office
    • Architectural Standards Review Board
    • Business Intelligence
    • Enterprise Data Integration Services (EDIS)
    • GMU-TV
    • IT Security Office
  • Alerts & Bulletins
    • Unplanned Outages
    • Phishing Alerts
    • Maintenance
    • Bulletins
    • Spotlights
    • After Action Reports
    • Archives
    • Known Issues

Knowledge Base

Home > Help & Support > Knowledge Base > Web, Servers & Data > Web Dev > How to Request a Virtual Host (Shorter Web Address)

How to Request a Virtual Host (Shorter Web Address)

A virtual host allows for the replacement of a long web address with one that is shorter and more descriptive. This helps users to remember web addresses more easily.

Any administrative unit, academic department, or university service with the exception of individual student organizations may request virtual hosts on servers maintained by the Information Technology Services (ITS). The exception is due to the large number of student organizations and their non-permanent status.

A virtual host will be created so long as the name is not in conflict with one that already exists at the university. Names are approved and assigned on a first-requested, first-assigned basis and should reflect an appropriate name. A virtual hostname can be denied at the discretion of the Mason Web Team.

All virtual hostnames will be in the form of http://www.yourname.gmu.edu or http://yourname.gmu.edu. The yourname part of the address can be specified by the unit or department.

Web addresses that end in .com or .net will not be hosted by ITS servers. A domain of .org can apply to be hosted, but the organization related to the .org site must purchase the rights to that name from a domain name registration company. At the discretion of the Mason Web Team, requests for hosting .org domains on ITS servers may be denied.

Apply for a Virtual Host

To request a virtual host, submit a Virtual Host Request on the Web Hosting service page. If the request is approved, the webmaster will notify the requestor when the virtual host is operational.

Note: No more than three virtual hosts per group, association, office, or department will be permitted.

Last modified: September 25, 2020

Previous

How to Fix Server Upload Permissions

Next

How to Set Up an Email Form

Related articles

  • How to Fix Server Upload Permissions
  • How to Set Up a Personal Site
  • How to Install PuTTY SSH for Windows
  • How to Set Up a Mason Website
  • What is the mason.gmu.edu server?

Get Started at Mason

Whether you are a student, faculty, staff member, or a guest visiting the Mason campus, we have resources to help get you started.

Read More

Quick Links

Patriot Pass Password Reset
Submit a Ticket
Track a Ticket
PuTTY
Cisco AnyConnect VPN

Read More

Explore IT Services

A B C D E F G
H I J K L M N
O P Q R S T U
V W X Y Z #

© 2020 George Mason University
4400 University Drive
Fairfax, Virginia 22030

Latest tweet

George Mason ITSFollow

George Mason ITS
George Mason ITS@GeorgeMasonITS·
9h

Welcome back, Patriots! ITS is ready and excited to support you this new year. Be sure to visit http://its.gmu.edu to get up and running for the first week of classes! 🙌📚💻

Reply on Twitter 1353729583267393536Retweet on Twitter 1353729583267393536Like on Twitter 1353729583267393536
View All
ITS Support Center
703-993-8870
support@gmu.edu
live chat
Monday–Thursday,
8 a.m.–9 p.m.
Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Saturday, Closed
Sunday, 1 p.m.–9 p.m.
(closed Thursday 3 p.m.–4 p.m. for a team meeting)
  • Webmaster