Indiana University

IU Webmaster

Central Web Server Virtual Host Migration

Central web server Virtual Host names have transitioned over the fall semester from a number-based format into a name-based configuration. This process, prerequisite to the web server OS migration to Linux, includes moving the central web servers behind load balancers enhancing server performance.

Please note:

  • URL's did not change.
  • Access to the individual site did not change.
  • The virtual host name did not change.

Name-based virtual host configuration consolidates a series of virtual names to a single IP hook number. As result of this change, if a web page is referred to by IP number, the IU web servers will now present the first web site in the list of web sites aliased to that specific number.

As example, the names nursing.indiana.edu and medicine.indiana.edu are aliases of the IP number, 129.79.78.224. If that number is used as a link reference, when requested, the link will produce a seemingly random choice of any of the web sites aliased to the number. In this case, the page displayed might be the Nursing site or it could be the Medicine site, or another site aliased to the same number.

If you have any questions about this, please contact IU Webmaster.