Skip to main content

Cornell University

Request or Record a Domain Name at Cornell

Step-by-step guide for all requirements in the process to request or record a domain name at Cornell. 

This article applies to: DNS

On This Page

Summary of Steps to Request a Three-Part Domain Name

  1. Ask your unit head (Dean, Vice President, Vice Provost, or designated representative) to pre-approve the requested domain name (see the requirements for choosing a name).
  2. Ask your network administrator to submit the Request New Domain form (requires Cornell login and access via campus network or CU VPN).
  3. Your unit head will receive an email request for approval, with a link to the Unit Head Affirms or Denies form (requires Cornell login and access via campus network or CU VPN).
  4. The Domain Review Board receives the request and approves, denies, or contacts the requestor for additional information.
  5. The unit head and network administrator will receive email notification when the request is approved or denied. If approved, the new domain is ready to use. If denied, there is an appeals process.

All acronym requests receive careful scrutiny to ensure that they will not cause confusion with other unit names or with what people are likely to think of when they see the acronym. The Domain Review Board pays particular attention to very short acronyms and typically only approves them when they reflect long-standing, well-known university acronyms, such as CALS, ILR, AAP, HR, DFA, CIT, etc.

Common words that could have multiple uses at Cornell (for example, celebrate, enroll, diversity, etc.) are typically only approved if they will be used for a university-wide function or purpose.

You can check the Domain Request Status at any time during the approval process (requires Cornell login and access via campus network or CU VPN).

Detailed Steps

1: Network Administrator Submits Request

Use the Request Form (requires Cornell login and access via campus network or CU VPN).

  1. The form requires ALL fields to be filled in.
    • To register, click Request CIT DNS Service.
    • To record, click Record Purchase Only.
  2. Email notification #1 (Request) is sent to the unit head.

2: Unit Head Affirms or Denies Request

Use the Approval Form (requires Cornell login and access via campus network or CU VPN).

  1. In the Your comments field, enter the reasons for approving or denying the request.
  2. To approve: Click I affirm the domain.
    • Email notification #2 (Approve) is sent to the network administrator.
    • Request for registration proceeds to Step 3  -or-
    • Request for recording is complete.

- or -

To deny: Click I deny the domain.

3: Domain Name Manager Receives Request

See the Status Form (requires Cornell login and access via campus network or CU VPN).

If the request does not clearly meet the criteria set forth in University Policy 5.6:

  1. Domain Name Manager refers request to the Domain Review Board.
  2. Process proceeds to Step 4.

If the request clearly meets the criteria set forth in University Policy 5.6 (recognized name of a unit, registered student organization, etc.):

  1. Domain Name Manager creates the domain.
  2. Email notification #3 (Domain Created) is sent to the network administrator and unit head.
  3. Process skips Step 4 and proceeds to Step 5.

4: Domain Review Board Reviews Request

If the request does not clearly meet the criteria set forth in University Policy 5.6, the Domain Review Board:

  1. Reviews the requested name for possible conflicts or confusion with university websites, departments, programs, strategic goals, or initiatives. Also reviews the requested name for possible conflicts or confusion with what people are likely to expect the name to mean.
  2. As needed, requests supporting information from the requesting unit, or consults with university leaders.
  3. Enters the Domain Review Board's decision in the Domain Name Registry within 2 weeks.

If the Domain Review Board approves the requested name:

  1. Email notification #4 (Approve) is sent to the network administrator and unit head.
  2. Process proceeds to Step 5.

If the Domain Review Board denies request:

  1. Email notification #4 (Request Denied) is sent to network administrator and unit head.
  2. Domain is not created. No further appeal is possible.

5. Domain Name Manager Creates Domain

  1. Registration on the Campus Servers is completed.
  2. The network administrator adjusts the Nameservers for the Domain at the Registrar to point to the Campus DNS servers. Login to your Domain Registrar (for example, GoDaddy) and adjust the Nameservers. Typically there are three Nameserver entries. Remove the old ones and add these names:
           DNS.CIT.CORNELL.EDU
           BIGRED.CIT.CORNELL.EDU
           DRDNS2.CIT.CORNELL.EDU
    After test changes have propagated, the network administrator should be able to do all DNS Operations for the Domain from inside DNSDB. Feel free to contact Hostmaster for any questions or concerns.

Comments?

To share feedback about this page or request support, log in with your NetID

At Cornell we value your privacy. To view
our university's privacy practices, including
information use and third parties, visit University Privacy.