UCS Toolkit - Web Development Resources

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WEB DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES

The use of web sites and web based applications have become a normal part of doing business. Below you'll find information on hosting, development, and design options.

Site Hosting

Every web site needs a web server. There are several options for hosting a site at the University, some are free, some come with expenses.

Host it yourself - Many departments host their websites on their own equipment. If you have an existing server, or the means to purchase a dedicated server, and the time to manage the server, this is an option. One thing to note, it is not recommended to host a public website on a Windows Domain Controller for security reasons. Ideally, a Windows web server shouldn't even be a member server in your domain. The best idea is to make it a stand-alone server or put your webservers in a dedicated domain and set up trust relationships.

Host it on a central system - The central faculty/staff systems are a good, free place to host a basic site using, HTML or PHP, and MySQL. There are some limitations, so it's not for every use. These are Unix systems with certain security restrictions in place, so you might not be able to use all the functionality you'd like. For more information, see:

Hire someone else to host it - Microcomputer Support Services Group (MSSG) provides web and/or server hosting for a fee. The systems are housed in an environmentally controlled, secured location, and maintained by MSSG. For more information, email MSSG.

Development Resources

Some departments may have interest in creating a new web presence, redesigning an old one, or moving a business process to a web based application. Not all departments, however, have the resources in house, be they staffing resources or time resources. In addition to hiring an outside vendor/consultant, there are a couple of internal options available.

The Application Development and Data Managment Team (ADDM) - A group within Administrative Computing responsible for enterprise-wide application development and data management. If a department has an enterprise-wide application that is tied into administrative data, consult with ADDM.
Microcomputer Support Services Group (MSSG) - MSSG provides web and database development services for a fee. Whether you need a web based application or just a face lift for an existing site, the MSSG developers have the expertise to assist. For more information, email MSSG.

Design Resources

If a department is looking to redesign their website to match the current "Rutgers look", there are templates available for download to make this a much easier task.