Frequently Asked Questions
ABOUT THE END OF WEB HOSTING
What are my options for my web hosting moving forward?
1. Users who are primarily using WordPress may wish to migrate or rebuild their site in NYU Web Publishing, which offers technical support through NYU IT, the Digital Studio, and the LaGuardia Co-op. More information about this service and the support available is located at: wp.nyu.edu
2. NYU Google Sites is another option for users who have relatively simple web needs.
3. Users also have the option to transfer their site to a personal Reclaim Hosting account (Reclaim is the service provider for Web Hosting). Users will need to cover the cost of the transfer and purchase an individual hosting plan. Reclaim offers world-class hosting and 24/7 tech support for personal accounts.
4. Finally, users may choose to backup their site in cPanel for export and transfer to another hosting provider of their choice. Please note that Digital Scholarship Services is unable to provide any technical support for this process.
How do I transfer my site to a (paid) Reclaim hosting account?
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Choose one of the shared hosting accounts that Reclaim offers. If you would like, you can navigate directly to the Personal Hosting plan option.
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Select the Register a New Domain or the appropriate option if you already own another domain name for your website.
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Enter a new top-level domain name.
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Complete the sign-up process/pay invoice. If you choose the Student/Individual Plan, your invoice total should be $30.00 without a domain registration, or $45.00 with a domain registration.
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Send a support request to support@reclaimhosting.com with the following message:Hello Reclaim Hosting Support,I am transferring my NYU Hosting account and I would like to migrate my account, (enter your domain here), to Reclaim Hosting. Please let me know if you need anything else from me.Best,(Your Name)
I have more questions. How can I get help?
Questions not answered here may be sent to webhosting@nyu.edu. Thank you for your patience.
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What kind of sites can I host on NYU web hosting? Are there any restrictions?
Can I use my own domain name or URL?
Can I have multiple user access to my site?
What kind of technical support do you offer?
Which application is right for me? Should I use WordPress, Scalar, Omeka Classic, or Omeka S?
What happens if I graduate or leave NYU?
How do I sign up myself or a class of students for Web Hosting?
Are there any requirements for my site in terms of design or accessibility?
The Web Hosting service exists to support research, teaching, and learning at NYU by providing users with access to flexible web space and customizable hosting platforms. We have the following restrictions:
- No e-commerce
- No publishing of student or sensitive data (i.e. grades, IRB research, etc.). The Web Hosting service only accommodates low risk data. Please see the Guidelines for Technology in Faculty Research for more information about classifying your data and services for moderate and high risk data.
- Some “advanced” web technologies are not available (e.g. node.js, high performance computing)
- No departmental websites. These must be hosted on the NYU’s official content management system.
Please note that all publicly-facing websites that are used for teaching or doing the business of the University must adhere to NYU’s Accessibility Guidelines.
If you are looking to create a WordPress site quick and easy, the free Web Publishing service may be an easier alternative for you with more hands-on support.
It offers the following built-in themes that meet our accessibility requirements:
Agency Pro
Altitude Pro
Brunch Pro
eleven40 Pro
Executive Pro
Make
Manta
Modern
Munsa
News Pro
Resonar
Reykjavik
Sanse
Twenty Fifteen
Twenty Fourteen
Twenty Nineteen
Twenty Seventeen
Twenty Sixteen
Twenty Thirteen
Twenty Twelve
Twenty Twenty
Workstation Pro
Zeko
For more details about Web Hosting’s provisions and parameters, see our Terms of Service.
Can I use my own domain name or URL?
While we do not offer support for using custom domains or URLs, you do have access to control URL redirects and our hosting name servers. If you are capable and knowledgeable to make those changes on your own, there is nothing to prevent those capabilities.
Can I have multiple user access to my site?
Yes and no. NYU’s Web Hosting service (via Reclaim Hosting) is designed for individual access to the cPanel dashboard, not for departments or groups. Each dashboard can only be accessed by one NYU NetID that authenticates via Shibboleth. That said, you will receive SSH and FTP credentials to access your site within that are separate from your NetID or password and can safely be shared with collaborators. Additionally, some content management systems, such as Omeka and WordPress, allow for multiple credentialed users with editing or administrative privileges.
If you require a way to access your cPanel that is not tied to an individual’s NetID or login information, you might be eligible for a Special Purpose NetID from Central IT, such as an email for an NYU institute or organization.
What kind of technical support do you offer?
We offer limited technical support for Web Hosting service, such as assistance with:
- Resetting passwords
- Network outages
- Trouble logging in or accessing your domain
- URLs don’t resolve
- Installing common content management systems (e.g. Omeka, WordPress)
- Server is slow or not responding
- Application errors when attempting to signup or install software.
Keep in mind that the Web Hosting service is meant to be largely self-service. If you want more assistance, you might wish to create your website with Web Publishing instead. Or, if you are looking for easier ways to use Omeka or Scalar you might wish to use Omeka.net or the ANVC version of Scalar.
Which application is right for me? Should I use WordPress, Scalar, Omeka Classic, or Omeka S?
It’s hard to compare the features of different content management systems without knowing more about your digital scholarship project. A member of our Digital Scholarship Services team would be happy to meet (or Zoom virtually) with you and your team to discuss your project and help you choose the tools and apps best suited for your project. Check out our research guide on digital humanities tools and software and feel free to request an appointment.
What happens if I graduate or leave NYU?
You lose access to your Web Hosting account once you graduate or otherwise leave NYU. You have three options for your account:
1) If you wish to keep you site running, the simplest option is to transfer ownership of your site to one of Reclaim Hosting’s individual hosting plans ($30/year for the Personal Plan, $50/year for the Professional Plan). You will become responsible for paying the hosting fee, and you will also need to register (and pay for) a new domain name for your site. You may begin this process by clicking the Migration Information link under the Manage Your Account Menu.
2) If you wish to keep your site running but with a different hosting service, you will need to backup and migrate your content yourself. There are a number of tools to do so within cPanel and you may move to any hosting provider of your choice. The easiest way to create a backup is to click on the Migration Information link under the Manage Your Account Menu (depicted in the screenshot above) and click the Add Backup button.
The backup file will be used to package your site files, which you will then use with your new hosting provider to restore your site. Once you have downloaded the backup file, you are ready to migrate your site to your new hosting provider. Each hosting company is different, so it is recommended that you first contact prospective companies to confirm they can import your site. Keep in mind, however, that we are unable to assist with non-Reclaim migration.
3) If you do not wish to keep you site running, we may delete it for you upon request. Once deleted, you will no longer be able to retrieve any material from your site.
Note: Once your NetID has expired, your accounts will be suspended for one semester before deletion. It is the user’s responsibility to migrate their content before the account is deleted. When your NetID expires you will lose access to your Web Hosting cPanel (and your ability to generate backups), so be sure to make your accommodations in advance.
How do I sign up myself or a class of students for Web Hosting?
Fill out the request form and let us know how you plan to use your account. You will typically receive a reply within 24 hours (Monday-Friday, business hours, except holidays) with your account login information.
If you are looking to provision an entire class of students with an account, we can streamline this process with as little as a few day’s notice. Please email webhosting@nyu.edu to start the conversation.