Service Alerts

Web Publishing on Windows

Project: Upgrading Windows Web Publishing

To improve stability and scalability, ITS is making some changes to the architecture of the Windows Web Publishing service. If you have a Web site on the web.austin.utexas.edu domain, these changes to the infrastructure will provide the following benefits:

  • You can now choose a branded URL for your Web site. You can choose a URL from an outside registrar, a URL that you register with the UT Domain Name Registry, or a free domain in the form of <nameyouchoose>.webhost.utexas.edu.
  • Each Web site will be able to have its own instance of key back-end applications, such as ColdFusion. This provides greater stability for each individual site.
  • If your site uses ColdFusion, you will be upgraded to ColdFusion 7 or 8.
  • The new infrastructure will provide greater scalability across the service.

What do I need to do?

These infrastructure changes to the Windows Web Publishing service will have minimal impact on your Web site. There will be no downtime for your Web site, and you will not need to move your site. However, you will need to take the following actions before December 1, 2009:

  1. Choose a new URL for your Web site. Anyone who visits your old site at web.austin.utexas.edu will be redirected to your new URL.
  2. Check your Web site for any absolute links that go to any web.austin.utexas.edu site. You can either check manually, or you can request ITS scan your site for you.
  3. Request additional services needed by your Web site, including an SSL certificate, MySQL, or SQL Server.

You can request your new URL, a site scan, and any additional services using the request form. Please fill out this form at your earliest convenience so that your site can be handled in a timely manner before the December 1, 2009 deadline.

What if I don't do anything?

If you do not fill out the request form requesting a new URL for your Web site, we will assume that you no longer need your Web site. On December 1, 2009, your site will be deactivated.

ColdFusion Concerns

If your site uses ColdFusion, please be aware that we are upgrading to ColdFusion 7.0 (for sites that do NOT use MySQL or SQL Server), and ColdFusion 8.0 (for sites that DO use MySQL or SQL Server). Upgrade issues should be minimal; however, we recommend that you check your site thoroughly to ensure proper functionality.

Several Web forums that include discussions on ColdFusion upgrades include the following notes about upgrading from ColdFusion 6.1 to ColdFusion 7 or 8:

  • ColdFusion 7 and 8 both support all correctly used tags from as far back as ColdFusion 5.0.
  • ColdFusion 7 and 8 both support cfupdate and cfinsert.
  • If nested cflock command are being used, they should be replaced with named locks. This is due to upgrades to the ColdFusion 8 monitoring service, specifically memory tracking.

For other information on ColdFusion, ITS recommends the discussion forums on the Fusion Authority Web site.

Getting Help

We realize that some Web sites may require additional attention and ITS is committed to making these changes as straightforward as possible for all of our Windows Web Publishing customers. To assist you with any questions you might have, ITS is providing a special concierge service through the ITS Help Desk, at 512-475-9400.