One Web Site, Multiple Sub-Domains
This is a question for the saviest of web masters. I have a client who decided, for one reason or another, to split one large web site into many sub-domains, (micro web sites).
For example, the main site is called http://www.main_campus.com. They then created sub-domains like class1.main_campus.com, class2.main_campus.com, class3.main_campus.com, etc... There are about 50 of these.
They are running an in-house UNIX server.
Will someone please explain any advantages of breaking a large web site apart in this way.
It was a nightmare to code, link and troubleshoot. We were not given access to the actual server space and were forced to create a matching development area on our own servers.
We did it by using traditional sub-directories and then converting all the links to absolutes prior to shipping.
My question again is why would someone want to choose sub-domains over the traditional sub-directories.
Thank you in advance for your responses.
Robert
Brian Farkas posted this at 19:33 — 3rd August 2000.
They have: 1,015 posts
Joined: Apr 1999
Really, I have a feeling it's personal preference. The most likely reason, of course, is simply for navigation purposes- it's much easier to navigate a smaller site than a larger one (usually), and they probably feel that splitting the site up into subdomains will be more effective at separating the sites than doing the same with subdirectories.
123finder.com posted this at 22:40 — 8th August 2000.
They have: 60 posts
Joined: Aug 2000
I think because it's cooler, easier for their visitors to remember!
Justin S posted this at 18:10 — 13th August 2000.
They have: 2,076 posts
Joined: Jun 1999
Yeah, I agree, it's mostly a personal preference. They're also easier to remember. For instance, I always type 'movies.yahoo.com' into my browser when I'm searching for a movie to see. It might not be much easier then 'yahoo.com/movies,' but for me personally it's much easier.
Justin Stayton - [email] [icq]
anti posted this at 10:13 — 14th August 2000.
They have: 453 posts
Joined: Jan 1999
Just a few reasons why to split up a big site.
- load balancing is much easier/cheaper
- accounting is easier
- the system is more stable (eg. if one site goes "crazy" the rest need not be affected)
- security, if it's on a different host you need to recrack that one too
- inhouse responsibility can be split up
In short,
for very large sites it's easier to keep the thing up and running.
There are transparent balancing solutions, but these require a fast internal replication system ...
just my 2p
anti
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