Sub-domains

A “sub-domain” is similar to a domain name, and has most of the same advantages. Technically speaking, it is that part of a URI between the “http://” and the domain name. For example, in the URI “http://www.swni.org/,” the sub-domain is “www.” Often, however, the term “sub-domain” may be used to refer to a URI (i.e. the sub-domain plus a domain name, e.g. www.swni.org).

Historically, the purpose of the sub-domain was to route to a particular machine on a network. Today, it’s more flexible; it can route to anywhere on the InterNet. So while a sub-domain remains constant, it’s target may be changed at any time (essentially, it’s an alias). This is ideal for printed media, as the sub-domain always remains valid. Website hosts may change after publication; anyone entering the published URI of the sub-domain will be taken to your current website host, not an old one which was operational at the time of publication. A sub-domain therefore offers the same advantage of a domain name, but without the expense and administration hassles. The cost, however, is that “swni.org” appears in your URI.

SWNI implements its sub-domains by URI forwarding, which means a sub-domain will send the browser to another page. That page may be on the SWNI server, or any other page on the InterNet. For example, http://ep.swni.org/ (the sub-domain) forwards to http://swni.org/emergency (the target), SWNI’s Emergency Preparedness section. A drawback to this approach is that this sometimes confuses people, and they may bookmark the URI of the target rather than the sub-domain. The two are not the same, even if they currently display the same page. The target is locked into a specific host. Only the sub-domain is perpetual (and host-independent).

SWNI makes sub-domains available to all its member neighborhood associations. This allows Neighborhood Associations to publish an unchanging URI for their websites without the expense of renting a domain name. They have an unchanging URI, and the freedom to change servers or IHP (InterNet Hosting Provider) at any time. Sites don’t need to be hosted on the SWNI server. But you do need to let us know when your host server changes, so we can update your sub-domain’s target!

Here is a list of the SWNI Neighborhood Association sub-domains:

Arnold Creek: http://arnoldcreek.swni.org/
Ashcreek: http://ashcreek.swni.org/
Bridlemile: http://bridlemile.swni.org/
Collinsview: http://collinsview.swni.org/
Crestwood: http://crestwood.swni.org/
Far Southwest: http://farsw.swni.org/
Hayhurst: http://hayhurst.swni.org/
Hillsdale: http://hillsdale.swni.org/
Homestead: http://homestead.swni.org/
Maplewood: http://maplewood.swni.org/
Markham: http://markham.swni.org/
Marshall Park: http://marshallpark.swni.org/
Multnomah: http://multnomah.swni.org/
South Burlingame: http://sburlingame.swni.org/
South Portland: http://southportland.swni.org/
SW Hills Residential League: http://swhrl.swni.org/
West Portland Park: http://wpp.swni.org/

Please note that it is possible to change your sub-domain, if you don’t like what has been assigned.