Northern Illinois University

College of Business - NIU

Web Server Information

History of the College of Business Web Server

The College of Business launched its first college-wide website in December 1995. Mark Southard, Mark Roper, and Mark Misic were the original development team and over the course of a semester implemented a site that provided information on all aspects of the college. Prior to this, the college had a text-based gopher site that provided very basic information but served as a valuable starting point for the Web version.

The current website represents the work of many individuals over the years, including Ilga Janouskovec who worked for the College of Business from 2000 until 2009.

The initial website was implemented on an HP 9000 using Apache for the server software. Over the years, the website migrated to an HP 9000 D250 server and finally to a Compaq Proliant server. The server software evolved to Netscape Enterprise Server and is now running under Internet Information Services.

In 1995, the college's first website contained 65 pages. In the year 2002 the site mushroomed to 10,000 pages and over 20,000 graphics and images. Today, the number of pages is approximately 3,000. Every facet of the college is covered on the website. Practically every business course is also supported by a Web page using Blackboard Course Management Software.