T104.99 - Google Sites
10/23/2018
My formal venture into google sites was very bumpy and I've not worked out simple details yet.
Problem: Personal Google Accounts support the mapping and use of private, registered domain names with New Google Sites. This same functionality is not supported for gSuite Account users and that difference in functionality is not documented publicly anywhere (to and including the instructions that tell you how to do it...)
Solution: Allow gSuite account administrators to turn on/off this same functionality for gSuite Account Users and/or allow forwarding with masking to work with new google sites. Properly document the current mapping process by making a note on the existing instructions that they only apply to personal google accounts?!
Details:
Google has made a conscious decision to remove a critical link/functionality in the New Google Sites design interface of gSuite account users which allows the assignment of private domain names to a new google site (in fact they allow the assigment of up to five private domain names to a single google site in the Personal Google Account version of New Google Sites).
Technical Details:
Google has disabled/hidden the "custom URL's" menu item on the more menu of new google sites in gSuite user interfaces.
These reference URLs are explained in greater context further down the page:
My formal venture into google sites was very bumpy and I've not worked out simple details yet.
Problem: Personal Google Accounts support the mapping and use of private, registered domain names with New Google Sites. This same functionality is not supported for gSuite Account users and that difference in functionality is not documented publicly anywhere (to and including the instructions that tell you how to do it...)
Solution: Allow gSuite account administrators to turn on/off this same functionality for gSuite Account Users and/or allow forwarding with masking to work with new google sites. Properly document the current mapping process by making a note on the existing instructions that they only apply to personal google accounts?!
Details:
Google has made a conscious decision to remove a critical link/functionality in the New Google Sites design interface of gSuite account users which allows the assignment of private domain names to a new google site (in fact they allow the assigment of up to five private domain names to a single google site in the Personal Google Account version of New Google Sites).
- Seemingly, there is a false belief that this functionality would not be needed by gSuite Users.
- Seemingly, there is a real misunderstanding about who might use gSuites accounts and why.
- Seemingly there is a misunderstanding about the true differences in needs across the spectrum of gSuite users, who range from technology oriented individuals with no business interest, to sole proprietors, to micro business owners, to small business owners to corporate bohemoths.
Technical Details:
Google has disabled/hidden the "custom URL's" menu item on the more menu of new google sites in gSuite user interfaces.
- This menu item is the place where private domain names get mapped to new google sites.
- Without access to this menu items and this functinoality, gSuite account holders who also manage websites for personal use or business are forced to us a personal google account for new google sites.
- In absence of this functionality, Forwarding with masking of a domain at the registrar level is the ideal, simple solution for those who don't care about SEO optimization, but that functionality is not working with the new google sites, Apparently it did work with classic google sites, so it appears that has been intentionally disabled.
These reference URLs are explained in greater context further down the page:
- Instructions for using a private domain name with new google sites. These fail to disclose they only work for personal google accounts and not gSuite accounts. The problems will be realized with Step 3
https://support.google.com/sites/answer/9068867?hl=en
- A video showing the above instructions in use. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MCU2r1Rr24 This video shows an additional A record manipulation (174.129.25.170) not documented by google (and may or may not be required). Info about this ip address from ip addr owner is here >> http://wwwizer.com/naked-domain-redirect
- Instructions for setting up subdomains
https://support.google.com/a/answer/7392423?hl=en&visit_id=636759083069295979-1357272725&rd=1 - Forum post indicating forwarding with masking does not work with new google sites