Search sub-group
June 12, 2008 at 10:30 a.m., Mathematics & Computer (MC) 1058
Present: Paul, Kevin, Glenn, Megan, Bill, Isaac
Regrets: Allan, Lauren
Conference call with Scott Goodhew, Enterprise Sales Manager, Google Canada
1. Introduction to Google solutions
- focus is on tools for the Web and also for business environments
- Part of Google Enterprise group
- Packaging of solutions for the commercial space, Google apps, …
- Educational environment
2. University of Waterloo's current search strategies
- New version developed in 2006 on use on home page; negotiated 10,000 limit per day;
- looking for replacement
- Library is using new Custom search
- Legacy Application Programming Interface (API), AJAX, CSE (Custom Search Engine)
3. Fee vs. free search
- Fee allows ability to control depth and breadth of search; customize search results; control look-and-feel
- Create different collections (e.g. library, Registrar)
- Deploy things like Sponsored Links, synonyms
- Examples: McGill
- Can disable advertising in free solutions
- Site Search – can direct crawlers to pick up 100%
4.CSE/AdSense For Search (AFS) (e.g. Custom Search Engine - free solutions)
- Hosted
- Some interface customization
- No Extensible Markup Language (XML)
- No comprehensive index coverage (google normally only indexes about ~70% of our content)
- No adjustable index frequency
- Searchable content – public only
- Can eliminate advertising (educational/non-profit)
- Limit of 10,000 may not carry forward with new interface
5. Google Site Search (enterprise)
- Hosted by Google
- Interface customization
- Results available as xml
- Comprehenive index coverage (100% of documents vs ~70% with free solutions)
- No adjustable index frequency
- Searchable content – public
- Enterprise support available
- Advertising optional
- Pricing:
- up to 1M documents, 3M search queries/year $15000
- up to 2M documents, 6M search queries / year $30,000
- Branding would say “Site Search”
- Can put in a subscribed links that would function like keywords; similar to current paid search listings at Google (e.g. if someone searches for "history" the history department site could be a subscribed link that would show up in a special area at the top)
- Ability to add refinement searches (e.g. exams inside the Math Faculty)
- Example: University of Toronto
- Some reporting capabilities
6. Google Search appliance
- Appliance (you buy the hardware)
- Interface customization
- Results available in XML
- Comprehensive index coverage (100% of documents vs ~70% with free solutions)
- Adjustable Index frequency
- Searchable content – public & protected (i.e. can index password protected content, content in other systems)
- Enterprise support available
- Advertising optional
- Pricing (2 yr costs)
- Up to 500K documents $30,000 US ( 24,000 EDU)
- Up to 1M documents $50,000 US ($40,000 EDU)
- Up to 2M documents $100,000 ($80,000 edu)
- They supply machine; hosting infrastructure; derivative of linux; we don’t touch the OS
- If you lose the appliance, could be out of business for a few days; have a hot backup option ($20,000)
- Examples:
- University of Toronto: have added key matches; e.g. graduate (works like a keyword – also available in the Site Search, import spreadsheets)
- McGill: e.g. dentistry; search on acronym; default, search all of content; could search under News, Events
- Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations; e.g. 911, multiple association with keywords; note the use of the tabs
- Associate different key matches with different frontends.
- “one box” – e.g. google weather waterloo
- Customize display: e.g. Apple site, different front ends
- Administration: 2 levels; 1 – security person; 2 – manager profile; control key matches, style sheets
- Reporting: popular search terms, search terms yielding 0 results; Google analytics better; trends directions, top 10 queries
- 2 year contract, return appliance and get a new one; renegotiate price
7. Questions
- Search appliance
- What happens if you hit the limit? May revert to unsupported solution. Renegotiate next year’s contract.
- Integration of search appliance and Analytics (not clear on how this works/what it gives you)
-- MeganMcDermott - 16 Jun 2008
- Google_slides_June_2008 (PDF): Selected slides from Scott Goodhew's presentation
- Search_Summary_for_Web_Advisory-June_16,2008 (DOCX): Summary of meetings to June 12 (prepared for Web Advisory meeting)