XML Sitemap - Error Message for File Location

[PrimeV]

We are getting this error when submitting the XML sitemap.

URL not allowed
This url is not allowed for a Sitemap at this location.

The URLs are using virtual directories set up in the format http://www.topic.example.com. But there really are no directories that correspond to this URL, so we can't simply upload xml files to each of these URLs. What do you suggest we do to rectify the problem

[edited by: tedster at 7:02 pm (utc) on Dec. 29, 2008]
[edit reason] switch to example.com - it can never be owned [/edit]

[tedster]

I'm not sure what kind of server set-up you've got going, but you somehow do need to configure http://www.topic.example.com/sitemap.xml (or .gz) to resolve. You will most likely need to verify every one of those "www.topic" hostnames as a website in your Webmaster Tools acount. If the server is using wild card subdomains, created dynamically on-the-fly, then you do have a challenge.

There are several options explained on the Sitemaps Help Page at [google.com...]

[LifeinAsia]

The URLs are using virtual directories set up in the format [topic.example.com<...]
You have to remember that Google sees www.example.com and www.topic.example.com as 2 completely different sites. For every subdomain you want to make a site for, you have to setup the subdomain as a separate site (including authorization).

In other words, you probably setup the authorization for www.example.com, but you need to setup a completely separate authorization for www.topic.example.com. Otherwise, it's the same as trying to add a site map for www.example.com at www.othersite.com.

[edited by: LifeinAsia at 11:28 pm (utc) on Dec. 29, 2008]

[PrimeV]

After reviewing the posts, I was thinking that the option to go with is the Cross Sitemap submissions. If we are able to upload all of the sitemap files to one location on the root domain and then separately verify each subdomain [http://www.topic.example.com] and submit each sitemap URL through its own verification. However, the only way we could do that is if we could put the verification meta tag within the code of the subdomain landing pages. Do you think that will work? Also, do you think the fact that the subdomains are setup with a www. before them has any impact.

[PrimeV]

This thread tapered off since the holidays, so I wanted to start it up again and hopefully get an answer. Has anyone had any experience with the cross submission process on Google Webmaster, where you could submit a sitemap for one domain, that is posted on a different domain, as long as you verified both in the same Webmaster account. We are experimenting with this and its not working. Any help would be appreciated. This is supposed to work, but when I tested it out, it doesn't.

[LifeinAsia]

Never tried the cross submission process. However, all the verification files should be the same. In other words, the verification file for www.example.com will be exactly the same as the one for www.subdomain.example.com. (That's assuming you're doing the verification for all the subdomains form the same logon.)