NAME

whois − Internet user name directory service

SYNOPSIS

whois [ −h host ] identifier

DESCRIPTION

whois searches for an Internet directory entry for an identifier which is either a name (such as “Smith”) or a handle (such as “SRI-NIC”).  The default is for whois to search the Internet directory, sri_nic.arpa.  For users who do not have direct access to Internet, whois provides the −h option, which allows users to specify a host from which to request information. 

To force a name-only search, precede the name with a period; to force a handle-only search, precede the handle with an exclamation point. 

To search for a group or organization entry, precede the argument with ∗ (an asterisk).  The entire membership list of the group will be displayed with the record. 

You can use an exclamation point and asterisk, or a period and asterisk together. 

EXAMPLES

The command

whois Smith

looks for the name or handle SMITH. 

The command

whois !SRI-NIC

looks for the handle SRI-NIC only. 

The command

whois .Smith, John

looks for the name JOHN SMITH only. 

Adding ... to the name or handle argument will match anything from that point; that is, ZU . . . will match ZUL, ZUM, and so on. 

NOTES

Any host specified with the −h option must be running some kind of a server on the whois port specified in /etc/services, and you must have a connection to the host.  Such a server is not supplied with this system.  To use the default host, sri_nic.arpa, you must have a connection to it, which generally means that you must be on the Internet. 

SEE ALSO

RFC 812: Nicname/Whois