whois(1) whois(1)
NAME
whois - Internet user name directory service
SYNOPSIS
/usr/bin/whois [-h host] identifier
DESCRIPTION
The whois command 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, whois.internic.net.
USAGE
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.
Note that Domain Name Services needs to be configured on the
system, at least as a client, before whois can be used, so
that the Internet domain name nic.ddn.mil can be resolved.
Examples
The command
whois Smith
looks for the name or handle SMITH.
The command
whois !SRI-NIC
looks for the handle SRI-NIC only.
Copyright 1994 Novell, Inc. Page 1
whois(1) whois(1)
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.
Copyright 1994 Novell, Inc. Page 2