NAME

whois − DARPA Internet user name directory service

SYNOPSIS

whois [ −h host ] identifier

DESCRIPTION

whois searches for an ARPAnet directory entry for an identifier which is either a name (such as “Smith”) or a handle (such as “SRI-NIC”).  You can force a name-only search by preceeding the name with a period; you can force a handle-only search by preceeding the handle with an exclamation point.  For example, typing:

whois Smithlooks for name or handle SMITH. 

whois !SRI-NIClooks for handle SRI-NIC only. 

whois .Smith, Johnlooks for name JOHN SMITH only. 

Adding “...” to the name or handle argument will match anything from that point; that is, “ZU...” will match ZUL, ZUM, etc. 

If you are searching for a group or organization entry, you can have the entire membership list of the group displayed with the record by preceeding the argument with an astersik (“∗”). 

You may of course use an exclamation point and asterisk, or a period and asterisk together. 

Sun Release 3.5  —  Last change: 21 January 1985