whois(1)
                                                                  Unsupported



   Name
     whois - DARPA Internet user name directory service

   Syntax
     whois [ -h _s_e_r_v_e_r_n_a_m_e ] _n_a_m_e

   Description
     The _w_h_o_i_s command allows you to look up people, hosts, and organizations
     in the database kept by the Network Information Center (NIC) at SRI
     International.  The _n_a_m_e can be the last name of a registered user, or
     the name of a registered Internet host, or other things recognized by
     the whois server. Not all users, and only a few Internet hosts, are
     registered with the NIC.  If the _n_a_m_e argument contains white space or
     other special characters, you must surround it with double quote (")
     marks to prevent its interpretation by the shell.

     The WHOIS server at the NIC will provide more information on doing com-
     plex searches if you do

          whois "?"

     (note the quotes around the question mark), or even more information if
     you do

          whois help


   Options

     -h _s_e_r_v_e_r_n_a_m_e  Specifies the whois server on a host other than the
                    default (NIC.DDN.MIL).

   Examples

          whois cerf
          whois dec.com
          whois -h ns.nic.ddn.mil knuth
          whois smith

     Note that the last example, at least, will match many records (and may
     take fairly long to complete).  The whois server at the NIC will
     automatically provide information on how to single out one record.
     Remember to put quotes around strings that contain `!' characters.

   See Also
     RFC 812:  Nicname/Whois








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