whois(1tcp)

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.

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.