MORE INFORMATION
The WHOIS service is an online database. It has information
on sites, networks, networking organizations, domains, and the associated
contacts. This is known as the InterNIC database. As applications are processed
with domain or IP number by the InterNIC, the names of the administrative and
technical contacts for registered domains are entered into the database. The
information in the InterNIC database can be valuable in resolving problems
between two domains.
For example, WHOIS can help determine who to
contact if there is a problem with Domain Name Service (DNS) zone transfers
that cannot be resolved. WHOIS can show the DNS Server administrator the name
and phone number of the administrator at a destination host.
Note There can be a delay between the time when information is
modified on the Internet root servers and when information is modified on the
WHOIS server. For this reason, you may wish to direct queries to the root
servers themselves via Nslookup or Dig to confirm information obtained via
WHOIS.
WHOIS client
The WHOIS client program accesses the InterNIC database directly
and is usually included with UNIX systems. There are also clients available for
other platforms including Windows and Windows NT.
If you have shell
account access to the Internet that includes the WHOIS client, type the
following:
where domain.com is the name of the Internet
domain of the host that you are interested in.
Note The InterNIC registers secondary domain names only. For best
results, do not include Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) on the query. FQDNs
include the higher level domains associated with an Internet site. Only
secondary domain names will return contact information.
Example:
Incorrect: www.microsoft.com
Correct: microsoft.com
Direct Telnet session
All systems that have access to the Internet must have the
ability to use a standard telnet client to connect to the InterNIC to run the
WHOIS client from their system. Networks that restrict access to the Internet
through use of a firewall will not be able to use this method if TCP port 23
(standard telnet port) access is blocked.
Microsoft Exchange Server
administrators may run the Windows NT Telnet client from the computer that is
running the IMC. Any telnet client from any host connected to the Internet
should work.
In telnet, connect to internic.net. Once connected you
can run WHOIS commands as listed in the client instructions given earlier.
World Wide Web
The Web Interface to WHOIS is a searchable database through a Web
page. To gain access to the database using any World Wide Web (WWW) client,
connect to:
Electronic mail
If you are unable to access the methods above but have access to
Internet mail you can send your query to:
Enter your command in the subject line or as
the first line of the body of the message. All other text is ignored. You must
prefix your command with the word WHOIS just like the client examples given
earlier. Requests through electronic mail are processed automatically once per
day.
Other top-level domains
The InterNIC provides registration information for .com, .edu,
.net, .org, and .gov domains only. However, the WHOIS client works with other
top-level domains. Top level domains that do not provide compatibility with
WHOIS may provide other tools to research domains.
Other registries
- .US Domain Registry
- Canadian
Internet Registration Authority (CIRA):
- NIC-Mexico - Mexico Registration:
- RIPE NCC Europe Registration:
- APNIC (Asia Pacific Network Information Center):
Some information above was provided by Network Solutions, Inc.,
the sponsor of InterNIC registration services. Additional information is
available on the InterNIC Web site at
http://www.internic.net/index.html and RFC 1400 - "Transition and Modernization of the Internet
Registration Service"
http://www.rfc-archive.org/getrfc.php?rfc=1400 Microsoft
provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support.
This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not
guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.