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Manual page for WHOIS(1)

whois - TCP/IP Internet user name directory service

SYNOPSIS

whois [ -h host ] identifier

DESCRIPTION

whois searches for an TCP/IP 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 preceding the name with a period; you can force a handle-only search by preceding the handle with an exclamation point. See EXAMPLES.

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 preceding the argument with `*' (an asterisk).

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

EXAMPLES

: example% whois Smith

looks for name or handle SMITH.

: example% whois \!SRI-NIC

looks for handle SRI-NIC only.


: example% whois '.Smith, John'

looks 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.