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WHOIS3(1)		     General Commands Manual		       WHOIS3(1)

NAME
     whois3 - query RIPE Whois server

SYNOPSIS
     whois3  [-h host | --host= host ] [-p port | --port= port ] [whois_options]
     [whois_query]

     whois3 [-h host | --host= host ] [-p port | --port= port ] -k

DESCRIPTION
     whois3 allows you to query the RIPE Whois server, whois.ripe.net.	Most op-
     tions specified are passed through unchanged to the Whois server.	You  can
     specify an alterate server name and port through the host and port options.

     To perform a single query, specify any desired flags and the query as argu-
     ments to whois3 .	The query will be performed and the results displayed.

     To  perform  multiple  queries, use the -k option.  Then each query is read
     from input, sent to the server, and the result displayed.	 Standard  input
     redirection  operators work as expected, allowing you to perform batches of
     queries by redirecting input from a file or another program.

OPTIONS
     -h host | --host=host
	    Query the server host instead of the default server, whois.ripe.net.
	    You may specify either the host name or IP address.

     -p port | --port=port
	    Use the port port.	If not specified, then the system  default  port
	    is used if defined, otherwise port 43 is used.

     -4     Send query using ipv4 interface(s).

     -6     Send query using ipv6 interface(s).

     -k     Send multiple queries to the server.  Each line of standard input is
	    read and sent as a query to the server.  Note that if this option is
	    specified then no query can be specified on the command line.  Also,
	    this  option  only works with servers that implement the RIPE exten-
	    sions to the Whois query protocol.

DETAILS ABOUT THE RIPE WHOIS SERVER
     The RIPE Whois server responds to queries based on their format,  as  docu-
     mented  in the following sections.  These queries and options only apply to
     the RIPE Whois server.

QUERIES USING PRIMARY AND LOOKUP KEYS
     <ip-lookup> (IPv4 address prefix, range or single address)
	    Returns inetnum, route objects with exact match on a specified  key.
	    If	the  exact  match  does not exist, the objects with the smallest
	    less specific match. When single address is specified,  an	inet-rtr
	    object is also returned whose ifaddr attribute matches the query ar-
	    gument.

     <ip-lookup> (IPv6 address or IPv6 prefix)
	    Returns  inet6num object with exact match on a specified key. If the
	    exact match does not exist, the object with the smallest  less  spe-
	    cific match is returned.

     <as-number>
	    Returns  an aut-num object whose aut-num attribute matches the query
	    argument and as-block object with the range containing  the  aut-num
	    object, if it exists.

     <as-number> - <as-number> (range of <as-number> separated by '-')
	    Returns  an  as-block  object whose primary key defines a range that
	    matches or fully contains the range specified in the query argument.

     <domain-name>
	    Returns domain and inet-rtr objects whose  primary	keys  match  the
	    query  argument.  For  domains a referral query may be performed. In
	    such case the actual query is performed by the referred  server  and
	    the  results  are  transparently  passed to the client. See the RIPE
	    Database Reference Manual section 2.7 "Referral  mechanism	for  do-
	    mains" for more information.

     <person-name>
	    Returns  all  person and role objects whose person or role attribute
	    contains the name specified in the query argument.

     <set-name>
	    Returns a set whose primary key matches the query argument.

     <nic-handle>
	    Returns a person or role object whose nic-hdl attribute matches  the
	    query argument.

     <mntner-name>
	    Returns  a	mntner	object whose primary key matches the query argu-
	    ment.

IP ADDRESS LOOKUPS
     -l <ip-lookup>
	    Returns first level less specific inetnum,	inet6num  or  route  ob-
	    jects, excluding exact matches.

     -L <ip-lookup>
	    Returns  all level less specific inetnum, inet6num or route objects,
	    including exact matches.

     -m <ip-lookup>
	    Returns first level more specific inetnum,	inet6num  or  route  ob-
	    jects, excluding exact matches.

     -M <ip-lookup>
	    Returns  all level more specific inetnum, inet6num or route objects,
	    excluding exact matches.

     -x <ip-lookup>
	    Requests that only an exact match on a prefix be  performed.  If  no
	    exact match is found no objects are returned.

     -d <ip-lookup>
	    Enables  use  of  the -m, -M, -l and -L flags for lookups on reverse
	    delegation domains.

INVERSE QUERIES
     -i ac (-i admin-c) <nic-hanlde> or <person-name>
	    Returns all objects whose admin-c attribute matches the query  argu-
	    ment.

     -i ah (-i author) <nic-hanlde> or <person-name>
	    Returns  all  limerick  objects whose author-c attribute matches the
	    query argument.

     -i pn <nic-hanlde> or <person-name>
	    Returns all objects whose admin-c, tech-c, zone-c, author or  cross-
	    nfy attribute matches the query argument.

     -i ct (-i cross-mnt) <mntner-name>
	    Returns  all  route  and  aut-num  objects whose cross-mnt attribute
	    matches the query argument.

     -i cn (-i cross-nfy) <nic-hanlde> or <person-name>
	    Returns all route and  aut-num  objects  whose  cross-nfy  attribute
	    matches the query argument.

     -i la (-i local-as) <as-number>
	    Returns  all  inet-rtr  objects whose local-as attribute matches the
	    query argument.

     -i mr (-i mbrs-by-ref) <mntner-name>
	    Returns all set objects (as-set, route-set and rtr-set) whose  mbrs-
	    by-ref-c attribute matches the query argument.

     -i mo (-i member-of) <set-name>
	    Returns  all objects whose member-of attribute matches the query ar-
	    gument and their membership claim is validated  by	mbrs-by-ref  at-
	    tribute of the set.  Absence of mbrs-by-ref attribute means that the
	    membership is only defined by members attribute of the set.

     -i mb (-i mnt-by) <mntner-name>
	    Returns  all  objects whose mnt-by attribute matches the query argu-
	    ment.

     -i ml (-i mnt-lower) <mntner-name>
	    Returns all objects whose mnt-lower attribute matches the query  ar-
	    gument.

     -i mn (-i mnt-nfy) <e-mail>
	    Returns all mntner objects whose mnt-nfy attribute matches the query
	    argument.

     -i mu (-i mnt-routes) <mntner-name>
	    Returns  all aut-num, inetnum and route objects whose mnt-routes at-
	    tribute matches the query argument.

     -i ny (-i notify) <e-mail>
	    Returns all objects whose notify attribute matches the  query  argu-
	    ment.

     -i ns (-I nserver)<domain-name> or <ip-lookup>
	    Returns all domain objects whose nserver attribute matches the query
	    -argument.

     i or (-i origin) <as-name>
	    Returns  all  route objects whose origin attribute matches the query
	    argument.

     -i rb (-i referral-by)<mntner-name>
	    Returns all mntner objects whose referral-by attribute  matches  the
	    query argument.

     -i rz (-i rev-srv) <domain-name> or <ip-lookup>
	    Returns  all  inetnum  and	inet6num objects whose rev-srv attribute
	    matches the query argument.

     -i sd (-i sub-dom) <domain-name>
	    Returns all domain objects whose sub-dom attribute matches the query
	    argument.

     -i tc (-i tech-c) <nic-hanlde> or <person-name>
	    Returns all objects whose tech-c attribute matches the  query  argu-
	    ment.

     -i dt (-i upd-to) <e-mail>
	    Returns  all mntner objects whose upd-to attribute matches the query
	    argument.

     -i zc (-i zone-c) <nic-hanlde> or <person-name>
	    Returns all objects whose zone-c attribute matches the  query  argu-
	    ment.

QUERY SUPPORT FOR TOOLS
     -F     Produce output using short hand notation for attribute names.

     -K     Requests that only the primary keys of an object to be returned. The
	    exceptions	are  set objects, where the members attributes will also
	    be returned. This flag does not apply to person and role objects.

     -k (optional normal query)
	    Requests a persistent connection. After  returning	the  result  the
	    connection	will  not be closed by the server and a client may issue
	    multiple queries on the same connection. Note,  that  server  imple-
	    ments  'stop-and-wait'  protocol, when no next query can be sent be-
	    fore receiving a reply for the previous one.  Except  the  first  -k
	    query, -k without an argument closes the persistent connection.

     -g (mirroring request)
	    Request  a NRTM stream from the server. See the RIPE Database Refer-
	    ence Manual section 4. "Mirroring the RIPE Database" for more infor-
	    mation".

MISCELLANEOUS QUERIES
     -R     Switches off use referral mechanism for domain lookups, so that  the
	    database returns an object in the RIPE database with the exact match
	    with the lookup argument, rather than doing a referral lookup.

     -r     Switches  off recursion for contact information after retrieving the
	    objects that match the lookup key.

     -T (comma separated list of object types, no white space is allowed)
	    Restricts the types of objects to lookup in the query.

     -a     Specifies that the server should perform lookups  in  all  available
	    sources.  See also "-q sources" query.

     -s (comma separated list of sources, no white space is allowed)
	    Specifies  which sources and in which order are to be looked up when
	    performing a query.

INFORMATIONAL QUERIES
     -q sources
	    Returns the current set of sources along with  the	information  re-
	    quired for mirroring. See the RIPE Database Reference Manual section
	    2.9 "Other server features" for more information.

     -q version
	    Displays the current version of the server.

     -t <object-type>
	    Requests a template for the specified object type.

     -V<client-tag>
	    Sends information about the client to the server.

     -v <object-type>
	    Requests a verbose template for the specified object type.

DOCUMENTATION
     Details  about the RIPE database and Whois service may be found in RIPE and
     IETF documents.  Please consult:

     RIPE Database Reference Manual
       http://www.ripe.net/ripe/docs/databaseref-manual.html

     RFC2622   Routing Policy System Specification Language (RPSL)
       http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2622.txt

     RFC2725   Routing Policy System Security
       http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2725.txt

AUTHORS
     Shane Kerr <shane@ripe.net>, RIPE NCC

     Can Bican <can@ripe.net>, RIPE NCC

SEE ALSO
     whois(1)

								       WHOIS3(1)

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