ccruss@deneb.ucdavis.edu (0059;0000000000;230;9999;98;) (11/12/87)
As promised, here is the the list of organizations that have indicated
that they have a central whois server and database.
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SRI-NIC
This is the original whois database for the DDN network and has grown
over the years to be the central source of information for all of
Internet. The database contains information on most of the networks and
many of the people associated with the Internet world. SRI-NIC.ARPA is
the default host for many whois programs. Sending a request with a
target of "help" will return a help page. Whois at SRI-NIC is also
available via electronic mail.
Whois usage
whois help
Usage from electronic mail
Send mail to
service@sri-nic.arpa
Enter "whois" and the target name on the "Subject:" line. The result
will be sent via return email, assuming the "From:" line on the
original message is a valid address.
Example:
To: service@sri-nic.arpa
From: user@host.campus.edu
Subject: whois help
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CSNET and the NNSC (NSF Network Service Center)
This database contains information on sites and people associated with
the above networks. A help page is returned by specifying "help" as the
target.
Whois usage
whois -h sh.cs.net help
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STANFORD UNIVERSITY
The Stanford whois database contains information for the 30,000 students
and faculty associated with the Stanford campus. Help is not available.
Multiple matches to a target returns a list of matches. Further
information on a single person can be obtained by specifying the unique
identifier returned by the list.
Whois usage
whois -h stanford.edu <target-name>
________________________________________
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
The UC Davis whois database contains entries for the 15,000 faculty and
staff on campus. The service can return information on an individual or
return a list of people in a particular department. A help page is
returned by specifying "help" as the target. The service is also
available via electronic mail.
Usage from whois
whois -h ucdavis.edu help
Usage from electronic mail
Send mail to
Internet: whois@ucdavis.edu
Bitnet: whois@ucdavis
UUCP: ...!ucbvax!ucdavis!whois
Enter the whois target name on the "Subject:" line. The result will
be sent via return email, assuming the "From:" line on the original
message is a valid address.
Example:
To: whois@ucdavis.edu
From: user@host.campus.edu
Subject: help
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I received several messages from sites indicating that they currently
did not have a server or database. However, they were interested in
setting one up and asked about our software. Here is the information.
Our whois server and email interface run on a 4.3 bsd system. It is a
combination of local code and a Unify database. The main reason for
using Unify is because it was already on the system. If you are
interested, the sources for the local code, which can be used with the
Unify system or modified to work with another database, are available
via anonymous ftp from ucdavis.edu and are in the directory
dist/ucdwhois/.
We also use this same database for the campus email delivery system.
Included in the database is the actual usercode and host that mail for a
MAILID is to be delivered. Details on the database structure are
included in the tar file.
Russ
Russell Hobby
Data Communications Manager
U. C. Davis
Computing Services BITNET: RDHOBBY@UCDAVIS
Davis Ca 95616 UUCP: ...!ucbvax!ucdavis!rdhobby
(916) 752-0236 INTERNET: rdhobby@ucdavis.eduPAP4@AI.AI.MIT.EDU ("Philip A. Prindeville") (11/21/87)
I agree that most sites should maintain current whois database information. I think that the whois database structure is perhaps past due, and a more appropriate form is needed. For the host information, perhaps a new record type could be added, such as ADMIN. This would tell you something about the organization behind a domain. Ie: MIT.EDU Massachusetts Institute of Technology 77 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139 (617) 253-1000 (as the ADMIN info) Nameservers: W20NS.MIT.EDU (18....) BITSY.MIT.EDU (18....) ... (via NS queries for MIT.EDU) And... LCS.MIT.EDU M.I.T. Laboratory for Computer Science 5 Cambridge Centre (NE-43) Cambridge, MA 02139 (617) 253-6001 (more ADMIN info) Nameservers: XX.LCS.MIT.EDU (10....) (NS records) and information for hosts could also be specified, where the ADMIN record would tell you who the responsible person for a host is, including phone number, address, and mailbox. These wouldn't be necessary for all hosts, maybe just gateways and nameservers... For the user information, each host in the desired subdomain (or the host itself, if it were named) could be 'fingered' for the desired information about a user. Ideas, comments? -Philip