'\" te
.\"  Copyright 1989 AT&T  Copyright (c) 1992, Sun Microsystems, Inc.  All Rights Reserved
.TH whois 1 "6 Nov 2000" "SunOS 5.11" "User Commands"
.SH NAME
whois \- Internet user name directory service
.SH SYNOPSIS
.LP
.nf
\fBwhois\fR [\fB-h\fR \fIhost\fR] \fIidentifier\fR
.fi

.SH DESCRIPTION
.sp
.LP
\fBwhois\fR searches for an \fBInternet\fR directory entry for an \fIidentifier\fR which is either a name (such as ``Smith'') or a handle (such as ``SRI-NIC''). 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.
.sp
.LP
To search for a group or organization entry, precede the argument with \fB*\fR (an asterisk). The entire membership list of the group will be displayed with the record.
.sp
.LP
You may of course use an exclamation point and asterisk, or a period and asterisk together.
.SH EXAMPLES
.LP
\fBExample 1 \fRUsing The \fBwhois\fR Command
.sp
.LP
The command:

.sp
.in +2
.nf
example% whois Smith
.fi
.in -2
.sp

.sp
.LP
looks for the name or handle SMITH.

.sp
.LP
The command:

.sp
.in +2
.nf
example% whois !SRI-NIC
.fi
.in -2
.sp

.sp
.LP
looks for the handle SRI-NIC only.

.sp
.LP
The command:

.sp
.in +2
.nf
example% whois .Smith, John
.fi
.in -2
.sp

.sp
.LP
looks for the name \fBJOHN SMITH\fR only.

.sp
.LP
Adding \fB\&.\|.\|.\fR to the name or handle argument will match anything from that point; that is, \fBZU .\|.\|.\fR will match ZUL, ZUM, and so on.

.SH ATTRIBUTES
.sp
.LP
See \fBattributes\fR(5) for descriptions of the following attributes:
.sp

.sp
.TS
tab() box;
cw(2.75i) |cw(2.75i) 
lw(2.75i) |lw(2.75i) 
.
ATTRIBUTE TYPEATTRIBUTE VALUE
_
Availabilityservice/network/network-clients
.TE

.SH SEE ALSO
.sp
.LP
\fBattributes\fR(5)