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+Network Working Group K. Harrenstien (SRI)
+Request for Comments: 954 M. Stahl (SRI)
+Obsoletes: RFC 812 E. Feinler (SRI)
+ October 1985
+
+ NICNAME/WHOIS
+
+
+STATUS OF THIS MEMO
+
+ This RFC is the official specification of the NICNAME/WHOIS protocol.
+ This memo describes the protocol and the service. This is an update
+ of RFC 812. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
+
+INTRODUCTION
+
+ The NICNAME/WHOIS Server is a TCP transaction based query/response
+ server, running on the SRI-NIC machine (26.0.0.73 or 10.0.0.51), that
+ provides netwide directory service to internet users. It is one of a
+ series of internet name services maintained by the DDN Network
+ Information Center (NIC) at SRI International on behalf of the
+ Defense Communications Agency (DCA). The server is accessible across
+ the Internet from user programs running on local hosts, and it
+ delivers the full name, U.S. mailing address, telephone number, and
+ network mailbox for DDN users who are registered in the NIC database.
+
+ This server, together with the corresponding WHOIS Database can also
+ deliver online look-up of individuals or their online mailboxes,
+ network organizations, DDN nodes and associated hosts, and TAC
+ telephone numbers. The service is designed to be user-friendly and
+ the information is delivered in human-readable format. DCA strongly
+ encourages network hosts to provide their users with access to this
+ network service.
+
+WHO SHOULD BE IN THE DATABASE
+
+ DCA requests that each individual with a directory on an ARPANET or
+ MILNET host, who is capable of passing traffic across the DoD
+ Internet, be registered in the NIC WHOIS Database. MILNET TAC users
+ must be registered in the database. To register, send via electronic
+ mail to REGISTRAR@SRI-NIC.ARPA your full name, middle initial, U.S.
+ mailing address (including mail stop and full explanation of
+ abbreviations and acronyms), ZIP code, telephone (including Autovon
+ and FTS, if available), and one network mailbox. Contact the DDN
+ Network Information Center, REGISTRAR@SRI-NIC.ARPA or (800) 235-3155,
+ for assistance with registration.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Harrenstien & Stahl & Feinler [Page 1]
+
+
+
+RFC 954 October 1985
+NICNAME/WHOIS
+
+
+PROTOCOL
+
+ To access the NICNAME/WHOIS server:
+
+ Connect to the SRI-NIC service host at TCP service port 43
+ (decimal).
+
+ Send a single "command line", ending with <CRLF> (ASCII CR and
+ LF).
+
+ Receive information in response to the command line. The server
+ closes its connection as soon as the output is finished.
+
+EXISTING USER PROGRAMS
+
+ NICNAME is the global name for the user program, although many sites
+ have chosen to use the more familiar name of "WHOIS". There are
+ versions of the NICNAME user program for TENEX, TOPS-20, and UNIX.
+ The TENEX and TOPS-20 programs are written in assembly language
+ (FAIL/MACRO), and the UNIX version is written in C. They are easy to
+ invoke, taking one argument which is passed directly to the NICNAME
+ server at SRI-NIC. Contact NIC@SRI-NIC.ARPA for copies of the
+ program.
+
+COMMAND LINES AND REPLIES
+
+ A command line is normally a single name specification. Note that
+ the specification formats will evolve with time; the best way to
+ obtain the most recent documentation on name specifications is to
+ give the server a command line consisting of "?<CRLF>" (that is, a
+ question-mark alone as the name specification). The response from
+ the NICNAME server will list all possible formats that can be used.
+ The responses are not currently intended to be machine-readable; the
+ information is meant to be passed back directly to a human user. The
+ following three examples illustrate the use of NICNAME as of October
+ 1985.
+
+ ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ Command line: ?
+ Response:
+
+ Please enter a name or a NIC handle, such as "Smith" or "SRI-NIC".
+ Starting with a period forces a name-only search; starting with
+ exclamation point forces handle-only. Examples:
+
+
+
+
+Harrenstien & Stahl & Feinler [Page 2]
+
+
+
+RFC 954 October 1985
+NICNAME/WHOIS
+
+
+ Smith [looks for name or handle SMITH]
+ !SRI-NIC [looks for handle SRI-NIC only]
+ .Smith, John
+ [looks for name JOHN SMITH only]
+
+ Adding "..." to the argument will match anything from that point,
+ e.g. "ZU..." will match ZUL, ZUM, etc.
+
+ To search for mailboxes, use one of these forms:
+
+ Smith@ [looks for mailboxes with username SMITH]
+ @Host [looks for mailboxes on HOST]
+ Smith@Host
+ [Looks for mailboxes with username SMITH on HOST]
+
+ To obtain the entire membership list of a group or organization,
+ or a list of all authorized users of a host, precede the name of
+ the host or organization by an asterisk, i.e. *SRI-NIC. [CAUTION:
+ If there are a lot of members, this will take a long time!] You
+ may use exclamation point and asterisk, or a period and asterisk
+ together.
+
+ ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ Command line: fischer
+ Response:
+
+ Fischer, Charles (CF17) fischer@UWISC (608) 262-1204
+ Fischer, Herman (HF) HFischer@USC-ECLB (818) 902-5139
+ Fischer, Jeffery H. (JHF1) FISCHER@LL-XN (617) 863-5500
+ ext 4403 or 4689
+ Fischer, Kenneth (KF8) SAC.SIUBO@USC-ISIE (402) 294-5161
+ (AV) 271-5161
+ Fischer, Marty (MF28) MFISCHER@DCA-EMS (703) 437-2344
+ Fischer, Michael J. (MJF) FISCHER@YALE (203) 436-0744
+ Fischer, Nancy C. (NANCY) FISCHER@SRI-NIC (415) 859-2539
+ Fischer, Richard A. (RAF4) Fisher Richa@LLL-MFE (415) 422-5032
+
+ To single out any individual entry, repeat the command using the
+ argument "!HANDLE" instead of "NAME", where the handle is in
+ parentheses following the name.
+
+ ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ Command line: !nancy
+ Response:
+
+
+
+Harrenstien & Stahl & Feinler [Page 3]
+
+
+
+RFC 954 October 1985
+NICNAME/WHOIS
+
+
+ Fischer, Nancy C. (NANCY) FISCHER@SRI-NIC SRI International
+ Telecommunication Sciences Center
+ 333 Ravenswood Avenue, EJ289
+ Menlo Park, California 94025
+ Phone: (415) 859-2539
+ MILNET TAC user
+
+ ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+BIBLIOGRAPHY
+
+ 1. Harrenstien, K., and White, V., "NICNAME/WHOIS," RFC-812, Network
+ Information Center, SRI International, March 1982.
+
+ 2. Harrenstien, K., "NAME/FINGER," RFC-742, Network Information
+ Center, SRI International, December 1977.
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+Harrenstien & Stahl & Feinler [Page 4]
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