Miscellaneous flags Commonly used flags

Example: whois -h whois.ripe.net -T domain -i mnt-by RIPE-DBM-MNT

Inverse Lookups:
Objects returned by
Flag Argument Effect Flag Argument
query
Specifies sources and in which Objects with matching
-i person Nic-handle
-s Source(s) order to look up when performing
a query.
Maintainer
admin-c, tech-c, zone-c or author.
Objects with a matching mnt-
RIPE Whois Database
-i mnt-by
Switches off referrals for domain
lookups. Query will only return an
name by.
Queries
Reference Card
-R Narrowing Down or Broadening Search:
object in the local database that
matches the lookup key. Flag Argument Effect
Only the primary keys of an object Switches off recursion for contact
are returned. The exceptions are -r information after retrieving the
set objects where the member’s objects that match the lookup key. This reference card lists query options available
-K attributes will also be returned. This for the RIPE Whois Database:
flag does not apply to person Object Restricts the type of objects to
-T
and role objects. type(s) lookup in the query.
• Queries using primary and lookup keys
Server Specifies that the server • Inverse queries
-h Specifies a query of another server. should perform lookups in all
address -a • IP address lookups
available sources. See also “-q • Miscellaneous queries
Requests a persistent connection. sources” query.
A client may issue multiple queries • Database help
Optional
-k normal on the same connection. The • List of commonly used flags
query server will not close the connec- Database help
tion until it receives a -k without an Note: most e-mail addresses are hidden in the whois
argument (after the first one). Example: whois -h whois.ripe.net -q sources
query results unless -B flag is used when making a query.
Switches off default e-mail filter- Flag Argument Returns
-B ing behaviour. Shows entire object Template for the specified The flags in this reference card work on both the RIPE
including all e-mail addresses. -t Object type Whois web interface and the whois client. The web
object type.
Turns off logical grouping of objects interface is available at:
Verbose template for the speci- http://www.ripe.net/whois
-G in query results and lists objects -v Object type
according to type. fied object type.
List of query options available in Whois client software is available to download at:
Mirroring Request an NRMT stream from the “help” ftp://ftp.ripe.net/tools/ripe-whois-latest.tar.gz
-g the database.
request server.
Current set of sources along RIPE Database User Manual: Getting Started is available at:
Brief output mode. Only shows -q “sources” with the information required http://www.ripe.net/ripe/docs/db-start.html
-b primary key (address range) and for mirroring.
abuse mailboxes. RIPE Database User Manual can be found at:
-q “version” Current version of the server.
http://www.ripe.net/ripe/docs/databaseref-manual.html
Produce output using shorthand
-F -q “types” A list of all available object types.
notation for attribute names.
-V Sends information about the
<client tag> client to the server. For more information about the RIPE
The RIPE Whois Database Queries reference Whois Database, see:
card can also be found online at: RIPE Network Coordination Centre
http://www.ripe.net/db/support/whois-refcard.pdf P.O. Box 10096
1001 EB Amsterdam
http://www.ripe.net/db/
the Netherlands
www.ripe.net
 Flag Alternative
Queries using primary and lookup keys Inverse queries Lookup Objects returned
flag key by query
Example: whois -h whois.ripe.net 193.0.1.17 irt objects with a
This always returns referenced contact objects (person/role) Example: whois -h whois.ripe.net -i person RD132-RIPE -i iy -i irt-nfy e-mail matching irt-nfy.
Lookup key Objects returned by query Alterna- Lookup Objects returned by inetnum and
Flag -i mi -i mnt-irt IRT name inet6num objects
tive flag key query
Address prefix IPv4 - Most specific inetnum and/or route. with a matching mnt-irt.
or range IPv6 - Most specific inet6num and/or route6. Nic-handle or Objects with a
-i ac -i admin-c inet-rtr and
person name matching admin-c.
IPv4 - Most specific inetnum and/or -i la -i local-as AS Number inet6num objects
Nic-handle or Objects with a with a matching local-as.
Single address route and inet-rtr containing the address.
IPv6 - Most specific inet6num and/or
-i tc -i tech-c person name matching tech-c.
route6 and inet-rtr containing the address. Set objects (as-set,
Nic-handle or Objects with a -i mr -i mbrs-by-ref Maintainer route-set and
-i zc -i zone-c name rtr-set) with a
All inetnum and inet6num objects person name matching zone-c.
Network matching mbrs-by-ref.
with a netname containing the name
Nic-handle or Objects
name specified in the query. with a match-
-i pn -i person ing admin-c, tech-c, Objects with a match-
person name zone-c or author. ing member-of, provided
All person and role objects with a per-
Person son or role attribute containing the name -i mo -i member-of Set name that their membership
specified in the query. Maintainer Objects with a claim is validated by the
-i mb -i mnt-by name mbrs-by-ref of the set.
matching mnt-by.
Nic-handle person or role with a matching nic-hdl.
-i mnt- Maintainer Objects with a route and route6
Organisation All organisation objects with an org-name -i ml name -i or -i origin AS Number objects with a
lower matching mnt-lower.
name containing the name specified in the query. matching origin.
-i mu -iroutes
mnt- Maintainer Objects with a
Organisation organisation with a matching primary key.
name matching mnt-routes. -i am -ibox
abuse-mail- e-mail Objects with a match-
ing abuse-mailbox.
ID
Maintainer Objects with a
-i mz -i mnt-ref name matching mnt-ref. Domain domain object with
Maintainer name mntner with a matching primary key. -i sd Sub-dom name matching sub-dom
attribute.
-i md -imains
mnt-do- Maintainer Objects with a
IRT name irt with a matching primary key. name matching mnt-domains.
aut-num object with a matching aut- mntner objects with
AS Number -i dt -i upd-to e-mail a matching upd-to.
num and associated as-block. IP address lookups
mntner objects
AS Number - as-block whose primary key matches -i mn -i mnt-nfy e-mail with a matching mnt-nfy. Example: whois -h whois.ripe.net -L 193.0.1.17
AS Number or fully contains the query range.
Objects with a Flag Objects returned by query
-i ny -i notify e-mail
as-set, filter-set, peering-set, matching notify. Only an exact match on a prefix will be performed.
Set name route-set or rtr-set with a matching -x If no exact match is found, no objects are returned.
Domain domain objects
primary key. -i ns -i nserver name or
single address with a matching nserver. All more specific inetnum, inet6num, route
domain or inet-rtr with a matching -M
Domain or route6 objects, excluding exact matches.
primary key. Mntner objects
where the auth First level more specific inetnum, inet6num,
Exact match or less specific route and -i at -i auth Key-cert ID -m
Route matches the specified route or route6 objects, excluding exact matches.
exact match or less specific inetnum.
key-cert object. All less specific inetnum, inet6num, route
Exact match or less specific route6 and -L
Route6 key-cert objects with or route6 objects, including exact matches.
exact match or less specific inet6num. -i fp -i fingerpr Fngerprint a matching fingerpr. First level less specific inetnum, inet6num,
person, role and organisation -l
E-mail objects with a matching e-mail. route or route6 objects, excluding matches.
Objects with a
-i rn -i ref-nfy e-mail
Key-cert key-cert with a matching primary key. matching ref-nfy. Enables use of the -m, -M, -l and -L flags for
-d lookups on reverse delegation domain objects.
Router inet-rtr with an ifaddr containing the Organisation Objects with a The most specific inetnum or inet6num
interface -i og -i org -c
address IPv4 or IPv6 address specified in the query. name matching org. object containing the reference to an irt object.
Last updated: March, 2006