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APNIC Whois Database query options

To query Whois v3, use the following command syntax:

whois [-flags [argument]] <lookup-key>

Queries using primary and lookup keys

Example:

whois -h whois.apnic.net 202.12.29.0

Lookup key

Objects returned by query

Address prefix or range or single address

IPv4

Most specific inetnum and route object. If single address, returns inet-rtr with matching ifaddr attribute.

IPv6

Most specific inet6num and route6 object. If single address, returns inet-rtr with matching address attribute

Network name

All inetnum and inet6num objects with a netname attribute containing the name specified in the query.

Person

All person and role objects with a person or role attribute containing the name specified in the query argument.

NIC-handle

person or role object with a matching nic-hdl attribute.

Maintainer

mntner object with a matching primary key.

Reverse domain

domain with a matching primary key.

AS number

aut-num object with a matching aut-num attribute and associated as-block.

AS number - AS number

as-block object whose primary key matches or fully contains the query range.

Set name

as-set, filter-set, peering-set, route-set or rtr-set with a matching primary key.

Domain

inet-rtr objects with a matching primary key.

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IP address lookups

Example:

whois -h whois.apnic.net -l 202.12.29.0

Flag

Objects returned by query

-L

All less specific inetnum, inet6num, route, or route6 objects, including exact matches.

-m

First level more specific inetnum, inet6num, route, or route6 objects, excluding exact matches.

-M

All more specific inetnum, inet6num, route, or route6 objects, excluding exact matches.

-l

First level less specific inetnum, inet6num, route, or route6 objects, excluding exact matches.

-x

Only an exact match on a prefix will be performed. If no exact match is found, no objects are returned.

-d

Enables use of the -m, -M, -l and -L flags for lookups on reverse delegation domains.

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Inverse queries

Example:

whois -h whois.apnic.net -i pn NO4-AP

Flag

Alternative flag

Lookup key

Objects returned by query

-i ac

-i admin-c

NIC-handle or person

Objects with a matching admin-c attribute.

-i pn

-i person

NIC-handle or person

Objects with matching admin-c, tech-c, zone-c, or cross-nfy attributes.

-i mb

-i mnt-by

Maintainer

Objects with a matching mnt-by attribute.

-i ml

-i mnt-lower

Maintainer

Objects with a matching mnt-lower attribute.

-i mn

-i mnt-nfy

e-mail

mntner objects with a matching mnt-nfy attribute.

-i ny

-i notify

e-mail

Objects with a matching notify attribute.

-i ns

-i nserver

Domain or address prefix or range or single address

domain objects with a matching nserver attribute.

-i rz

-i rev-srv

Domain or address prefix or range or single address

inetnum and inet6num objects with a matching rev-srv attribute.

-i sd

-i sub-dom

Domain

domain objects with a matching sub-dom attribute.

-i tc

-i tech-c

NIC-handle or person

Objects with a matching tech-c attribute.

-i dt

-i upd-to

e-mail

mntner objects with a matching upd-to attribute.

-i zc

-i zone-c

NIC-handle or person

Objects with a matching zone-c attribute.

-i rb

-i referral-by

Maintainer

mntner objects with a matching referral-by attribute.

-i la

-i local-as

AS number

inet-rtr objects with a matching local-as attribute.

-i mr

-i mbrs-by-ref

Maintainer

Set objects (as-set, route-set and rtr-set) with a matching mbrs-by-ref attribute.

-i mo

-i member-of

Set name

Objects with a matching member-of attribute, provided that their membership claim is validated by the mbrs-by-ref attribute of the set.

-i mu

-i mnt-routes

Maintainer

aut-num, inetnum and route objects with a matching mnt-routes attribute.

-i or

-i origin

AS number

route and route6 objects with a matching origin attribute.

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Miscellaneous queries

Example:

whois -h whois.apnic.net -T domain -i mb APNIC-HM

Flag

Argument

Effect

-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 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 "in-q sources" query.

-s

(comma separated list of sources, no white space allowed)

Specifies which sources and in which order are to be looked up when performing a query.

-F

 

Produces output using shorthand notation for attribute names. Produces slower responses.

-R

 

Switches off use of the referral mechanism for domain lookups, so that the database returns an object in the local database with the exact match with the lookup argument, rather than doing a referral lookup.

-K

 

Only the primary keys of an object are returned.

  • The exceptions are set objects, where the members attributes will also be returned.
  • This flag does not apply to person and role objects.

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Informational queries

Example:

whois -h whois.apnic.net -q sources

Flag

Argument

Effect

-t

Object type

Template for the specified object type.

-v

Object type

Verbose template for the specified object type.

 

"help"

Help on query options available in the database.

-q

"sources"

Current set of sources along with the information required for mirroring.

-q

"version"

Current version of the server.

See also:

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