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What is whois?

Whois ist a protocol for retrieving information about IP-addresses and internet domains. These information include statements of ownership and responsibility.

Some operating systems deliver a command line tool for using this information as well. Usage is easy:

  > whois 38.107.179.242

or IP-based

  > whois 38.107.179.242

The result of this query would be:

% This is the RIPE Database query service.
% The objects are in RPSL format.
%
% The RIPE Database is subject to Terms and Conditions.
% See http://www.ripe.net/db/support/db-terms-conditions.pdf

% Note: this output has been filtered.
%       To receive output for a database update, use the "-B" flag.

% Information related to '0.0.0.0 - 255.255.255.255'

inetnum:      0.0.0.0 - 255.255.255.255
netname:      IANA-BLK
descr:        The whole IPv4 address space
country:      EU # Country is really world wide
org:          ORG-IANA1-RIPE
admin-c:      IANA1-RIPE
tech-c:       IANA1-RIPE
status:       ALLOCATED UNSPECIFIED
remarks:      The country is really worldwide.
remarks:      This address space is assigned at various other places in
remarks:      the world and might therefore not be in the RIPE database.
mnt-by:       RIPE-NCC-HM-MNT
mnt-lower:    RIPE-NCC-HM-MNT
mnt-routes:   RIPE-NCC-RPSL-MNT
source:       RIPE # Filtered

organisation: ORG-IANA1-RIPE
org-name:     Internet Assigned Numbers Authority
org-type:     IANA
address:      see http://www.iana.org
remarks:      The IANA allocates IP addresses and AS number blocks to RIRs
remarks:      see http://www.iana.org/ipaddress/ip-addresses.htm
remarks:      and http://www.iana.org/assignments/as-numbers
e-mail:       bitbucket<tt>ripe.net
admin-c:      IANA1-RIPE
tech-c:       IANA1-RIPE
mnt-ref:      RIPE-NCC-HM-MNT
mnt-by:       RIPE-NCC-HM-MNT
source:       RIPE # Filtered

role:         Internet Assigned Numbers Authority
address:      see http://www.iana.org.
e-mail:       bitbucket</tt>ripe.net
admin-c:      IANA1-RIPE
tech-c:       IANA1-RIPE
nic-hdl:      IANA1-RIPE
remarks:      For more information on IANA services
remarks:      go to IANA web site at http://www.iana.org.
mnt-by:       RIPE-NCC-MNT
source:       RIPE # Filtered

What is whois?

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