Linux - The whois command

10.2.6.4. The whois command

Specific domain name information can be queried using the whois command, as is explained by many whois servers, like the one below:

[emmy@pc10 emmy]$ whois cnn.com
[whois.crsnic.net]

Whois Server Version 1.3

        $<--snap server message-->

   Domain Name: CNN.COM
   Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, INC.
   Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
   Referral URL: https://www.networksolutions.com
   Name Server: TWDNS-01.NS.AOL.COM
   Name Server: TWDNS-02.NS.AOL.COM
   Name Server: TWDNS-03.NS.AOL.COM
   Name Server: TWDNS-04.NS.AOL.COM
   Updated Date: 12-mar-2002
>>> Last update of whois database: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 05:04:55 EST <<<

The Registry database contains ONLY .COM, .NET, .ORG, .EDU domains
and Registrars.

[whois.networksolutions.com]

        $<--snap server message-->

Registrant:
Turner Broadcasting (CNN-DOM)
   1 CNN Center
   Atlanta, GA 30303

   Domain Name: CNN.COM

   Administrative Contact:
        $<--snap contactinfo-->   
   Technical Contact:
        $<--snap contactinfo-->   
   Billing Contact:
        $<--snap contactinfo-->
   Record last updated on 12-Mar-2002.
   Record expires on 23-Sep-2009.
   Record created on 22-Sep-1993.
   Database last updated on 4-Apr-2002 20:10:00 EST.

   Domain servers in listed order:

   TWDNS-01.NS.AOL.COM          149.174.213.151
   TWDNS-02.NS.AOL.COM          152.163.239.216
   TWDNS-03.NS.AOL.COM          205.188.146.88
   TWDNS-04.NS.AOL.COM          64.12.147.120

For other domain names than .com, .net, .org and .edu, you might need to specify the whois server, such as this one for .be domains:

whois [email protected]