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ripe-223: ripe-358: This obsolete document describes how queries work in version 3.2 of the RIPE Database Reference Manual Whois Database.

This document describes how queries work in version 3.2 of the RIPE Whois Database. This version uses the Routing Policy Specification Language (RPSL) [ insert: <a href="#r1"> 1 insert: </a> ] to represent many of the database objects. It uses the Routing Policy System Security (RPSS) [ insert: <a href="#r2"> 2 insert: </a> ] for authorisation. This means better security for Internet Routing Registries (IRR). It makes use of RPSL next generation specifications [ insert: <a href="#r14"> 14 insert: </a> ]. This means that you can register multicast and IPv6 routing policies. Though this document is self-contained, you may also wish to read the RPSL [ insert: <a href="#r1"> 1 insert: </a> ] and RPSS [ insert: <a href="#r2"> 2 insert: </a> ] specifications. For a tutorial on RPSL, you can read the RPSL applications document [ insert: <a href="#r3"> 3 insert: </a> ]. insert: 

insert: <h2>

insert: `<a id="intended" name="intended">` insert: `</a>` Intended Audience insert: `</h2>`

insert: 

This reference manual is for casual and advanced users who query the RIPE Whois Database. If you are new to this database, you might find the “RIPE Whois Database User Manual – Getting Started” [ insert: <a href="#r5"> 5 insert: </a> ] to be a more helpful place to start. insert: 

insert: <h2>

insert: `<a id="conventions" name="conventions">` insert: `</a>` Conventions Used in This Document insert: `</h2>`

insert: 

We use <label> for a placeholder or to indicate syntax. insert:  
We use [option] to indicate an optional text or command argument. insert:  
We use a BOLD font to indicate an object type. insert:  
We use “attribute:” to indicate an attribute of an object. insert:  
"RIPE Whois Database" usually means the interface software rather than the information in the database. Where there may be any doubt, this manual will make clear what is being discussed. insert: 

insert: <hr noshade="noshade" size="1" />

insert: <h2>

insert: `<a id="toc" name="toc">` insert: `</a>` Table of Contents insert: `</h2>`

insert: 

insert: <a href="#introduction"> Introduction insert: </a> insert:  
1.0 insert: <a href="#10"> Database Objects and Attributes insert: </a> insert:  
1.1 insert: <a href="#11"> Object Representation insert: </a> insert:  
1.2 insert: <a href="#12"> Object Types insert: </a> insert:  
1.2.1 insert: <a href="#121"> as-block insert: </a> insert:  
1.2.2 insert: <a href="#122"> as-set insert: </a> insert:  
1.2.3 insert: <a href="#123"> aut-num insert: </a> insert:  
1.2.4 insert: <a href="#124"> domain insert: </a> insert:  
1.2.5 insert: <a href="#125"> filter-set insert: </a> insert:  
1.2.6 insert: <a href="#126"> inet6num insert: </a> insert:  
1.2.7 insert: <a href="#127"> inetnum insert: </a> insert:  
1.2.8 insert: <a href="#128"> inet-rtr insert: </a> insert:  
1.2.9 insert: <a href="#129"> irt insert: </a> insert:  
1.2.10 insert: <a href="#1210"> key-cert insert: </a> insert:  
1.2.11 insert: <a href="#1211"> mntner insert: </a> insert:  
1.2.12 insert: <a href="#1212"> organisation insert: </a> insert:  
1.2.13 insert: <a href="#1213"> peering-set insert: </a> insert:  
1.2.14 insert: <a href="#1214"> person insert: </a> insert:  
1.2.15 insert: <a href="#1215"> poem insert: </a> insert:  
1.2.16 insert: <a href="#1216"> poetic-form insert: </a> insert:  
1.2.17 insert: <a href="#1217"> role insert: </a> insert:  
1.2.18 insert: <a href="#1218"> route insert: </a> insert:  
1.2.19 insert: <a href="#1219"> route6 insert: </a> insert:  
1.2.20 insert: <a href="#1220"> route-set insert: </a> insert:  
1.2.21 insert: <a href="#1221"> rtr-set insert: </a> insert:  
2.0 insert: <a href="#20"> Querying the RIPE Whois Database insert: </a> insert:  
2.1 insert: <a href="#21"> Queries Using Primary and Lookup Keys insert: </a> insert:  
2.2 insert: <a href="#22"> Queries for IP Networks insert: </a> insert:  
2.2.1 insert: <a href="#221"> Default Queries for IP Networks insert: </a> insert:  
2.2.2 insert: <a href="#222"> Exact Match Queries insert: </a> insert:  
2.2.3 insert: <a href="#223"> More and Less Specific Queries insert: </a> insert:  
2.2.3.1 insert: <a href="#2231"> More Specific Queries insert: </a> insert:  
2.2.3.2 insert: <a href="#2232"> Less Specific Queries Error insert: </a> insert:  
2.2.4 insert: <a href="#224"> Less Specific Queries Referencing irt Objects insert: </a> insert:  
2.3 insert: <a href="#23"> Inverse Queries insert: </a> insert:  
2.4 insert: <a href="#24"> Abuse Contacts insert: </a> insert:  
2.5 insert: <a href="#25"> Grouping the Whois Output insert: </a> insert:  
2.6 insert: <a href="#26"> Filtering the Whois Output insert: </a> insert:  
2.7 insert: <a href="#27"> Query Support for Tools insert: </a> insert:  
2.7.1 insert: <a href="#271"> IRRToolset Support insert: </a> insert:  
2.7.2 insert: <a href="#272"> Persistent Connections and Keeping State insert: </a> insert:  
2.8 insert: <a href="#28"> Getting All the Members of Set Objects insert: </a> insert:  
2.9 insert: <a href="#29"> More and Less Specific Lookups For Reverse Domains insert: </a> insert:  
2.10 insert: <a href="#210"> Referral Mechanism for Domains insert: </a> insert:  
2.10.1 insert: <a href="#2101"> The “refer:” Attribute insert: </a> insert:  
2.10.2 insert: <a href="#21012"> Domain Name Stripping insert: </a> insert:  
2.10.3 insert: <a href="#2103"> The “-R” query flag insert: </a> insert:  
2.10.4 insert: <a href="#2104"> The Referral Process insert: </a> insert:  
2.11 insert: <a href="#211"> Access Control for Queries insert: </a> insert:  
2.12 insert: <a href="#212"> Other Server Features insert: </a> insert:  
2.12.1 insert: <a href="#2121"> Mirroring Other Databases insert: </a> insert:  
2.12.2 insert: <a href="#2122"> The “–q” Query Flag insert: </a> insert:  
2.12.3. insert: <a href="#2123"> The “-t” Query Flag insert: </a> insert:  
2.12.4. insert: <a href="#2124"> The “-v” Query Flag insert: </a> insert:  
2.12.5. insert: <a href="#2125"> The “-F” Query Flag insert: </a> insert:  
2.12.6. insert: <a href="#2126"> The “-K” Query Flag insert: </a> insert:  
2.12.7. insert: <a href="#2127"> The “-T” Query Flag insert: </a> insert:  
2.12.8. insert: <a href="#2128"> The “-a” Query Flag insert: </a> insert:  
insert: <a href="#tables"> Tables of Query Types Supported by the RIPE Whois Database insert: </a> insert:  
insert: <a href="#t21"> Table 2.1 Queries Using Primary and Lookup Keys insert: </a> insert:  
insert: <a href="#t22"> Table 2.2 Queries For IP Networks insert: </a> insert:  
insert: <a href="#t23"> Table 2.3 Query Flag Arguments to the "-i" Query Flag and the Corresponding Inverse Keys insert: </a> insert:  
insert: <a href="#t24"> Table 2.4 Query Support For Tools insert: </a> insert:  
insert: <a href="#t25"> Table 2.5 Miscellaneous Queries insert: </a> insert:  
insert: <a href="#t26"> Table 2.6 Informational Queries insert: </a> insert:  
insert: <a href="#appendices"> Appendices insert: </a> insert:  
insert: <a href="#a1"> A1. Object Attributes insert: </a> insert:  
insert: <a href="#a2"> A2. RIPE Whois Database Query Server Response Codes and Messages insert: </a> insert:  
insert: <a href="#a21"> A2.1 Query Errors insert: </a> insert:  
insert: <a href="#a22"> A2.2 Access Errors insert: </a> insert:  
insert: <a href="#a23"> A2.3 Connection Errors insert: </a> insert:  
insert: <a href="#a24"> A2.4 NRTM Errors insert: </a> insert:  
insert: <a href="#a25"> A2.5 Warnings insert: </a> insert:  
insert: <a href="#a26"> A2.6 Referral Text insert: </a> insert:  
A3. insert: <a href="#copy"> Copyright Information insert: </a> insert:  
A3.1 insert: <a href="#whoiscopy"> RIPE Whois Database Copyright insert: </a> insert:  
A3.2 insert: <a href="#ncccopy"> RIPE NCC Copyright insert: </a> insert:  
insert: <a href="#addendum"> Addendum insert: </a> insert:  
insert: <a href="#acknowledgements"> Acknowledgements insert: </a> insert:  
insert: <a href="#references"> References insert: </a> insert: 

insert: <hr noshade="noshade" size="1" />

insert: <h2>

insert: `<a id="introduction" name="introduction">` insert: `</a>` Introduction insert: `</h2>`

insert: 

The RIPE Network Management Database (often called the "RIPE Whois Database") contains information about IP address space allocations and assignments, routing policies, reverse delegations, contacts in the RIPE NCC service region [ insert: <a href="#r16"> 16 insert: </a> ] and ENUM delegations worldwide. insert: 

insert: 

The information in the RIPE Whois Database is available to the public for agreed Internet operation purposes, but it is copyright. See Appendix A3 " insert: <a href="#copy"> Copyright Information insert: </a> ". insert:  
This document describes how queries work in version 3.2 of the RIPE Whois Database. This version uses the Routing Policy Specification Language (RPSL) [ insert: <a href="#r1"> 1 insert: </a> ] to represent all database objects. It uses the Routing Policy System Security (RPSS) [ insert: <a href="#r2"> 2 insert: </a> ] for authorisation. This means better security for Internet Routing Registries (IRR). The RIPE Whois Database includes an IRR. It makes use of RPSL next generation specifications [ insert: <a href="#r14"> 14 insert: </a> ]. This means that you can register multicast and IPv6 routing policies. insert: 

insert: 

This document is self-contained, but does not contain examples of usage and illustrations of how the RIPE Whois Database works. If this is what you want, you should read the RPSL [ insert: <a href="#r1"> 1 insert: </a> ] and RPSS [ insert: <a href="#r2"> 2 insert: </a> ] specifications. If you are looking for a tutorial on RPSL, you should read the RPSL applications document [ insert: <a href="#r3"> 3 insert: </a> ]. The “RIPE Whois Database User Manual – Getting Started”[ insert: <a href="#r5"> 5 insert: </a> ] contains some examples. You may also want to read the “RIPE Whois Database Update Reference Manual” [ insert: <a href="#r19"> 19 insert: </a> ]. It explains how updates work in the RIPE Whois Database. There is also a single page “Whois Queries Reference Card” [ insert: <a href="#r18"> 18 insert: </a> ]. insert: 

insert: <hr noshade="noshade" size="1" />

insert: <h2>

insert: `<a id="10" name="10">` insert: `</a>` 1.0 Database Objects and Attributes insert: `</h2>`

insert: 

The RIPE Whois Database contains records of: insert: 

insert: <ul>

insert: <li>

allocations and assignments of IP address space (the IP address registry); insert: </li>

insert: <li>

domain names (mainly for reverse domains); insert: </li>

insert: <li>

routing policy information (the routing registry); insert: </li>

insert: <li>

contact information (details of people who are responsible for the operation of networks or routers. As the RIPE NCC does not maintain the contents of the database, you can find contact details here of the people who do). insert: </li>

insert: </ul>

insert: 

The RIPE NCC defines a database object as a list of attribute-value pairs in plain text form. Attributes can be mandatory, optional or generated. Mandatory attributes will always be present in an instance of an object. Optional attributes may be present if considered necessary or useful by the creator of the object. Generated attributes can be included by the creator of the object, but their values will always be checked and included, when necessary, by the database software. insert: 

insert: 

The attributes are indexed in a number of ways to allow the queries to search the database. An attribute can be a primary key, lookup key, inverse key, or a combination of these. insert: 

insert: 

The characteristics of an attribute are determined by the type of object the attribute appears in. These are shown for each object in the object templates. They can be listed using the query: insert: 

insert: <pre>

 whois –t <object-type>  insert: </pre>

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="11" name="11">` insert: `</a>` 1.1 Object Representation insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

The records in the RIPE Whois Database are known as objects. RPSL [ insert: <a href="#r1"> 1 insert: </a> ] defines the syntax of these database objects (how they are written). An object belongs to one of the object types or classes. We use the two terms - ‘type' and ‘class' - interchangeably throughout this document. insert: 

insert: 

insert:  Object Types Supported by the RIPE Whois Database: insert:  insert: 

insert: <table class="grid listing"> insert: <tbody>insert: <tr>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: </tr>insert: <tr>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: </tr>insert: <tr>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: </tr>insert: <tr>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: </tr>insert: <tr>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: </tr>insert: <tr>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: </tr>insert: <tr>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: </tr>insert: <tr>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: </tr>insert: <tr>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: </tr>insert: <tr>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: </tr>insert: <tr>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: </tr>insert: <tr>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: </tr>insert: <tr>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: </tr>insert: <tr>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: </tr>insert: <tr>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: </tr>insert: <tr>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: </tr>insert: <tr>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: </tr>insert: <tr>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: </tr>insert: <tr>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: </tr>insert: <tr>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: </tr>insert: <tr>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: </tr>insert: <tr>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: </tr>insert: </tbody>insert: </table>

insert: 

All objects contain at least one “changed:” attribute. The information in this attribute shows who created or modified the object and when. It is not reliable as a full audit trail. The only database software conditions are that there is at least one of these attributes and if there is more than one, the dates must be in ascending order. It is for the maintainer of the object to decide how to use this attribute. In some cases it may be a full audit trail. In other objects it may only have one attribute that is modified each time the object is modified. It may also have just the one attribute that represents the original creation or any one of many modifications made to the object over a period of time. It is used as a reference for the benefit of the maintainer of the object. It is not intended to give any reliable information to a user who queries for an object. insert: 

insert: 

Some objects contain a “country:” attribute. It is difficult to strictly define what this value means. It may be the country where the IP address is used, or the country from where it was assigned. It could be the country where the head office of the organisation is based. As with the “changed:” attribute, it is not intended to give any reliable information to a user who queries for an object. insert: 

insert: 

There are a number of attributes used for notifications. For example, “notify:”, “mnt-nfy:”, “upd-to:”. These are used for administration of the data in the database. They show who is to be notified of changes to objects, or incorrectly authorised attempts to make changes. insert: 

insert: 

There are a number of attributes used for the authorisation of changes to the data in the database. For example, “mnt-by:”, “mnt-lower:”. These contain references to objects containing the authentication tokens needed to make changes. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="12" name="12">` insert: `</a>` 1.2 Object Types insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

This section describes the object types (classes) that the RIPE Whois Database supports. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="121" name="121">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.1 as-block insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

An insert:  as-block insert:  object delegates a range of AS Numbers to a given RIR [ insert: <a href="#r21"> 21 insert: </a> ]. These objects are created by the Database Administration. They are used to authorise creation of insert:  aut-num insert:  objects within the range specified by the "as-block:" attribute. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="122" name="122">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.2 as-set insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

An insert:  as-set insert:  object defines a set of insert:  aut-num insert:  objects. The "as-set:" attribute defines the name of the set. It is an RPSL name that starts with "as-". insert:  
The "members:" attribute lists the members of the set. It can be either a list of AS Numbers, or other as-set names. insert: 

insert: 

The name of an insert:  as-set insert:  object can be hierarchical. A hierarchical as-set name is a sequence of as-set names and AS Numbers separated by colons. The first component must be an actual as-set name (that means that it should start with "as-"). insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="123" name="123">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.3 aut-num insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

The aut-num object specifies routing policies. It refers to a group of IP networks that have a single and clearly defined external routing policy, operated by one or more network operators – an Autonomous System (AS). insert: 

insert: <ul>

insert: <li>

The value of the "aut-num:" attribute is the AS Number of the AS that this object describes. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

The "as-name:" attribute is a symbolic name of the AS. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

The import, export and default routing policies of the AS are specified using the "import:", "export:" and "default:" attributes. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

Corresponding attributes with an "mp-" prefix (for example: "mp-import:”) are used to specify IPv6 and multicast routing policies. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

Only a single value for the “org:” attribute is allowed in the insert:  aut-num insert:  object. This makes sure that only one organisation is responsible for this resource. insert: </li>

insert: </ul>

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="124" name="124">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.4 domain insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

The insert:  domain insert:  object mainly represents reverse DNS delegations. It can also be used to represent Top Level Domain (TLD) and other forward domain registrations. However, the information about forward domain names is for reference only. It has no effect on operations and may not be complete or authoritative. The RIPE Whois Database is not the same as the domain name registries run by the country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) administrators of Europe and surrounding areas. The IANA ccTLD Database provides a full list of the ccTLD administrators. [ insert: <a href="#r17"> 17 insert: </a> ]. You should contact these for authoritative information on forward domains. insert: 

insert: 

You should write the domain name in fully qualified format, without a trailing dot. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="125" name="125">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.5 filter-set insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

A insert:  filter-set insert:  object defines a set of routes that match the criteria that you specify in your ‘filter' – in other words, it filters routes that you may or may not want to see. insert:  
The "filter-set:" attribute defines the name of your filter. It is an RPSL name that starts with "fltr-". insert: 

insert: <ul>

insert: <li>

The "filter:" attribute defines the policy filter of the set. This is a logical expression that, when applied to a set of routes, returns a subset of these routes. These are the ones that you want to filter in or out. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

The "mp-filter:" attribute extends the "filter:" attribute to allow you to specify IPv6 prefixes and prefix ranges. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

The "filter:" and "mp-filter:" attributes are optional. A filter-set object, must contain at least one of these two attributes. It cannot contain both within the same object. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

The name of a insert:  filter-set insert:  object can be hierarchical. A hierarchical filter-set name is a sequence of filter-set names and AS Numbers separated by colons. The first component of the name must be an actual filter-set name (that is, start with "fltr-"). insert: </li>

insert: </ul>

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="126" name="126">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.6 inet6num insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

An insert:  inet6num insert:  object contains information on allocations and assignments of IPv6 address space. Only a single value for the “org:” attribute is allowed in the insert:  inet6num insert:  object. This is to ensure that only one organisation is responsible for this resource. insert: 

insert: 

The “status:” attribute is used as an administrative tag to register the type of address space. insert: 

insert: 

The “rev-srv:” attribute is for information only. It has no operational use. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="127" name="127">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.7 inetnum insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

An insert:  inetnum insert:  object contains information on allocations and assignments of IPv4 address space. Only a single value for the “org:” attribute is allowed in the insert:  inetnum insert:  object. This is to ensure that only one organisation is responsible for this resource. insert: 

insert: 

The “status:” attribute is used as an administrative tag to register the type of address space. insert: 

insert: 

The “rev-srv:” attribute is for information only. It has no operational use. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="128" name="128">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.8 inet-rtr insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

The insert:  inet-rtr insert:  object specifies routers. insert: 

insert: <ul>

insert: <li>

The "inet-rtr:" attribute is a valid DNS name for a router, without a trailing ".". insert: </li>

insert: <li>

Each "alias:" attribute, if present, is also a standard DNS name for the specified router. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

The "local-as:" attribute specifies the AS Number of the AS that owns or operates this router. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

The "ifaddr:" attribute specifies the interface address within an Internet router, as well as an optional action to set other parameters on this interface. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

The "interface:" attribute specifies a multi-protocol interface address within an Internet router, optional action and tunnel definition. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

The "peer:" attribute specifies the details of any interior or exterior router peering. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

The "mp-peer:" attribute extends the "peer:" attribute for IPv6 addresses. insert: </li>

insert: </ul>

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="129" name="129">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.9 irt insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

An insert:  irt insert:  object represents a Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT). It includes contact and security information. It can be referenced from insert:  inetnum insert:  or insert:  inet6num insert:  objects to show which CSIRT is responsible for handling computer and network incidents for that address range. insert: 

insert: 

The insert:  irt insert:  object name starts with "irt-". insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="1210" name="1210">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.10 key-cert insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

A insert:  key-cert insert:  object is a database public key certificate that is stored in the RIPE Whois Database. It is used with a insert:  mntner insert:  object for authentication when performing updates. Currently the RIPE Whois Database supports two types of keys: insert: 

insert: <ul>

insert: <li>

For PGP key-cert objects, the value of the “key-cert:” attribute must be PGP-“key-id”. These keys are compliant with the Open PGP Message Format [RFC 2440]. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

For X.509 key-cert objects, the database software assigns this value as X.509-n. Here, ‘n' is the next available number. insert: </li>

insert: </ul>

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="1211" name="1211">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.11 mntner insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

Using insert:  mntner insert:  objects protects objects in the RIPE Whois Database. A insert:  mntner insert:  object contains the information needed to authorise creation, deletion or modification of any objects that it protects. insert: 

insert: 

Objects are protected by a insert:  mntner insert:  , if they contain a reference to the insert:  mntner insert:  in the object. This is done by including a “mnt-by:” attribute. Other attributes offer hierarchical protection. The “mnt-by:” attribute is mandatory in all objects except insert:  person insert:  and insert:  role insert:  types. Most users set the “mnt-by:' value in a mntner to reference itself. insert:  
The “referral-by:” attribute can refer to the insert:  mntner insert:  object itself. The database software does not currently use this attribute even though it is mandatory to include it. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="1212" name="1212">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.12 organisation insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

The insert:  organisation insert:  object provides information about an organisation such as a company, charity or university, that has a network resource stored in the RIPE Whois Database. It was introduced as a means to link together all the resource and administration objects related to one organisation. insert: 

insert: <ul>

insert: <li>

“organisation:” specifies the ID of the insert:  organisation insert:  object. This is set by the database software. It is used as a label to allow other objects to reference it. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

“org-name:” attribute defines the name of the organisation. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

“org-type:” specifies the type of an organisation and can be IANA, RIR, NIR, LIR or NON-REGISTRY. Users can only set their “org-type:” to NON-REGISTRY. Only the Database Administrator uses all other types. insert: </li>

insert: </ul>

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="1213" name="1213">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.13 peering-set insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

A insert:  peering-set insert:  object defines the set of peerings that appear in the “peering:” or “mp-peering:” attribute. insert: 

insert: 

The “peering-set:” attribute defines the name of the set. It is an RPSL name that starts with ‘prng-'. insert: 

insert: <ul>

insert: <li>

The name of a peering-set object can be hierarchical. A hierarchical peering-set name is a sequence of peering-set names and AS Numbers separated by colons. At least one part of the name must be an actual insert:  peering-set insert:  name (that means that it should start with “prng-“). insert: </li>

insert: <li>

The “peering:” attribute defines a peering that you can use to import or export routes. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

The “mp-peering:” attribute extends the “peering:” attribute to use IPv6 addresses. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

The “peering:” and “mp-peering:” attributes are optional. However, a insert:  peering-set insert:  object must contain at least one of these two attributes. It cannot contain both within the same object. insert: </li>

insert: </ul>

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="1214" name="1214">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.14 person insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

A insert:  person insert:  object contains information about the technical or administrative contact(s) responsible for an object. After it has been created, the “person:” attribute cannot be changed by users. It can be changed by the Database Administrator. insert: 

insert: 

The insert:  person insert:  object is identified by the “nic-hdl:” attribute. This is a label, usually made up from the initials of the person's name and the database “source:” (for example, RIPE). insert: 

insert: 

The “nic-hdl:” is used by other objects to reference the person. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="1215" name="1215">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.15 poem insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

A insert:  poem insert:  object contains poems that users submit. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="1216" name="1216">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.16 poetic-form insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

A insert:  poetic-form insert:  object defines the supported insert:  poem insert:  types. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="1217" name="1217">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.17 role insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

A insert:  role object insert:  is similar to a insert:  person insert:  object. However, instead of describing a single person, it describes a role performed by one or more people. This might be a helpdesk, network monitoring centre, system administrator, etc. A insert:  role insert:  object is useful since often a person performing a specific job may change; however, the role itself remains. The “nic-hdl:” attributes of the insert:  person insert:  and insert:  role insert:  objects share the same name space. After it has been created, the “role:” attribute cannot be changed by users. It can be changed by the Database Administrator. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="1218" name="1218">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.18 route insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

Each interAS route (also known as an interdomain route) originated by an AS can be specified by using a insert:  route insert:  object. insert: 

insert: <ul>

insert: <li>

The “route:” attribute is the address prefix of the route. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

The “origin:” attribute is the AS Number of the AS that originates the route into the interAS routing system. insert: </li>

insert: </ul>

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="1219" name="1219">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.19 route6 insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

A insert:  route6 insert:  object specifies an interAS IPv6 route, originated by an AS. insert: 

insert: <ul>

insert: <li>

The “route6:” attribute is the IPv6 address prefix of the route. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

The “origin:” attribute is the AS Number of the AS that originates the route into the interAS routing system. insert: </li>

insert: </ul>

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="1220" name="1220">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.20 route-set insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

A insert:  route-set insert:  object is a set of route prefixes, not of database insert:  route insert:  objects. The “route-set:” attribute defines the name of the set. It is an RPSL name that starts with "rs-". It defines a set of routes that can be represented by insert:  route insert:  objects or by address prefixes. insert: 

insert: <ul>

insert: <li>

In the first case, the set is populated by means of the “mbrs-by-ref:” attribute, in the latter, the members of the set are explicitly listed in the “members:” attribute. insert: <ul>
- The “members:” attribute is a list of address prefixes or other route-set names. insert: </li>
- The “mp-members:” attribute is a list of IPv6 address prefixes or other route-set names. insert: </li>
insert: </li>

insert: <li>

The name of a insert:  route-set insert:  object can be hierarchical. A hierarchical route-set name is a sequence of route-set names and AS numbers separated by colons. The first component of such a name must be an actual insert:  route-set insert:  name (that means that it should start with "rs-"). insert: </li>

insert: </ul>

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="1221" name="1221">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.21 rtr-set insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

A insert:  rtr-set insert:  object defines a set of routers. insert: 

insert: 

A set may be described by the “members:” attribute that is a list of inet-rtr names, IPv4 addresses or other rtr-set names. The “mp-members:” attribute extends the “members:” attribute to use IPv6 addresses. insert: 

insert: 

A set may also be populated by means of the “mbrs-by-ref:” attribute, in which case it is represented by insert:  inet-rtr insert:  objects. insert: 

insert: 

The “rtr-set:” attribute defines the name of the set. It is an RPSL name that starts with "rtrs-". insert: 

insert: 

The name of a insert:  rtr-set insert:  object can be hierarchical. A hierarchical rtr-set name is a sequence of rtr-set names and AS Numbers separated by colons. The first component of such a name must be an actual rtr-set name (that means that it should start with "rtrs-"). insert: 

insert: <h2>

insert: `<a id="20" name="20">` insert: `</a>` 2.0 Querying the RIPE Whois Database insert: `</h2>`

insert: 

This section describes how you can query to find information in the RIPE Whois Database. We describe the general format of a query and the query flags that you can use to change the default behaviour of a query. insert: 

insert: 

We also describe how the whois server automatically tracks query responses and limits how much contact information you can take from the RIPE Whois Database. We do this to reduce the chance that someone will use the database to send spam e-mails to addresses that they find. The software does not prevent operational use of the database. insert:  
There are three ways to query the database: insert: 

insert: <ul>

insert: <li>

Using a whois client running the whois protocol [ insert: <a href="#r12"> 12 insert: </a> ]. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

Using the web interface from the RIPE NCC website [ insert: <a href="#r20"> 20 insert: </a> ]. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

Using telnet to port 43 of the whois.ripe.net host. insert: </li>

insert: </ul>

insert: 

insert:  There is a set of general rules about server responses: insert:  insert: 

insert: 

The same response will be returned from the server for each of the three methods of querying the database shown above. insert: 

insert: 

Output lines starting with the % sign are either a server response code or server messages (a comment, information message or an error with description). A message contains a white space after the % sign, whilst a server response code line starts right after the % sign. See Appendix A2 “ insert: <a href="#a2"> RIPE Whois Database Query Server Response Codes and Messages insert: </a> ” for more information. insert: 

insert: 

An empty line in the output is used to separate objects. This is a line containing only a newline character (\n). insert: 

insert: 

Two empty lines, each containing only a newline character (\n), mean the end of a server response. insert: 

insert: 

When using the referral mechanism, the output of the referred server is passed to the client without modification. insert: 

insert: 

insert:  The general format of a query is: insert:  insert: 

insert: <pre>

 [optional query flags] <query argument>  insert: </pre>

insert: 

insert:  The format of a query flag is: insert:  insert: 

insert: <pre>

 -query_flag [optional query flag argument]  insert: </pre>

insert: 

You may list each query flag separately as in: insert: 

insert: <pre>

 -B –i tech-c –G ABC999-RIPE  insert: </pre>

insert: 

You can also group together query flags. In this case, only the last flag in a list may have a flag argument, as in: insert: 

insert: <pre>

 -BGi tech-c ABC999-RIPE  insert: </pre>

insert: 

You can find a list of query flags and query flag arguments in insert: <a href="#tables"> Tables 2.1 to 2.6 insert: </a> . insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="21" name="21">` insert: `</a>` 2.1 Queries Using Primary and Lookup Keys insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

Most queries use the primary and lookup keys of an object as an argument to the query. You can find a list of these queries in insert: <a href="#21"> Table 2.1 insert: </a> at the end of this section. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="22" name="22">` insert: `</a>` 2.2 Queries for IP Networks insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

The RIPE Whois Database provides information about IP networks on the Internet, mainly in the RIPE region [ insert: <a href="#r16"> 16 insert: </a> ]. This information is mainly stored as insert:  inetnum insert:  , insert:  inet6num insert:  , insert:  route insert:  and insert:  route6 insert:  objects. These objects store information about ranges of IP addresses. insert: 

insert: 

The insert:  route insert:  and insert:  route6 insert:  objects use ‘prefix notation' to specify the range of IP addresses about which they contain information. insert: 

insert: 

‘Prefix notation' specifies ranges using two parts: the prefix and its length. insert: 

insert: <ul>

insert: <li>

For IPv4, the prefix is a 32-bit integer written in dotted quad notation with the value of the lowest IP address in the range. The prefix length is a whole number in the range 0-32 (for example 193.0.0.0/22 specifies the range of 1024 IPv4 addresses starting with, and including, 193.0.0.0) insert: </li>

insert: <li>

For IPv6 address ranges, the prefix length must be in the range 0-128 and is a 128-bit whole number, written in hexadecimal groups of two bytes separated by colons and with the possible use of shorthand notation for strings of consecutive 0s. insert: </li>

insert: </ul>

insert: 

The insert:  inetnum insert:  objects represent an IPv4 address space in range notation where the range is explicitly specified as two 32-bit whole numbers written in dotted quad notation separated by a dash (for example193.0.0.0 - 193.0.3.255, this is the same range as in the above example). insert: 

insert: 

The insert:  inet6num insert:  objects represent an IPv6 address space. Only the standard IPv6 prefix notation is allowed (as described above). insert: 

insert: 

When you query the database for information about a range of IP addresses, you can specify query arguments as search keys with the following notations: insert: 

insert: <ul>

insert: <li>

a prefix (this has the same meaning as above) insert: </li>

insert: <li>

an explicit range (also as above) insert: </li>

insert: <li>

a single IP number. This is interpreted as a range of just one address for IPv4 or a prefix of length 1 for IPv6. insert: </li>

insert: </ul>

insert: 

For IPv4 address space, the query argument can be specified with either prefix or range notation. When prefix notation is used, the server software converts this into range notification before it executes the query. An information message is included in the server output showing the conversions performed. insert: 

insert: 

For IPv6 address space, the query argument can only be specified in prefix notation. insert: 

insert: 

You can find a list of queries for IP networks in insert: <a href="#t22"> Table 2.2 insert: </a> at the end of this section. insert: 

insert: 

The rest of this section describes how you can retrieve different types of information relative to a particular range of IP addresses. insert: 

insert: 

We use three terms in these types of queries. These are all defined relative to your specified (reference) range: insert: 

insert: <ul>

insert: <li>

An exact match refers to a range that is identical to the reference range. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

A more specific range is contained within the reference range and is smaller. It contains fewer IP addresses than the reference range. We also call this a sub range. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

A less specific range contains the whole of the reference range and is bigger. It has a greater number of IP addresses than the reference range. We also call this an encompassing range. insert: </li>

insert: </ul>

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="221" name="221">` insert: `</a>` 2.2.1 Default Queries for IP Networks insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

If you do not specify a query flag, and your query argument is a range of IP addresses in any one notation, the RIPE Whois server will try to find an exact match for that range. insert:  
The exact match is returned, if found. If it cannot find an exact match, the server looks for the smallest less specific range. This will be the smallest existing, encompassing range. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="222" name="222">` insert: `</a>` 2.2.2 Exact Match Queries insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

If you want to change the default behaviour, so that the server returns insert:  only insert:  an exact match, you need to use the –x query flag. This flag stops the server from looking for any less specific ranges if no exact match exists. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="223" name="223">` insert: `</a>` 2.2.3 More and Less Specific Queries insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

If the exact match is not the information you wanted, you can modify the information returned by the whois server, by using one of four query flags. insert:  
These flags (“-M”, “-m”, “-L” and “-l” ) provide two generic types of queries known as more and less specific queries. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="2231" name="2231">` insert: `</a>` 2.2.3.1 More Specific Queries insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

These refer to queries qualified by the use of the “-M” and “-m” query flags. insert: 

insert: 

These will return information about ranges of IP addresses that are fully contained in the user-supplied reference range and contain fewer addresses. More specific queries do not return the exact match. insert: 

insert: <ul>

insert: <li>

The “-M” flag requests that the server should return all the sub-ranges completely contained within the reference range. When there are hierarchies of sub-ranges, all of these will be returned down to the smallest sub-ranges. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

The “-m” flag requests that the server should return all sub-ranges that are completely contained within the reference range. When there are hierarchies of sub-ranges, only the top level of the hierarchies will be returned. These are usually called one level more specific ranges. insert: </li>

insert: </ul>

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="2232" name="2232">` insert: `</a>` 2.2.3.2 Less Specific Queries insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

These refer to queries qualified by the use of the “-L” and “-l” query flags. insert: 

insert: 

These will return information about ranges of IP addresses that fully contain the user-supplied reference range and may contain a greater number of addresses. insert: 

insert: <ul>

insert: <li>

The “-L” flag requests that the server returns the exact match, if any, and all encompassing ranges that are bigger than the reference range and that fully contain it. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

The “-l” flag requests that the server does NOT return the exact match. It returns only the smallest of the encompassing ranges that is bigger than the reference range and that fully contains it. This is usually referred to as the ‘one level less specific range'. insert: </li>

insert: </ul>

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="224" name="224">` insert: `</a>` 2.2.4 Less Specific Queries Referencing irt Objects insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

In this section, ‘inet(6)num' is used to mean ‘inetnum or inet6num'. This is to make the text clearer. insert: 

insert: 

An insert:  irt insert:  object represents a Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT). It includes contact and security information. It may be referenced from insert:  inet(6)num insert:  objects using the “mnt-irt:” attribute. This shows which CSIRT is responsible for handling computer and network incidents for that address range. insert: 

insert: 

Not every insert:  inet(6)num insert:  object needs to contain a reference to the insert:  irt insert:  object that applies to its range. insert: 

insert: 

A reference to an insert:  irt insert:  object does not apply only to the insert:  inet(6)num insert:  object that contains the reference. It also applies to all the insert:  inet(6)num insert:  objects that are 'more specific' to the one containing the reference. The insert:  irt insert:  reference only needs to be placed in the least specific encompassing object to apply to a whole hierarchy of objects. This makes it easier to apply and maintain. insert: 

insert: 

There may be more than one insert:  inet(6)num insert:  object in a hierarchy referencing an insert:  irt insert:  object. In this case, the one referenced from the smallest encompassing object is the one that applies to the range in question. insert: 

insert: 

There is a “-c” query flag to make it easy to find the insert:  inet(6)num insert:  object containing the reference to an irt object for any specific range. insert: 

insert: 

This flag makes the server search up the hierarchy from the range specified as the query argument. The search will stop when the first object is found containing a reference to an insert:  irt insert:  object. This can either be the specified range or an encompassing insert:  inet(6)num insert:  object. The query will return the insert:  inet(6)num insert:  object found containing the reference. The insert:  irt insert:  object will also be returned along with the usual contact data objects. insert: 

insert: 

Sometimes, no insert:  inet(6)num insert:  object is found in the hierarchy containing a reference to an insert:  irt insert:  object. In this the query will return no objects. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="23" name="23">` insert: `</a>` 2.3 Inverse Queries insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

Inverse queries are performed using an object's inverse key as an argument to a query. The query flag "-i" must also be specified with appropriate query flag arguments. Inverse keys are defined in the templates of the RIPE Whois Database objects. These can be listed using the query: insert: 

insert: <pre>

 whois –t <object type>  insert: </pre>

insert: 

insert: <a href="#t23"> Table 2.3 insert: </a> , at the end of this section, gives a complete listing of the arguments to the "-i" query flag and the corresponding inverse keys. insert: 

insert: 

By performing this type of query, the user requests all objects to be returned by the database that reference the specified query argument in the attribute(s) specified in the query flag arguments. insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  As an example: insert:  insert:  insert: 

insert: <pre>

 whois -i admin-c <nic-handle>  insert: </pre>

insert: 

will return all objects where the "admin-c:" attribute contains the <nic-handle> specified as the query argument. insert: 

insert: 

You can specify several query flag arguments to request searches against several attributes in objects. If you want to do this, the query flag arguments should be entered as a comma-separated list with no white spaces. All the attributes searched must contain the same type of value. In other words, all the values must be maintainers or nic-handles or one of the other values listed in insert: <a href="#t23"> Table 2.3 insert: </a> . insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  As an example: insert:  insert:  insert: 

insert: <pre>

 whois -i mnt-by,mnt-lower <mntner name>  insert: </pre>

insert: 

will return all objects where the "mnt-by:" or the "mnt-lower:" attributes contain the <mntner name> specified as the query argument. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="24" name="24">` insert: `</a>` 2.4 Abuse Contacts insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

There are many attributes in objects within the RIPE Whois Database containing e-mail addresses. These addresses cover a number of functions. A growing concern to engineers and administrators that maintain networks is receiving spam and abuse complaints that are sent to every e-mail address displayed. This will get the message to the right person, but it also causes more spam and abuse to people who are not responsible for solving these problems. insert: 

insert: 

To solve this issue, an optional “abuse-mailbox:” attribute is available in the following objects: insert: 

insert: <ul>

insert: <li>

insert:  person insert:  insert: </li>

insert: <li>

insert:  role insert:  insert: </li>

insert: <li>

insert:  irt insert:  insert: </li>

insert: <li>

insert:  organisation insert:  insert: </li>

insert: <li>

insert:  mntner insert:  insert: </li>

insert: </ul>

insert: 

This optional attribute contains at least one e-mail address. There is a “-b” query flag to make it easy to find the “abuse-mailbox:” attributes for any specific range insert:  
This flag will instruct the whois server to first of all do a query as if it had been given a “-c” query flag (See section 2.2.4 insert: <a href="#224"> Less Specific Queries Referencing irt Objects insert: </a> ). If a reference to an insert:  irt insert:  object is found, the “abuse-mailbox:” e-mail address will be taken from the insert:  irt insert:  object. The “abuse-mailbox:” e-mail address will also be taken from any of the other objects associated with the insert:  inetnum insert:  or insert:  inet6num insert:  object that references the insert:  irt insert:  object. insert: 

insert: 

The output returned from the server will contain a brief summary. This summary will only include the insert:  inetnum insert:  or insert:  inet6num insert:  range (of the object that references the insert:  irt insert:  object). Also the prefix of any corresponding insert:  route insert:  or insert:  route6 insert:  objects, followed by the “abuse-mailbox:” attributes from all of the associated objects. insert: 

insert: 

If no insert:  irt insert:  object reference is found in any encompassing objects then no object summaries will be returned. insert: 

insert: 

If a summary is returned, it will include the correct e-mail address for complaints about spam and other network abuse. A complaint will not be handled any quicker by copying your message to any other e-mail address found in the database. insert: 

insert: 

The “-b” query flag cannot be used with any of these flags: insert: 

insert: <pre>

 “-KFrGB”  insert: </pre>

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="25" name="25">` insert: `</a>` 2.5 Grouping the Whois Output insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

There are two ways to display the results of a query. insert: 

insert: 

One way is for the first part of the results to list the main objects like insert:  inetnum insert:  and insert:  mntner insert:  . Then the second part of the results lists all the objects associated with the main objects, like insert:  organisation insert:  and insert:  person insert:  . If any of these associated objects, like a insert:  person insert:  object, is referenced by more than one of the returned objects, it will only be listed once in the returned results. insert: 

insert: 

The other way is to group the returned objects to show the association between them. In this way, each of the main objects is followed immediately by all of its associated objects. The associated objects may appear more than once in this type of output. insert: 

insert: 

The default output is grouped. If you include the “-G” query flag then the output will not be grouped. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="26" name="26">` insert: `</a>` 2.6 Filtering the Whois Output insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

A filtering process restricts some data from default query results. This applies to e-mail contact data. When a user is searching for abuse contact data, they sometimes take all e-mail addresses found in all objects returned from a query. This may include the correct address. However, it often also includes many other addresses for people who are not responsible for handling such complaints. insert: 

insert: 

To help overcome this issue, some attributes containing e-mail addresses are filtered out of the default output. Other attributes, also containing e-mail addresses, are filtered if one of the returned objects includes an “abuse-mailbox:” attribute. insert: 

insert: 

The stricter filtering has slightly different behaviour depending on the use of grouping. If the output is grouped (See section 2.5 insert: <a href="#25"> Grouping the Whois Output insert: </a> ), then each group is treated separately. If any object within a group of objects includes an “abuse-mailbox:” attribute, then the stricter filtering will apply to that group. In a group with no objects including an “abuse-mailbox:” attribute, the more basic filtering will apply to that group. insert: 

insert: 

When the output is not grouped (using the “-G” query flag) the whole output is taken as a single group. If any one object includes an “abuse-mailbox:” attribute then the whole output is subject to the more strict filtering. insert: 

insert: <ul>

insert: <li>

The attributes that are always filtered out are “changed:” and “notify:” insert: </li>

insert: <li>

The additional attributes that are filtered out with the more strict case are “e-mail:” and “ref-nfy:” insert: </li>

insert: <li>

The default output is filtered. If you include the “-B” query flag then the output will not be filtered insert: </li>

insert: </ul>

insert: 

When any attribute has been filtered out of an object in the query results returned to the user, a “Note:” is added to the output to warn the user. In addition, the “source:” attribute of each filtered object will have a comment added to the end of the line saying “# Filtered”. If this filtered output is cut and pasted into an update message, including this end of line comment on the “source:” attribute, the update will fail. This is because some mandatory attributes will be missing and the “source:” will not be recognised. So filtered output can not be accidentally used for updates. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="27" name="27">` insert: `</a>` 2.7 Query Support for Tools insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

There are several query types in the RIPE Whois Server that support various client tools. Other whois clients can also use these. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="271" name="271">` insert: `</a>` 2.7.1 IRRToolset Support insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

The IRRToolset [ insert: <a href="#r6"> 6 insert: </a> ] is a suite of routing policy analysis tools maintained by the Information Sciences Institute at the University of Southern California. Some of the tools in this set access Routing Registry servers through an authorisation whois interface. insert: 

insert: 

Versions 3.0 and above of the RIPE Whois Server include support for these query types. This section describes the additions to the RIPE Whois user interface that allow it to support the IRRToolset. The required queries are: insert: 

insert: <ul>

insert: <li>

Return the prefixes of all route and route6 objects with a specified origin. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

Return only the primary keys of the route and route6 objects, not full objects. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

Return the prefixes of all route and route6 objects referenced in a given route-set. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

Return all the members (aut-num or as-set object) of a specified as-set. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

Return only the “members:” attributes, not the full object. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

Optionally, include support for expansion of the previous query, if the returned value contains references to as-sets, so that the result contains only a list of aut-num objects. insert: </li>

insert: </ul>

insert: 

The RIPE Whois server does not support this and it is up to the client to perform the expansion. The IRRToolset currently does the expansion. insert: 

insert: <ul>

insert: <li>

Return route and route6 objects that exactly match a specified prefix. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

Return route and route6 objects that exactly match a specified prefix (as above), but return only the “route:” or “route6:” attributes. insert: </li>

insert: </ul>

insert: 

insert: <a href="#t24"> Table 2.4 insert: </a> , at the end of this section, gives details of query support for tools. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="272" name="272">` insert: `</a>` 2.7.2 Persistent Connections and Keeping State insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

If you are carrying out batched queries, your whois client can request a persistent connection. The server will not close this connection after sending a reply to your client. This avoids having to set up a new TCP connection for every query. insert: 

insert: 

The client can request this by sending the “-k” query flag to the server. This flag may be sent without a query argument to start the connection. It may also be included as a query flag with the first query. insert: 

insert: 

During a persistent connection, the server operates a 'stop-and-wait' protocol. This means that the next query cannot be sent until the reply has been received to the previous query. If you want to be able to send queries in batch mode, you must use the RIPE Whois3 client. insert: 

insert: 

To exit a persistent connection, send the “-k” flag with no query argument or an empty query (\n) to the server. The connection will also time out after a period of inactivity. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="28" name="28">` insert: `</a>` 2.8 Getting All the Members of Set Objects insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

In RPSL [ insert: <a href="#r3"> 3 insert: </a> ], an object can be a member of a set object in two ways. insert: 

insert: <ul>

insert: <li>

You can list objects in a “members:” attribute in the set object. This is the kind of member relationship present in “Representation of IP Routing Policies in a Routing Registry”[ insert: <a href="#r4"> 4 insert: </a> ] insert: </li>

insert: <li>

You can use the “member-of:” attribute. You can use this in insert:  route insert:  , insert:  route6 insert:  , insert:  aut-num insert:  and insert:  inet-rtr insert:  object types. The value of the “member-of:” attribute identifies a set object that this object wants to be a member of. insert: </li>

insert: </ul>

insert: 

However, just specifying “member-of:” is not enough. The set object must also have a “mbrs-by-ref:” attribute. This lists the maintainer of the object that wants to be a member of the set. This means that the set owner must validate the membership claim of an object with a “member-of:” attribute. It does this by matching the “mnt-by” line of the object with one of the maintainers in the “mbrs-by-ref:” attribute of the insert:  set insert:  object. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="29" name="29">` insert: `</a>` 2.9 More and Less Specific Lookups For Reverse Domains insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

Versions 3.0 and above of the RIPE Whois Database support IP network queries including the “-x”, “-M”, “-m”, “-L” and “-l” functionality for reverse delegation domains. To request that reverse delegation domains be queried for with the more (or less) specific query flags, you must also include the “-d” query flag. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="210" name="210">` insert: `</a>` 2.10 Referral Mechanism for Domains insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

The referral mechanism is for administrators of domain registries. It allows the whois server to reply to the user by fetching data from the domain registry database rather than from the local whois data. There are three elements to this mechanism. The “refer:” attribute, domain name stripping and the “-R” query flag. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="2101" name="2101">` insert: `</a>` 2.10.1 The “refer:” Attribute insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

This attribute can be included in a insert:  domain insert:  object in the whois database. When present, it allows the whois software to pass the query on to the authoritative server of a ccTLD. This server can return information about a insert:  domain insert:  object to the whois server to pass back to the user. insert: 

insert: 

This attribute specifies the hostname, port and referral type that the whois server should use to redirect the query. See Appendix A1 “ insert: <a href="#a1"> Object Attributes insert: </a> ” for the syntax of this attribute. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="2102" name="2102">` insert: `</a>` 2.10.2 Domain Name Stripping insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

When no matching insert:  domain insert:  object is found in the RIPE Whois Database with the name specified in the query argument, the domain name is stripped towards higher-level domains (xxx.yyy.zzz becoming yyy.zzz). The query is repeated with the shorter domain name. The cycle of stripping and repeating the query continues until a insert:  domain insert:  object is found or the search string becomes empty. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="2103" name="2103">` insert: `</a>` 2.10.3 The “-R” Query Flag insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

You can retrieve an object from the whois database without using the referral mechanism. This is done by including the “-R” query flag. When this flag is included in the query to the whois server, no referrals are made, not even if the object returned contains a “refer:” attribute. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="2104" name="2104">` insert: `</a>` 2.10.4 The Referral Process insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

The software follows a specific process when checking the three elements of the referral mechanism. This process is best described by using a flow chart as follows: insert: 

insert: 

insert: <img alt="flowchart.gif" class="image-inline" height="1548" src="resolveuid/57eeeae9a80b809e64c146da0ffeb954" title="Sofware Process of Referral Mechanism" width="612" /> insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="211" name="211">` insert: `</a>` 2.11 Access Control for Queries insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

The control mechanism is based on the amount of contact information (contained in person and role objects) that is returned because of queries made from an IP address. insert:  
Access is determined by the IP address of a whois client sending queries to the whois server. Sometimes an IP address may be acting as a proxy and submitting queries on behalf of other IP addresses (for example, a web server running cgi interfaces to the RIPE Whois Database). The whois server provides a facility for such proxy clients which allows accounting to be based on the IP address of the clients using the proxy to query the RIPE Whois Database and not on the IP address of the proxy server. This is done using the "-V" flag as follows: insert: 

insert: <pre>

 -V <version>,<ipv4-address>  insert: </pre>

insert: 

where insert: 

insert: <ul>

insert: <li>

<version> is a client tag that usually represents the software version that the proxy uses; insert: </li>

insert: <li>

<ipv4-address> is the IPv4 address of the client that queries the database using the proxy. insert: </li>

insert: </ul>

insert: 

insert:  
Not all users can use this "-V" flag. Before you can, you must contact RIPE Whois Database Administration and tell us why you need this facility. If we approve your request, we will add the IP address of the proxy server to an access control list. You can then use the "-V" flag, but insert:  only insert:  from your stated IP address. insert: 

insert: 

Attempting to use the “-V” flag without approval may result in permanent denial of access to the RIPE Whois Database. This denial of access will apply to the IP address that submits the query. insert: 

insert: 

We restrict access to stop people using the RIPE Whois Database to collect excessive amounts of contact data. A counting algorithm with defined limits temporarily blocks access when limits are reached within certain periods of time. This block will be automatically released as time goes on to allow querying to continue. The count is reduced by half every 12 hours. There is also a limit on the number of times an IP address can be blocked and recover. When this limit is reached, that IP address is permanently blocked from accessing the RIPE Whois Database. This permanent block will not be automatically removed. insert: 

insert: 

There are many reasons why you could find yourself in this position. One is that you are mining the RIPE Whois Database for contact data to use for non-agreed purposes. In this case, the denial of access is justified and your IP address will remain on the blocked list. However, there may be other reasons. Queries for object types other than insert:  person insert:  and insert:  role insert:  objects return contact information by default. Using the “-r” flag to prevent the contact data being included in your query results can turn off this default. Alternatively, you may have an error in a script that runs automatically, retrieving contact data that you did not know about. If you believe there was a genuine error or mistake that led to the permanent block, you need to contact RIPE Whois Database Administration. Explain the error and tell us what steps you have taken to stop it happening again. The RIPE Whois Database Administration will decide whether to remove the block. It will remain on record that this IP address has been permanently blocked and unblocked. If another permanent block occurs, we will be less likely to consider removing it a second time. insert: 

insert: 

Each time a insert:  person insert:  or insert:  role insert:  object is retrieved, a counter decreases. When it reaches zero, the query execution is aborted and the connection is terminated, displaying an error message to the client (see "Access errors” in Appendix A2 " insert: <a href="#a2"> RIPE Whois Database Query Server Response Codes and Messages insert: </a> "), also a count of denials increases. Retrieving any other object type does not affect these counters. insert: 

insert: 

There is also a limit on the number of simultaneous connections from a host. When this limit is reached, further connections from the same host are refused. insert: 

insert: 

If we block your access, you will not be able to query for any object types. We will not just block your access to contact date alone. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="212" name="212">` insert: `</a>` 2.12 Other Server Features insert: `</h3>`

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="2121" name="2121">` insert: `</a>` 2.12.1 Mirroring Other Databases insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

The whois software allows Near Real Time Mirroring (NRTM) of other databases. This allows queries to the RIPE Whois Database to retrieve information from one of the mirrored databases. A local copy is maintained of each mirrored database. Periodically, updates are requested from the remote servers to keep the local copies up to date. This period is configurable by the Database Administrators and is typically around 15 minutes. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="2122" name="2122">` insert: `</a>` 2.12.2 The “–q” Query Flag insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

The RIPE Whois Database server (Versions 3.0 and higher) supports the retrieval of certain information about itself and the data sets served, using a “-q” query flag. insert: 

insert: 

The “-q” query flag takes arguments that make the server reply with information that is not extracted from the databases that it serves, but rather about the system setup. This query flag can take three arguments: insert: 

insert: <ul>

insert: <li>

insert:  version insert:  (usage: -q version). This will display version information for the server software. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

insert:  types insert:  (usage: -q types). This will list all the object types recognised by the RIPE Whois Database. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

insert:  sources insert:  (usage: -q sources). This will list all available sources. That is, the local RIPE Whois Database and all the mirrored databases. The format of this output is: insert:  
<source>:<NRTM_protocol_version_#>:<mirroring>:<first>-<last> insert:  
where insert:  
<source> is the string that idenifies the database (for example RIPE) insert:  
<NRTM_protocol_version_#> identifies the version of the mirroring protocol insert:  
<mirroring> can take one of the following values: insert:  
-- Y/N/X – can mirror/cannot mirror/obscured insert:  
<first> is the lowest serial number available insert:  
<last> is the most recent serial number available insert: </li>

insert: </ul>

insert: 

The following semantics apply for –q sources: insert: 

insert: <table class="grid listing"> insert: <tbody>insert: <tr>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: </tr>insert: <tr>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: </tr>insert: <tr>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: </tr>insert: <tr>insert: <td>insert: <td>insert: </tr>insert: </tbody>insert: </table>

insert: `<span>` Y:<first>-<last> insert: `</span>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<span>` Mirroring is allowed – serials from within range first-last available insert: `</span>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<span>` N:<first>-<last> insert: `</span>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<span>` Mirroring not allowed for administrative reasons. You can, however ask Database Administration for permission. insert: `</span>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<span>` N:0-<last> insert: `</span>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<span>` Mirroring physically not possible. (This may be a static snapshot of serial last) insert: `</span>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<span>` X:<message> insert: `</span>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<span>` No mirroring allowed. An explanation will be given in the <message> insert: `</span>` insert: `</td>`

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="2123" name="2123">` insert: `</a>` 2.12.3. The “-t” Query Flag insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

This query flag returns to the user a brief description of the specified object type. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="2124" name="2124">` insert: `</a>` 2.12.4. The “-v” Query Flag insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

This query flag returns to the user a verbose description of the specified object type. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="2125" name="2125">` insert: `</a>` 2.12.5. The “-F” Query Flag insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

This query flag changes the format of the returned objects. The attribute names are represented in a short hand notation. For example, “person:” becomes “pn:”. Using the –F query flag includes the non recursive action of the –r query flag. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="2126" name="2126">` insert: `</a>` 2.12.6. The “-K” Query Flag insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

This query flag returns only the primary keys of each object. insert: 

insert: 

There are some exceptions to this: insert: 

insert: <ul>

insert: <li>

With insert:  set insert:  objects the “members:” attributes will also be returned. insert: </li>

insert: <li>

No information is returned for insert:  person insert:  , insert:  role insert:  or insert:  organisation insert:  objects. If a query would normally only return these types of objects, no data is returned. In this case you do not get the “ERROR:101: no entries found”. The entries were found but filtered as a result of using the “-K” flag. insert: </li>

insert: </ul>

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="2127" name="2127">` insert: `</a>` 2.12.7. The “-T” Query Flag insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

This query flag restricts the type of the objects returned. The query flag argument is a comma separated list of object types. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="2128" name="2128">` insert: `</a>` 2.12.8. The “-a” Query Flag insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

This query flag requests that the server searches all the sources available to it. These are the sources listed by using the ‘–q sources' query. insert: 

insert: <h2>

insert: ` `
insert: `<a id="tables" name="tables">` insert: `</a>` Tables of Query Types Supported by the RIPE Whois Database insert: `</h2>`

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="t21" name="t21">` insert: `</a>` Table 2.1 Queries Using Primary and Lookup Keys insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

There are side effects to these type of queries. Other objects may be returned besides the ones that you are expecting. For example, if you enter a netname you may only expect to get back the insert:  inetnum insert:  and insert:  inet6num insert:  objects with this netname. You will also get any insert:  person insert:  , insert:  role insert:  or insert:  mntner insert:  objects back whose name matches the netname specified. The query is done as a text search on the primary and lookup keys. So any object with a matching string will be returned. The results can be limited by using the ‘–T'option to specify the object types you are interested in. insert: 

insert: 

insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="t22" name="t22">` insert: `</a>` Table 2.2 Queries For IP Networks insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<b>` insert: `<span>` Flag insert: `</span>` insert: `</b>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<b>` insert: `<span>` Lookup Key(s) insert: `</span>` insert: `</b>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<b>` insert: `<span>` Objects Returned insert: `</span>` insert: `</b>` insert: `<span>` or insert: `<b>` Effect insert: `</b>` insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` -x insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` <ip-lookup> insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Only an exact match on the prefix. If no exact match is found, no objects are returned. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` -M insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` <ip-lookup> insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` All level more specific insert: `<b>` inetnum insert: `</b>` , insert: `<b>` inet6num, route insert: `</b>` or insert: `<b>` route6 insert: `</b>` objects, excluding exact matches. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` -m insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` <ip-lookup> insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` First level more specific insert: `<b>` inetnum insert: `</b>` , insert: `<b>` inet6num, route insert: `</b>` or insert: `<b>` route6 insert: `</b>` objects, excluding exact matches. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` -L insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` <ip-lookup> insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` All level less specific insert: `<b>` inetnum insert: `</b>` , insert: `<b>` inet6num, route insert: `</b>` or insert: `<b>` route6 insert: `</b>` objects, including exact matches. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` -l insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` <ip-lookup> insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` First level less specific insert: `<b>` inetnum insert: `</b>` , insert: `<b>` inet6num, route insert: `</b>` or insert: `<b>` route6 insert: `</b>` objects, excluding exact matches. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` -d insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` <ip-lookup> insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Enables lookups on reverse delegation domains. Can be used with “-x”, “-M”, “-m”, “-L” and “-l” flags. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` -c insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` <ip-lookup> insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` The smallest, less specific insert: `<b>` inetnum insert: `</b>` or insert: `<b>` inet6num insert: `</b>` object containing the reference to an insert: `<b>` irt insert: `</b>` object. The result of this lookup is an insert: `<b>` inetnum insert: `</b>` or insert: `<b>` inet6num insert: `</b>` object and referenced contacts including the insert: `<b>` irt insert: `</b>` object, if name recursion is not disabled insert: `<br />` (“-r” flag). insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` -b insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Provides a brief output of ranges with associated abuse contact information. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="t23" name="t23">` insert: `</a>` Table 2.3 Query Flag Arguments to the "-i" Query Flag and the Corresponding Inverse Keys. insert: `</h3>`

insert: <h3>

insert: `` insert: `` insert: `` insert: `<a id="t24" name="t24">` insert: `</a>` Table 2.4 Query Support For Tools insert: `` insert: `` insert: `` insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<b>` insert: `<span>` Flag insert: `</span>` insert: `</b>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<b>` insert: `<span>` Lookup Key(s) insert: `</span>` insert: `</b>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<b>` insert: `<span>` Effect insert: `</span>` insert: `</b>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` -F insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Produces output using shorthand notation for attribute names. Produces slower responses. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` -K insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Requests that only the primary keys of an object be returned. The exceptions are set objects, where the “members:” attributes will also be returned. This flag does not apply to insert: `<b>` person insert: `</b>` and insert: `<b>` role insert: `</b>` objects. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` -k insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` (optional normal query) insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Requests a persistent connection. After returning the result, the connection will not be closed by the server and a client may issue multiple queries on the same connection. The server implements a ‘stop-and-wait' protocol, whereby no next query can be sent before receiving a reply for the previous one. Use RIPE Whois client to be able to send queries in batch mode. Except the first “-k query”, “-k” without an argument closes the persistent connection. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` -g insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` (mirroring request) insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Request a NRTM stream from the server. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="t25" name="t25">` insert: `</a>` Table 2.5 Miscellaneous Queries insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<b>` insert: `<span>` Flag insert: `</span>` insert: `</b>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<b>` insert: `<span>` Flag Argument insert: `</span>` insert: `</b>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<b>` insert: `<span>` Effect insert: `</span>` insert: `</b>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` -R insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Switches off use of the referral mechanism for domain lookups, so that the database returns an object in the RIPE database with the exact match with the lookup argument, rather than doing a referral lookup. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` -r insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Switches off recursion for contact information after retrieving the objects that match the lookup key. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` -B insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Switches off filtering of objects. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` -G insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Switches off grouping of associated objects. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` -T insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Comma separated list of object types, no white space is allowed. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Restricts the types of objects to lookup in the query. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` -a insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Specifies that the server should perform lookups in all available sources. See also “ insert: `<a href="#_2.12.2_The_“–q”_Query Flag">` -q sources insert: `</a>` ” query. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` -s insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Comma separated list of sources, no white space is allowed. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Specifies which sources and in which order are to be looked up when performing a query. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="t26" name="t26">` insert: `</a>` Table 2.6 Informational Queries insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

insert:  The following notations are used in this table: insert:  
<object-type> means full or abbreviated name of a specific class; insert:  
<client-tag> is a string without a white space that usually bears the name of the client's software. insert:  insert: 

insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<b>` insert: `<span>` Flag insert: `</span>` insert: `</b>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<b>` insert: `<span>` Flag Argument insert: `</span>` insert: `</b>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<b>` insert: `<span>` Effect insert: `</span>` insert: `</b>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` -q insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` sources insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Returns the current set of sources along with the information required for mirroring. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` -q insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` version insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Displays the current version of the server. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` -t insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` <object-type> insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Requests a template for the specified object type. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` -v insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` <object-type> insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Requests a verbose template for the specified object type. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` -V<client-tag> insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Sends information about the client to the server. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`

insert: <h2>

insert: `<a id="appendices" name="appendices">` insert: `</a>` Appendices insert: `</h2>`

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="a1" name="a1">` insert: `</a>` A1. Object Attributes insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

insert:  These are the definitions of the object attributes supported by the RIPE Whois Database. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  address: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Full postal address of a contact in free form. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  admin-c: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
References an on-site administrative contact. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  aggr-bndry: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Defines a set of ASNs, which form the aggregation boundary. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  aggr-mtd: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies how the aggregate is generated. Please see [ insert: <a href="#r1"> 1 insert: </a> ] for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  alias: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies a canonical DNS name for the router. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  as-block: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the range of ASNs that the insert:  as-block insert:  object represents. Please see [ insert: <a href="#r2"> 2 insert: </a> ] for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  as-name: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
A descriptive name associated with an AS. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  as-set: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Defines the name of the set. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  auth: insert:  insert:  insert:  <auth-scheme> <scheme-info> insert:  
Defines an authentication scheme to be used. insert:  
<auth-scheme> and <scheme-info> can take the following values: insert:  insert: 

insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<b>` insert: `<span>` <auth-scheme> insert: `</span>` insert: `</b>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<b>` insert: `<span>` <scheme-info> insert: `</span>` insert: `</b>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<b>` insert: `<span>` Description insert: `</span>` insert: `</b>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` CRYPT-PW insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` encrypted password, produced by UNIX crypt(3) routine insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` This scheme will by no means keep out a determined malicious attacker. The crypt function is vulnerable to exhaustive search by (lots of) fast machines and programs to do the searching are widely available. For this reason, we strongly discourage use of insert: `<span>` insert: `</span>` encrypted passwords that you use elsewhere. As you are publishing the encrypted password in the database, it is open to attack. The usual caveats about crypt passwords apply, so it is not very wise to use words or combinations of words found in any dictionary of any language. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` MD5 insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` This scheme is based on the MD5 hash algorithm and provides stronger authentication than CRYPT-PW. The authentication information stored in the database is a pass phrase encrypted using md5-crypt algorithm, which is a insert: `<a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/concatenation" target="_blank">` concatenation insert: `</a>` of the “$1$” string, the salt, and the 128-bit hash output. Because it uses eight-character salt and an almost unlimited pass phrase, this scheme is more stable against dictionary attacks. However, since the encrypted form is exposed it cannot be considered as a strong form of authentication. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` PGPKEY-<id> insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Strong scheme of authentication. <id> is the PGP key ID to be used for authentication. This string is the same one that is used in the corresponding insert: `<b>` key-cert insert: `</b>` object's “key-cert:” attribute. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` X.509-<id> insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Strongest scheme of authentication. <id> is the auto-generated ID of the X.509 certificate to be used for authentication. This string is the same one that is used in the corresponding insert: `<b>` key-cert insert: `</b>` object's “key-cert:” attribute. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`

insert: 

insert:  insert:  author: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
References a poem author. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  aut-num: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
The Autonomous System Number. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  certif: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Contains the public key for a PGP Key or an X.509 certificate. The value of the public key should be supplied either using multiple "certif:" attributes, or in one "certif:" attribute. In the first case, this is easily done by exporting the key from your local key ring in ASCII armored format or the certificate from your browser and starting each line of the key with the string "certif:". In the second case, line continuation should be used to represent the key. All the lines of the exported key must be included. For PGP, this includes the begin and end markers and the empty line which separates the header from the key body. For X.509 certificates, this includes the BEGIN CERTIFICATE and END CERTIFICATE lines. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  changed: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies who submitted the update, and when the object was updated. The format of the date is YYYYMMDD. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  components: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
The "components:" attribute defines what component routes are used to form the aggregate. insert:  
insert:  
Please refer to RFC 2622 [ insert: <a href="#r1"> 1 insert: </a> ] insert:  insert:  and RPSLng [ insert: <a href="#r14"> 14 insert: </a> ] for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  country: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Identifies the country. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  default: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies default routing policies. Please refer to RFC 2622 [ insert: <a href="#r1"> 1 insert: </a> ] for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  descr: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
A short description related to the object in free form. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  domain: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
DNS name. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  dom-net: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
List of IP networks in a domain. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  e-mail: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies an e-mail address of a insert:  person insert:  , insert:  role insert:  , insert:  organisation insert:  or insert:  irt insert:  team. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  encryption insert:  insert:  insert:  : insert:  
References a insert:  key-cert insert:  object representing a CSIRT public key used to encrypt correspondence sent to the CSIRT. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  export: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies an export policy expression. Please refer to RFC 2622 for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  export-comps: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies an RPSL filter that matches the more specifics that need to be exported outside the aggregation boundary. Please refer to RFC 2622 insert: <a href="#R1"> [1] insert: </a> and RPSLng [14] for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  fax-no: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
The fax number of a contact. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  filter: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Defines the insert:  set insert:  's policy filter, a logical expression which when applied to a insert:  set insert:  of routes returns a subset of these routes. Please refer to RFC 2622 insert: <a href="#R1"> [1] insert: </a> for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  filter-set: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Defines the name of the filter. Please refer to RFC 2622 [ insert: <a href="#r1"> 1 insert: </a> ] for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  fingerpr: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
A fingerprint of a key certificate generated by the database. Please refer to RFC 2726 [ insert: <a href="#r9"> 9 insert: </a> ] for a detailed description of this attribute. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  form: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the identifier of a registered insert:  poem insert:  type. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  holes: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Lists the component address prefixes that are not reachable through the aggregate route (perhaps that part of the address space is unallocated). Please refer to RFC 2622 [ insert: <a href="#r1"> 1 insert: </a> ] and RPSLng [ insert: <a href="#r14"> 14 insert: </a> ] for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  ifaddr: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies an interface address within an Internet router. Please refer to RFC 2622 [ insert: <a href="#r1"> 1 insert: </a> ] for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  import: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies import policy expression. Please refer to RFC 2622 [ insert: <a href="#r1"> 1 insert: </a> ] for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  inetnum: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies a range of IPv4 addresses. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  inet6num: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies a range of IPv6 addresses in prefix notation. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  inet-rtr: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Fully qualified DNS name of the insert:  inet-rtr insert:  without trailing ".". Please refer to RFC 2622 [ insert: <a href="#r1"> 1 insert: </a> ] for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  inject: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies which routers perform the aggregation and when they perform it. In insert:  route insert:  objects, the router expression can contain only IPv4 expressions, and in insert:  route6 insert:  objects it can only contain IPv6 expressions. Please refer to RFC 2622 [ insert: <a href="#r1"> 1 insert: </a> ] and RPSLng [ insert: <a href="#r14"> 14 insert: </a> ] for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  interface: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies a multiprotocol interface address within an Internet router. Please refer to RPSLng [ insert: <a href="#r14"> 14 insert: </a> ] for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  irt: insert:  
insert:  insert:  insert:  A unique identifier of an insert:  irt insert:  object. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  irt-nfy: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the e-mail address to be notified when a reference to the insert:  irt insert:  object is added or removed. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  key-cert: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Defines the public key stored in the database. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  local-as: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the autonomous system that operates the router. Please refer to RFC 2622 [ insert: <a href="#r1"> 1 insert: </a> ] for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  method: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Defines the type of the public key. Currently the only methods that are supported are “PGP” and “X.509”. Please refer to RFC 2726 [ insert: <a href="#r9"> 9 insert: </a> ] for detailed description of this attribute. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  member-of: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
This attribute can be used in the insert:  route insert:  , insert:  route6 insert:  , insert:  aut-num insert:  and insert:  inet-rtr insert:  classes. The value of the "member-of:" attribute identifies a insert:  set insert:  object that this object wants to be a member of. This claim, however, should be acknowledged by a respective "mbrs-by-ref:" attribute in the referenced object. Please refer to RFC 2622 [ insert: <a href="#r1"> 1 insert: </a> ] for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  members: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Lists the members of the insert:  set insert:  . Please refer to RFC-2622 [ insert: <a href="#r1"> 1 insert: </a> ] for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  mbrs-by-ref: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
This attribute can be used in all insert:  set insert:  objects; it allows indirect population of a set. If this attribute is used, the insert:  set insert:  also includes objects of the corresponding type ( insert:  aut-num insert:  objects for insert:  as-set insert:  , for example) that are protected by one of these maintainers and whose "member-of:" attributes refer to the name of the insert:  set insert:  . If the value of a "mbrs-by-ref:" attribute is ANY, any object of the corresponding type referring to the insert:  set insert:  is a member of the insert:  set insert:  . If the "mbrs-by-ref:" attribute is missing, the insert:  set insert:  is defined explicitly by the "members:" attribute. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  mntner: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
A unique identifier of the insert:  mntner insert:  object. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  mnt-by: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the identifier of a registered insert:  mntner insert:  object used for authorisation of operations performed with the object that contains this attribute. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  mnt-domains: insert:  insert:  insert:  
insert:  insert:  insert:  Specifies the identifier of a registered insert:  mntner insert:  object used for reverse insert:  domain insert:  authorisation. Protects insert:  domain insert:  objects. The authentication method of this insert:  maintainer insert:  object will be used for any encompassing reverse insert:  domain insert:  object. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  mnt-irt: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
May appear in an insert:  inetnum insert:  or insert:  inet6num insert:  object. It points to an existing insert:  irt insert:  object representing CSIRT that handles security incidents for the address space specified by the insert:  inetnum insert:  or insert:  inet6num insert:  object. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  mnt-lower: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the identifier of a registered insert:  mntner insert:  object used for hierarchical authorisation. Protects creation of objects directly (one level) below in the hierarchy of an object type (only for insert:  inetnum insert:  , insert:  inet6num insert:  , insert:  as-block insert:  , insert:  aut-num insert:  , insert:  route insert:  , insert:  route6 insert:  or insert:  domain insert:  objects). The authentication method of this insert:  mntner insert:  object will then be used upon creation of any object directly below the object that contains the "mnt-lower:" attribute. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  mnt-nfy: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the e-mail address to be notified when an object protected by a insert:  mntner insert:  is successfully updated. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  mnt- insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  ref: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the insert:  mntner insert:  objects that are entitled to add references to the insert:  organisation insert:  object from other objects. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  mnt-routes: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
May appear in an insert:  aut-num insert:  , insert:  inetnum insert:  , insert:  inet6num insert:  , insert:  route insert:  or insert:  route6 insert:  object. This attribute references a insert:  maintainer insert:  object which is used in determining authorisation for the creation of insert:  route insert:  and insert:  route6 insert:  objects. After the reference to the maintainer, an optional list of prefix ranges inside of curly braces or the keyword "ANY" may follow. The default, when no additional set items are specified, is "ANY" or all more specifics. Please refer to RFC-2622 [ insert: <a href="#r1"> 1 insert: </a> ] and RPSLng [ insert: <a href="#14"> 14 insert: </a> ] for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  mp- insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  default insert:  insert:  insert:  : insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
insert:  insert:  Specifies default multiprotocol routing policies. Please refer to RPSLng insert:  insert:  [ insert: <a href="#14"> 14 insert: </a> ] insert:  insert:  for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  mp- insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  export: insert:  insert:  
insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  Specifies a multiprotocol export policy expression. Please refer to RPSLng [ insert: <a href="#14"> 14 insert: </a> ] for more information. insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  mp-filter: insert:  
insert:  insert:  insert:  Defines the insert:  set insert:  's multiprotocol policy filter. Please refer to RPSLng [ insert: <a href="#14"> 14 insert: </a> ] for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  mp-import: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies multiprotocol import policy expression. Please refer to RPSLng [ insert: <a href="#14"> 14 insert: </a> ] for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  mp-members insert:  insert:  insert:  : insert:  
Lists the multiprotocol members of the set. Refer to RPSLng [ insert: <a href="#14"> 14 insert: </a> ] for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  mp-peer: insert:  
insert:  insert:  insert:  Specifies the details of any (interior or exterior) multiprotocol router peerings. Please refer to RPSLng [ insert: <a href="#14"> 14 insert: </a> ] for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  mp-peering: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Defines a multiprotocol peering that can be used for importing or exporting routes. Please see RPSLng [ insert: <a href="#14"> 14 insert: </a> ] for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  netname: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the name of a range of IP address space. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  nic-hdl: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the NIC handle of a insert:  role insert:  or insert:  person insert:  object. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  notify: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the e-mail address to which notifications of changes to an object should be sent. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  nserver: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the nameservers of the domain. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  org: insert:  insert:  insert:  
insert:  insert:  insert:  This attribute may appear in any object type. It points to an existing insert:  organisation insert:  object representing the entity that holds the resource, (in the cases where the whois database object represents an Internet resource). In other objects, it can be used to specify the business relations. The value of this attribute is the ID of the insert:  organisation insert:  object. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  The "org:" attribute is used to specify the holder of a resource in insert:  inetnum insert:  , insert:  inet6num insert:  and insert:  aut-num insert:  objects. In other objects, it specifies business relations (such as a insert:  person insert:  object, where it can be used to specify whom the person works for). insert:  insert:  insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  org-name: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the name of the organisation that this insert:  organisation insert:  object represents in the whois database. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  org-type: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the type of the organisation. The possible values are insert:  insert: <code> insert: IANA insert: insert: </code> insert:  for Internet Assigned Numbers Authority, insert:  insert: <code> insert: RIR insert: insert: </code> insert:  for Regional Internet Registries, insert:  insert: <code> insert: NIR insert: insert: </code> insert:  for National Internet Registries, insert:  insert: <code> insert: LIR insert: insert: </code> insert:  for Local Internet Registries, and insert:  insert: <code> insert: NON-REGISTRY insert: insert: </code> insert:  for all other organisations. Note that in the RIPE NCC service region there are no National Internet Registries, therefore in the RIPE Whois Database there will not be any insert:  organisation insert:  object with this value in the "org-type:" attribute. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  organisation insert:  insert:  insert:  : insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the ID of an insert:  organisation insert:  object. insert:  insert:  insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  origin: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the AS that originates the route. The corresponding insert:  aut-num insert:  object should be registered in the database. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  owner: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the owner of the public key. Please refer to RFC 2726 [ insert: <a href="#9"> 9 insert: </a> ] for detailed description of this attribute. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  peer: insert:  
insert:  insert:  insert:  May appear in an insert:  inet-rtr insert:  object. Specifies a protocol peering with another router. Please refer to RFC 2622 [ insert: <a href="#1"> 1 insert: </a> ] for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  peering: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Defines a peering that can be used for importing or exporting routes. Please refer to RFC 2622 [ insert: <a href="#1"> 1 insert: </a> ] for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  peering-set: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the name of the peering-set. Please refer to RFC 2622 [ insert: <a href="#1"> 1 insert: </a> ] for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  person: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the full name of an administrative, technical or zone contact person for other objects in the database. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  phone: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies a telephone number of the contact. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  poem: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the title of a poem. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  poetic-form: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the poem type. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  ref- insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  nfy: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the e-mail address to be notified when a reference to the insert:  organisation insert:  object is added or removed. An e-mail address as defined in RFC 2822[ insert: <a href="#1"> 1 insert: </a> ]. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  refer: insert:  insert:  insert:  <type> <hostname> [<port>] insert:  
Specifies the referral type, hostname and port that the server should use to redirect the query when using referral mechanism for lookups for insert:  domain insert:  objects. Please see insert: <a href="#210"> 2.10 insert:  insert:  "Referral mechanism for domains" insert: </a> for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  <type> specifies the type of referral to be used. Please see the table below for the supported types. insert:  
<hostname> is the DNS name or <ipv4 address> of the referred host. insert:  
<port> is an integer specifying TCP port number at which queries are accepted by the referred host. If <port> is omitted, the default number of 43 is used. insert:  insert: 

insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<b>` insert: `<span>` Referral type insert: `</span>` insert: `</b>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<b>` insert: `<span>` Description insert: `</span>` insert: `</b>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` SIMPLE insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Only lookup key (domain name) is passed to the referred server. All query flags are stripped. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` INTERNIC insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Same as SIMPLE. Supported for backward compatibility. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` RIPE insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Used when the referred server understands RIPE query flags. With this type of referral, all query flags specified by the client will be passed to the referred server unmodified. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`
insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` CLIENTADDRESS insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`	insert: `<p class="MsoBodyText">` insert: `<span>` Same as SIMPLE, but the server will add "-V <version>, <ipv4 address>" flag to the query, where <version> is the version number of the server and <ipv4 address> is the IP address of the client that made this query. This referral type allows the referred host to perform accounting and implement an access control for clients using the RIPE Whois Database server as a proxy. insert: `</span>` insert: `</p>` insert: `</td>`

insert: 

insert:  insert:  referral-by: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
This attribute is required in the insert:  mntnr insert:  object. It is not currently used by the database software. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  remarks: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Contains remarks in free form. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  role: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the full name of a role entity, e.g. RIPE DBM. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  rev-srv: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies a DNS nameserver for a range of IP addresses represented by the insert:  inetnum insert:  object that contains this attribute. It is for documentation only and has no effect on reverse delegation. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  route: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the prefix of the interAS route. Together with the "origin:" attribute, makes up a primary key of the insert:  route insert:  object. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  route6: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies an IPv6 prefix. This is the prefix of the interAS route. Together with the “origin:” attribute, makes up a primary key of the insert:  route6 insert:  object. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  route-set: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the name of the route set. It is a primary key for the insert:  route-set insert:  object. Please refer to RFC 2622 [ insert: <a href="#1"> 1 insert: </a> ] for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  rtr-set: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Defines the name of the insert:  rtr-set insert:  . Please refer to RFC 2622 [ insert: <a href="#1"> 1 insert: </a> ] for more information. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  signature: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
References a insert:  key-cert insert:  object representing a CSIRT public key used by the team to sign their correspondence. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  source: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the registry where the object is registered. Should be "RIPE" for the RIPE Whois Database. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  status: insert:  insert:  insert:  <status> insert:  
Specifies the status of the address range represented by insert:  inetnum insert:  or insert:  inet6num insert:  object. For an insert:  inetnum insert:  object <status> must have one of these values: insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  ALLOCATED PA insert:  
insert:  insert:  ALLOCATED PI insert:  
insert:  insert:  ALLOCATED UNSPECIFIED insert:  
insert:  insert:  LIR-PARTITIONED PA insert:  
insert:  insert:  LIR-PARTITIONED PI insert:  
insert:  insert:  SUB-ALLOCATED PA insert:  
insert:  insert:  ASSIGNED PA insert:  
insert:  insert:  ASSIGNED PI insert:  
insert:  insert:  NOT-SET insert:  
insert:  insert:  EARLY-REGISTRATION insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  Please refer to the RIPE Document is "IPv4 Address Allocation and Assignment Policies in the RIPE NCC Service Region" for further information. Please refer to [ insert: <a href="#r10"> 10 insert: </a> ] regarding usage of the LIR-PARTITIONED status value. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  For insert:  inet6num insert:  , <status> can have one of the following values: insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  ALLOCATED-BY-RIR - For allocations made by an RIR to an LIR. insert:  
insert:  insert:  ALLOCATED-BY-LIR - For allocations made by an LIR or an LIR's downstream customer to another downstream organisation. insert:  
insert:  insert:  ASSIGNED - For assignments made to End User sites. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  Please refer to [ insert: <a href="#r13"> 13 insert: </a> ] regarding usage of the status value for insert:  inet6num insert:  objects. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  sub-dom: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies list of sub-domains of a domain. Domain names are relative to the domain represented by the insert:  domain insert:  object that contains this attribute. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  tech-c: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
References a technical contact. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  text: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Contains text of the poem. Must be humorous, but not malicious or insulting. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  upd-to: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
Specifies the e-mail address to be notified when an object protected by a insert:  mntner insert:  is unsuccessfully updated. insert:  insert: 

insert: 

insert:  insert:  zone-c: insert:  insert:  insert:  insert:  
References a zone contact. insert:  insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="a2" name="a2">` insert: `</a>` A2. RIPE Whois Database Query Server Response Codes and Messages insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

If the server encounters a problem, an error message is returned as a query result. The format of an error message is as follows: insert: 

insert: 

%ERROR:#:<message>, insert: 

insert: 

where # is the error or response code and <message> is a short description of the problem. There are no white spaces in this line, except in the <message> string. This may be followed by a more descriptive message, each line of which starts with % followed by a white space and some text. insert: 

insert: 

Example: insert:  
% This is the RIPE Whois server v3.0 beta. insert:  
% This server mirrors the RIPE Database in RPSL format. insert:  
% Rights restricted by copyright. insert:  
% See http://www.ripe.net/db/copyright.html insert: 

insert: 

%ERROR:101: no entries found insert:  
% insert:  
% No entries found in the selected source(s). insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="a21" name="a21">` insert: `</a>` A2.1 Query Errors insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

insert:  %ERROR:101: no entries found insert:  insert:  
No entries were found in the selected source(s). insert: 

insert: 

insert:  %ERROR:102: unknown source insert:  insert:  
Unknown source was supplied as argument to the “-s” query flag. Use “-q sources” for a list of available sources. insert: 

insert: 

insert:  %ERROR:103: unknown object type insert:  insert:  
Unknown object type is specified as an argument to the “-T' query flag. insert: 

insert: 

insert:  %ERROR:104: unknown attribute insert:  insert:  
Unknown argument is specified to the inverse query flag (“-i”). See section 2.0 " insert: <a href="#20"> Querying the RIPE Whois Database insert: </a> " for more information. insert: 

insert: 

insert:  %ERROR:105: attribute is not searchable insert:  insert:  
The argument specified for the inverse query flag is not a searchable attribute. See section 2.0 " insert: <a href="#20"> Querying the RIPE Whois Database insert: </a> " for more information. insert: 

insert: 

insert:  %ERROR:106: no query argument specified insert:  insert:  
No query argument has been specified in ASCII the query. insert: 

insert: 

insert:  %ERROR:107: input line too long insert:  insert:  
Input exceeds the maximum line length. insert: 

insert: 

insert:  %ERROR:108: bad character in input insert:  insert:  
An invalid character was passed in the query. The only allowed characters are letters, numbers and PDF delete:  -_:+=.,@/?' insert: 

insert: 

insert:  %ERROR:109: invalid combination of flags passed insert:  insert:  
The specified query flags can not be included in the same query. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="a22" name="a22">` insert: `</a>` A2.2 Access Errors insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

insert:  %ERROR:201: access denied insert:  insert:  
Access from the host has been permanently denied because of excessive querying. You need to contact Database Administration; ( insert: <a href="mailto:[email protected]"> [email protected] insert: </a> ) to discuss this problem. insert: 

insert: 

insert:  %ERROR:202: access control limit reached insert:  insert:  
Limit of returned objects has been reached. The connection is terminated. Continued attempts to excessively query the database will result in permanent denial of service. See section 2.11 " insert: <a href="#211"> Access control for queries insert: </a> " for more information. insert: 

insert: 

insert:  %ERROR:203: address passing not allowed insert:  insert:  
The host is not registered as a proxy and is not allowed to pass addresses on the query line ("-V" flag). See section 2.11 " insert: <a href="#211"> Access control for queries insert: </a> " for more information. insert: 

insert: 

insert:  %ERROR:204: maximum referral lines exceeded insert:  insert:  
The referral query result exceeded a set maximum number of lines. Only the maximum number of lines is output and then, the whois server closes the connection. insert: 

insert: 

insert:  %ERROR:205: multiple addresses passed by proxy insert:  insert:  
The query included more than one "-V" query flag. insert: 

insert: 

insert:  %ERROR:208: connection refused insert:  insert:  
The maximum number of simultaneous connections from your host has been exceeded. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="a23" name="a23">` insert: `</a>` A2.3 Connection Errors insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

insert:  %ERROR:301: connection has been closed insert:  insert:  
The connection is administratively or abnormally closed. insert: 

insert: 

insert:  %ERROR:302: referral timeout insert:  insert:  
The connection was closed due to referral timeout. insert: 

insert: 

insert:  %ERROR:303: no referral host insert:  insert:  
Referral host cannot be found. insert: 

insert: 

insert:  %ERROR:304: referral host not responding insert:  insert:  
The connection to the referral host cannot be established. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="a24" name="a24">` insert: `</a>` A2.4 NRTM Errors insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

insert:  %ERROR:401: invalid range: Not within <first>-<last> insert:  insert:  
This happens when the requested range or part of it is outside the serial numbers available at the server. <first> is the lowest serial number available. <Last> is the most recent serial number available. insert: 

insert: 

insert:  %ERROR:402: not authorised to mirror the database insert:  insert:  
See section 2.11 "Access control for queries" for more information. You may use "-q sources" query to get more information about the NRTM source. insert: 

insert: 

insert:  %ERROR:403: unknown source insert:  insert:  
The database identified by the <source> is not served by the server. Use "-q sources" for a list of available sources. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="a25" name="a25">` insert: `</a>` A2.5 Warnings insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

insert:  %WARNING:901: duplicate IP flags passed insert:  insert:  
More than one IP flag (-x, -M, -m, -L, -l, -c, or -b) was passed to the server. Only the last one in the list of query flags will be used for this query. insert: 

insert: 

insert:  %WARNING:902: useless IP flag passed insert:  insert:  
An IP flag (-x, -M, -m, -L, -l, -c, or -b) was passed to the server when query did not include an IP key as the argument. insert: 

insert: 

insert:  %WARNING:904: useless no-referral flag passed insert:  insert:  
The "-R" query flag was used in a query that did not have a domain object as the argument. insert: 

insert: 

insert:  %WARNING:905: fixed lookup key insert:  insert:  
The IP address has been changed to a different format for the query. insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="a26" name="a26">` insert: `</a>` A2.6 Referral Text insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

% The object shown below is NOT in the RIPE Database. insert:  
% It has been obtained by querying a remote server: insert:  
% <server-name> at port 43. insert:  
% To see the object stored in the RIPE Database insert:  
% use the -R flag in your query insert:  
% insert:  
%REFERRAL START insert: 

insert: <pre>

 <remote server output>  insert: </pre>

insert: 

%REFERRAL END insert:  
The output from the remote server is returned between the lines “%REFERRAL START” and “%REFERRAL END”. insert: 

insert: <h2>

insert: `<a id="copy" name="copy">` insert: `</a>` A3. Copyright Information insert: `</h2>`

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="whoiscopy" name="whoiscopy">` insert: `</a>` A3.1 RIPE Whois Database Copyright insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

The information in the RIPE Database is available to the public for agreed Internet operation purposes, but is under copyright. The copyright statement at the time of publishing this manual is: insert: 

insert: 

insert:  "Except for agreed Internet operational purposes, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without prior permission of the RIPE NCC on behalf of the copyright holders. Any use of this material to target advertising or similar activities is explicitly forbidden and may be prosecuted.” insert:  insert: 

insert: 

You can find the copyright statement at: insert:  
insert: <a data-val="0f52b2f24c86f3daf798a4fe81063486" href="resolveuid/0f52b2f24c86f3daf798a4fe81063486" data-linktype="internal" class="internal-link"> http://www.ripe.net/db/copyright.html insert: </a> insert: 

insert: <h3>

insert: `<a id="ncccopy" name="ncccopy">` insert: `</a>` A3.2 RIPE NCC Copyright insert: `</h3>`

insert: 

insert: <hr noshade="noshade" size="1" />

insert: <h2>

insert: `<a id="addendum" name="addendum">` insert: `</a>` Addendum insert: `</h2>`

insert: 

Most RIPE Documents cannot be changed once they have been published. From time to time, we find errors and have to make small corrections and additions. We will create a page on the RIPE website listing any corrections or additions that apply to this RIPE Document in between published releases. We recommend that you check this page when reading this manual. insert: 

insert: <hr noshade="noshade" size="1" />

insert: <h2>

insert: `<a id="acknowledgements" name="acknowledgements">` insert: `</a>` Acknowledgements insert: `</h2>`

insert: 

The authors wish to acknowledge the effort done by the original developers of the version 3.0 of the RIPE Whois Database at the RIPE NCC: Daniele Arena, Marek Bukowy, Engin Gunduz, Roman Karpiuk, Shane Kerr, A.M.R. Magee, Chris Ottrey and Filippo Portera. Those who have continued its development include Can Bican, Katie Petrusha, Denis Walker and Tiago Antao. insert: 

insert: <h2>

insert: `<a id="references" name="references">` insert: `</a>` References insert: `</h2>`

insert: 

insert: <a id="r1" name="r1"> insert: </a> [1] C. Alaettinoglu, C. Villamizar, E. Gerich, D. Kessens, D. Meyer, T. Bates, D. Karrenberg and M. Terpstra, "Routing Policy Specification Language (RPSL)", RFC 2622, June 1999. insert: 

insert: 

insert: <a id="r2" name="r2"> insert: </a> [2] C. Villamizar, C. Alaettinoglu, D. Meyer and S. Murphy, "Routing Policy System Security", RFC 2725, December 1999. insert: 

insert: 

insert: <a id="r3" name="r3"> insert: </a> [3] D. Meyer, J. Schmitz, C. Orange, M. Prior, and C. Alaettinoglu, "Using RPSL in Practice", RFC 2650, August 1999. insert: 

insert: 

insert: <a id="r4" name="r4"> insert: </a> [4] T. Bates, E. Gerich, L. Joncheray, J.M. Jouanigot, D. Karrenberg, M. Terpstra and J. Yu, "Representation of IP Routing Policies in a Routing Registry", ripe-181, October 1994. See insert: <a data-val="5bf188a416cd5ad169279c1ddd4e474f" href="resolveuid/5bf188a416cd5ad169279c1ddd4e474f" data-linktype="internal" class="internal-link"> http://www.ripe.net/docs/ripe-181.html insert: </a> insert: 

insert: 

insert: <a id="r5" name="r5"> insert: </a> [5] Andrei Robachevsky, Shane Kerr, Vesna Manojlovic, Samantha Dickinson The " insert: <a data-val="5739668d847026aba7f8b1703f107a49" href="resolveuid/5739668d847026aba7f8b1703f107a49" data-linktype="internal" class="internal-link"> RIPE Whois Database User Manual-Getting Started insert: </a> " insert: 

insert: 

insert: <a id="r6" name="r6"> insert: </a> [6] IRRToolset. See insert: <a class="external-link" href="http://www.isc.org/software/irrtoolset"> http://www.isc.org/software/irrtoolset insert: </a> insert: 

insert: 

insert: <a id="r7" name="r7"> insert: </a> [7] P. Mockapetris, "Domain names - Concepts and Facilities", RFC 1034, November1987. insert: 

insert: 

insert: <a id="r8" name="r8"> insert: </a> [8] P. Resnick, ed., "Internet Message Format", RFC 2822, April 2001. insert: 

insert: 

insert: <a id="r9" name="r9"> insert: </a> [9] J. Zsako, "PGP Authentication for RIPE Database Updates", RFC 2726, December 1999. insert: 

insert: 

insert: <a id="r10" name="r10"> insert: </a> [10] ) N. Nimpuno, A.Robachevsky, "New Value of the "status:" Attribute for Inetnum Objects (LIR-PARTITIONED)", insert: <a data-val="5058590009562a843553b9a78d7226c8" href="resolveuid/5058590009562a843553b9a78d7226c8" data-linktype="internal" class="internal-link"> ripe-239 insert: </a> , June 2002. insert: 

insert: 

insert: <a id="r11" name="r11"> insert: </a> [11] A. Cormack, D. Stikvoort, W. Woeber, and A. Robachevsky, "IRT Object in the RIPE Database " insert: <a data-val="b77221f4adb5c83a2bcdea443fe018b4" href="resolveuid/b77221f4adb5c83a2bcdea443fe018b4" data-linktype="internal" class="internal-link"> ripe-254 insert: </a> , July 2002 insert: 

insert: 

insert: <a id="r12" name="r12"> insert: </a> [12] K. Harrenstien, M.K. Stahl, E.J. Feinler."NICNAME/WHOIS", RFC 954, October 1985. insert: 

insert: 

insert: <a id="r13" name="r13"> insert: </a> [13] J.S.L. Damas and L. Vegoda, "New Values of the "status:" Attribute for inet6num Objects", insert: <a data-val="31d9bd9365f9b9241497c2878eef998a" href="resolveuid/31d9bd9365f9b9241497c2878eef998a" data-linktype="internal" class="internal-link"> ripe-243 insert: </a> , August 2002. insert: 

insert: 

insert: <a id="r14" name="r14"> insert: </a> [14] L. Blunk, J. Damas, F. Parent and A. Robachevsky, Routing Policy Specification Language next generation (RPSLng), RFC 4012 insert: 

insert: 

insert: <a id="r15" name="r15"> insert: </a> [15] C. Bican, RIPE-43 presentation on Webupdates, December 2002, insert: <a class="external-link" href="http://meetings.ripe.net/ripe-43/presentations/ripe43-database-syncupdates/index.html"> http://meetings.ripe.net/ripe-43/presentations/ripe43-database-syncupdates/index.html insert: </a> insert: 

insert: 

insert: <a id="r16" name="r16"> insert: </a> [16] RIPE NCC service region insert: <a data-val="3628263b9a882491a5225984f80cc634" href="resolveuid/3628263b9a882491a5225984f80cc634" data-linktype="internal" class="internal-link"> http://www.ripe.net/membership/maps/index.html insert: </a> insert: 

insert: 

insert: <a id="r17" name="r17"> insert: </a> [17] The IANA ccTLD Database contains a full list of the ccTLD administrators insert: <a href="http://www.iana.org/cctld/cctld-whois.htm" target="_blank"> http://www.iana.org/cctld/cctld-whois.htm insert: </a> insert: 

insert: 

insert: <a id="r18" name="r18"> insert: </a> [18] Whois Queries Reference Card at insert: <a data-val="5739668d847026aba7f8b1703f107a49" href="resolveuid/5739668d847026aba7f8b1703f107a49" data-linktype="internal" class="internal-link"> http://www.ripe.net/db/support/whois-refcard.pdf insert: </a> insert: 

insert: 

insert: <a id="r19" name="r19"> insert: </a> [19] RIPE Whois Database Update Reference Manual (To be written). Currently it is a part of the insert: <a data-val="2a3efc88b1c7f8de45ecc26c1debd75d" href="resolveuid/2a3efc88b1c7f8de45ecc26c1debd75d" data-linktype="internal" class="internal-link"> ripe-252 RIPE Database Reference Manual insert: </a> . insert: 

insert: 

insert: <a id="r20" name="r20"> insert: </a> [20] RIPE Whois web query at insert: <a href="http://www.ripe.net/fcgi-bin/whois"> http://www.ripe.net/fcgi-bin/whois insert: </a> insert: 

insert: 

insert: <a id="r21" name="r21" data-val="57eeeae9a80b809e64c146da0ffeb954" data-linktype="internal"> insert: </a> [21] Regional Internet Registries (RIR) insert: 

RIPE Whois Database Query Reference Manual

RIPE Documents Search

ripe-223

State:

Obsoleted

Updated by:

ripe-238 , ripe-251 , ripe-252 , ripe-358 , ripe-401 , ripe-419

Updates:

ripe-189 , ripe-157 , ripe-153 , ripe-120 , ripe-117 , ripe-108 , ripe-096 , ripe-049

Authors:

RIPE-NCC

Date:

July 2001

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File:
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Changes to RIPE Database Reference Manual

insert: <a id="intended" name="intended"> insert: </a> Intended Audience insert: </h2>

insert: <a id="conventions" name="conventions"> insert: </a> Conventions Used in This Document insert: </h2>

insert: <a id="toc" name="toc"> insert: </a> Table of Contents insert: </h2>

insert: <a id="introduction" name="introduction"> insert: </a> Introduction insert: </h2>

insert: <a id="10" name="10"> insert: </a> 1.0 Database Objects and Attributes insert: </h2>

insert: <a id="11" name="11"> insert: </a> 1.1 Object Representation insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="12" name="12"> insert: </a> 1.2 Object Types insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="121" name="121"> insert: </a> 1.2.1 as-block insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="122" name="122"> insert: </a> 1.2.2 as-set insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="123" name="123"> insert: </a> 1.2.3 aut-num insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="124" name="124"> insert: </a> 1.2.4 domain insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="125" name="125"> insert: </a> 1.2.5 filter-set insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="126" name="126"> insert: </a> 1.2.6 inet6num insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="127" name="127"> insert: </a> 1.2.7 inetnum insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="128" name="128"> insert: </a> 1.2.8 inet-rtr insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="129" name="129"> insert: </a> 1.2.9 irt insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="1210" name="1210"> insert: </a> 1.2.10 key-cert insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="1211" name="1211"> insert: </a> 1.2.11 mntner insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="1212" name="1212"> insert: </a> 1.2.12 organisation insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="1213" name="1213"> insert: </a> 1.2.13 peering-set insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="1214" name="1214"> insert: </a> 1.2.14 person insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="1215" name="1215"> insert: </a> 1.2.15 poem insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="1216" name="1216"> insert: </a> 1.2.16 poetic-form insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="1217" name="1217"> insert: </a> 1.2.17 role insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="1218" name="1218"> insert: </a> 1.2.18 route insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="1219" name="1219"> insert: </a> 1.2.19 route6 insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="1220" name="1220"> insert: </a> 1.2.20 route-set insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="1221" name="1221"> insert: </a> 1.2.21 rtr-set insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="20" name="20"> insert: </a> 2.0 Querying the RIPE Whois Database insert: </h2>

insert: <a id="21" name="21"> insert: </a> 2.1 Queries Using Primary and Lookup Keys insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="22" name="22"> insert: </a> 2.2 Queries for IP Networks insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="221" name="221"> insert: </a> 2.2.1 Default Queries for IP Networks insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="222" name="222"> insert: </a> 2.2.2 Exact Match Queries insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="223" name="223"> insert: </a> 2.2.3 More and Less Specific Queries insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="2231" name="2231"> insert: </a> 2.2.3.1 More Specific Queries insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="2232" name="2232"> insert: </a> 2.2.3.2 Less Specific Queries insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="224" name="224"> insert: </a> 2.2.4 Less Specific Queries Referencing irt Objects insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="23" name="23"> insert: </a> 2.3 Inverse Queries insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="24" name="24"> insert: </a> 2.4 Abuse Contacts insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="25" name="25"> insert: </a> 2.5 Grouping the Whois Output insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="26" name="26"> insert: </a> 2.6 Filtering the Whois Output insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="27" name="27"> insert: </a> 2.7 Query Support for Tools insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="271" name="271"> insert: </a> 2.7.1 IRRToolset Support insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="272" name="272"> insert: </a> 2.7.2 Persistent Connections and Keeping State insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="28" name="28"> insert: </a> 2.8 Getting All the Members of Set Objects insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="29" name="29"> insert: </a> 2.9 More and Less Specific Lookups For Reverse Domains insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="210" name="210"> insert: </a> 2.10 Referral Mechanism for Domains insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="2101" name="2101"> insert: </a> 2.10.1 The “refer:” Attribute insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="2102" name="2102"> insert: </a> 2.10.2 Domain Name Stripping insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="2103" name="2103"> insert: </a> 2.10.3 The “-R” Query Flag insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="2104" name="2104"> insert: </a> 2.10.4 The Referral Process insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="211" name="211"> insert: </a> 2.11 Access Control for Queries insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="212" name="212"> insert: </a> 2.12 Other Server Features insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="2121" name="2121"> insert: </a> 2.12.1 Mirroring Other Databases insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="2122" name="2122"> insert: </a> 2.12.2 The “–q” Query Flag insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="2123" name="2123"> insert: </a> 2.12.3. The “-t” Query Flag insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="2124" name="2124"> insert: </a> 2.12.4. The “-v” Query Flag insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="2125" name="2125"> insert: </a> 2.12.5. The “-F” Query Flag insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="2126" name="2126"> insert: </a> 2.12.6. The “-K” Query Flag insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="2127" name="2127"> insert: </a> 2.12.7. The “-T” Query Flag insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="2128" name="2128"> insert: </a> 2.12.8. The “-a” Query Flag insert: </h3>

insert: <br /> insert: <a id="tables" name="tables"> insert: </a> Tables of Query Types Supported by the RIPE Whois Database insert: </h2>

insert: <a id="t21" name="t21"> insert: </a> Table 2.1 Queries Using Primary and Lookup Keys insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="t22" name="t22"> insert: </a> Table 2.2 Queries For IP Networks insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="t23" name="t23"> insert: </a> Table 2.3 Query Flag Arguments to the "-i" Query Flag and the Corresponding Inverse Keys. insert: </h3>

insert: <span> insert: <span> insert: <span> insert: <a id="t24" name="t24"> insert: </a> Table 2.4 Query Support For Tools insert: </span> insert: </span> insert: </span> insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="t25" name="t25"> insert: </a> Table 2.5 Miscellaneous Queries insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="t26" name="t26"> insert: </a> Table 2.6 Informational Queries insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="appendices" name="appendices"> insert: </a> Appendices insert: </h2>

insert: <a id="a1" name="a1"> insert: </a> A1. Object Attributes insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="a2" name="a2"> insert: </a> A2. RIPE Whois Database Query Server Response Codes and Messages insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="a21" name="a21"> insert: </a> A2.1 Query Errors insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="a22" name="a22"> insert: </a> A2.2 Access Errors insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="a23" name="a23"> insert: </a> A2.3 Connection Errors insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="a24" name="a24"> insert: </a> A2.4 NRTM Errors insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="a25" name="a25"> insert: </a> A2.5 Warnings insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="a26" name="a26"> insert: </a> A2.6 Referral Text insert: </h3>

insert: <a id="copy" name="copy"> insert: </a> A3. Copyright Information insert: </h2>

insert: <a id="whoiscopy" name="whoiscopy"> insert: </a> A3.1 RIPE Whois Database Copyright insert: </h3>

insert: `<a id="intended" name="intended">` insert: `</a>` Intended Audience insert: `</h2>`

insert: `<a id="conventions" name="conventions">` insert: `</a>` Conventions Used in This Document insert: `</h2>`

insert: `<a id="toc" name="toc">` insert: `</a>` Table of Contents insert: `</h2>`

insert: `<a id="introduction" name="introduction">` insert: `</a>` Introduction insert: `</h2>`

insert: `<a id="10" name="10">` insert: `</a>` 1.0 Database Objects and Attributes insert: `</h2>`

insert: `<a id="11" name="11">` insert: `</a>` 1.1 Object Representation insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="12" name="12">` insert: `</a>` 1.2 Object Types insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="121" name="121">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.1 as-block insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="122" name="122">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.2 as-set insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="123" name="123">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.3 aut-num insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="124" name="124">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.4 domain insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="125" name="125">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.5 filter-set insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="126" name="126">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.6 inet6num insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="127" name="127">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.7 inetnum insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="128" name="128">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.8 inet-rtr insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="129" name="129">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.9 irt insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="1210" name="1210">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.10 key-cert insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="1211" name="1211">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.11 mntner insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="1212" name="1212">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.12 organisation insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="1213" name="1213">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.13 peering-set insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="1214" name="1214">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.14 person insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="1215" name="1215">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.15 poem insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="1216" name="1216">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.16 poetic-form insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="1217" name="1217">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.17 role insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="1218" name="1218">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.18 route insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="1219" name="1219">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.19 route6 insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="1220" name="1220">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.20 route-set insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="1221" name="1221">` insert: `</a>` 1.2.21 rtr-set insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="20" name="20">` insert: `</a>` 2.0 Querying the RIPE Whois Database insert: `</h2>`

insert: `<a id="21" name="21">` insert: `</a>` 2.1 Queries Using Primary and Lookup Keys insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="22" name="22">` insert: `</a>` 2.2 Queries for IP Networks insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="221" name="221">` insert: `</a>` 2.2.1 Default Queries for IP Networks insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="222" name="222">` insert: `</a>` 2.2.2 Exact Match Queries insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="223" name="223">` insert: `</a>` 2.2.3 More and Less Specific Queries insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="2231" name="2231">` insert: `</a>` 2.2.3.1 More Specific Queries insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="2232" name="2232">` insert: `</a>` 2.2.3.2 Less Specific Queries insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="224" name="224">` insert: `</a>` 2.2.4 Less Specific Queries Referencing irt Objects insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="23" name="23">` insert: `</a>` 2.3 Inverse Queries insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="24" name="24">` insert: `</a>` 2.4 Abuse Contacts insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="25" name="25">` insert: `</a>` 2.5 Grouping the Whois Output insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="26" name="26">` insert: `</a>` 2.6 Filtering the Whois Output insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="27" name="27">` insert: `</a>` 2.7 Query Support for Tools insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="271" name="271">` insert: `</a>` 2.7.1 IRRToolset Support insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="272" name="272">` insert: `</a>` 2.7.2 Persistent Connections and Keeping State insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="28" name="28">` insert: `</a>` 2.8 Getting All the Members of Set Objects insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="29" name="29">` insert: `</a>` 2.9 More and Less Specific Lookups For Reverse Domains insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="210" name="210">` insert: `</a>` 2.10 Referral Mechanism for Domains insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="2101" name="2101">` insert: `</a>` 2.10.1 The “refer:” Attribute insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="2102" name="2102">` insert: `</a>` 2.10.2 Domain Name Stripping insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="2103" name="2103">` insert: `</a>` 2.10.3 The “-R” Query Flag insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="2104" name="2104">` insert: `</a>` 2.10.4 The Referral Process insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="211" name="211">` insert: `</a>` 2.11 Access Control for Queries insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="212" name="212">` insert: `</a>` 2.12 Other Server Features insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="2121" name="2121">` insert: `</a>` 2.12.1 Mirroring Other Databases insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="2122" name="2122">` insert: `</a>` 2.12.2 The “–q” Query Flag insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="2123" name="2123">` insert: `</a>` 2.12.3. The “-t” Query Flag insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="2124" name="2124">` insert: `</a>` 2.12.4. The “-v” Query Flag insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="2125" name="2125">` insert: `</a>` 2.12.5. The “-F” Query Flag insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="2126" name="2126">` insert: `</a>` 2.12.6. The “-K” Query Flag insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="2127" name="2127">` insert: `</a>` 2.12.7. The “-T” Query Flag insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="2128" name="2128">` insert: `</a>` 2.12.8. The “-a” Query Flag insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<br />`
insert: `<a id="tables" name="tables">` insert: `</a>` Tables of Query Types Supported by the RIPE Whois Database insert: `</h2>`

insert: `<a id="t21" name="t21">` insert: `</a>` Table 2.1 Queries Using Primary and Lookup Keys insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="t22" name="t22">` insert: `</a>` Table 2.2 Queries For IP Networks insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="t23" name="t23">` insert: `</a>` Table 2.3 Query Flag Arguments to the "-i" Query Flag and the Corresponding Inverse Keys. insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<span>` insert: `<span>` insert: `<span>` insert: `<a id="t24" name="t24">` insert: `</a>` Table 2.4 Query Support For Tools insert: `</span>` insert: `</span>` insert: `</span>` insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="t25" name="t25">` insert: `</a>` Table 2.5 Miscellaneous Queries insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="t26" name="t26">` insert: `</a>` Table 2.6 Informational Queries insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="appendices" name="appendices">` insert: `</a>` Appendices insert: `</h2>`

insert: `<a id="a1" name="a1">` insert: `</a>` A1. Object Attributes insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="a2" name="a2">` insert: `</a>` A2. RIPE Whois Database Query Server Response Codes and Messages insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="a21" name="a21">` insert: `</a>` A2.1 Query Errors insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="a22" name="a22">` insert: `</a>` A2.2 Access Errors insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="a23" name="a23">` insert: `</a>` A2.3 Connection Errors insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="a24" name="a24">` insert: `</a>` A2.4 NRTM Errors insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="a25" name="a25">` insert: `</a>` A2.5 Warnings insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="a26" name="a26">` insert: `</a>` A2.6 Referral Text insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="copy" name="copy">` insert: `</a>` A3. Copyright Information insert: `</h2>`

insert: `<a id="whoiscopy" name="whoiscopy">` insert: `</a>` A3.1 RIPE Whois Database Copyright insert: `</h3>`

insert: `<a id="ncccopy" name="ncccopy">` insert: `</a>` A3.2 RIPE NCC Copyright insert: `</h3>`