How to perform domain whois from terminal

According to Wikipedia :

WHOIS (pronounced as the phrase who is) is a query and response protocol that is widely used for querying databases that store the registered users or assignees of an Internet resource, such as a domain name, an IP address block, or an autonomous system, but is also used for a wider range of other information. The protocol stores and delivers database content in a human-readable format. The Whois protocol is documented in RFC 3912.

There are many desktop applications/utilities and online services to perform a whois query.

Here we shall perform a whois query from terminal and find the details of a domain name.

Domain : binarytides.com

Well there is a terminal command called whois which can be used like this :

whois www.binarytides.com

But the whois command does not work very well everytime.

So lets do it another way.

Step 1 :
The domain here is a .com domain , so first we need to find out the registry which holds whois data for .com domains

desktop:~$ telnet whois.iana.org 43
Trying 192.0.47.59...
Connected to ianawhois.vip.icann.org.
Escape character is '^]'.

Now we are connected to whois.iana.org. Now enter com and hit enter

com
% IANA WHOIS server
% for more information on IANA, visit http://www.iana.org
% This query returned 1 object

domain:       COM

organisation: VeriSign Global Registry Services
address:      21345 Ridgetop Circle
address:      Dulles Virginia 20166
address:      United States

contact:      administrative
name:         Registry Customer Service
organisation: VeriSign Global Registry Services
address:      21345 Ridgetop Circle
address:      Dulles Virginia 20166
address:      United States
phone:        +1 703 925-6999
fax-no:       +1 703 421-5828
e-mail:       info@verisign-grs.com

contact:      technical
name:         Registry Customer Service
organisation: VeriSign Global Registry Services
address:      21345 Ridgetop Circle
address:      Dulles Virginia 20166
address:      United States
phone:        +1 703 925-6999
fax-no:       +1 703 421-5828
e-mail:       info@verisign-grs.com

nserver:      A.GTLD-SERVERS.NET 192.5.6.30 2001:503:a83e:0:0:0:2:30
nserver:      B.GTLD-SERVERS.NET 192.33.14.30 2001:503:231d:0:0:0:2:30
nserver:      C.GTLD-SERVERS.NET 192.26.92.30
nserver:      D.GTLD-SERVERS.NET 192.31.80.30
nserver:      E.GTLD-SERVERS.NET 192.12.94.30
nserver:      F.GTLD-SERVERS.NET 192.35.51.30
nserver:      G.GTLD-SERVERS.NET 192.42.93.30
nserver:      H.GTLD-SERVERS.NET 192.54.112.30
nserver:      I.GTLD-SERVERS.NET 192.43.172.30
nserver:      J.GTLD-SERVERS.NET 192.48.79.30
nserver:      K.GTLD-SERVERS.NET 192.52.178.30
nserver:      L.GTLD-SERVERS.NET 192.41.162.30
nserver:      M.GTLD-SERVERS.NET 192.55.83.30
ds-rdata:     30909 8 2 E2D3C916F6DEEAC73294E8268FB5885044A833FC5459588F4A9184CFC41A5766

whois:        whois.verisign-grs.com

status:       ACTIVE
remarks:      Registration information: http://www.verisign-grs.com

created:      1985-01-01
changed:      2011-03-31
source:       IANA

Connection closed by foreign host.

OK , so now we have some useful information. The line of interest is :
whois: whois.verisign-grs.com

It says that for com domains whois.verisign-grs.com is the registry server.

Step 2 :
So now we shall repeat the above process which this new whois server

desktop:~$ telnet whois.verisign-grs.com 43
Trying 199.7.57.74...
Connected to whois.verisign-grs.com.
Escape character is '^]'.

Now we are connected to the server. Type the domain name (without www) and hit enter.

binarytides.com

Whois Server Version 2.0

Domain names in the .com and .net domains can now be registered
with many different competing registrars. Go to http://www.internic.net
for detailed information.

   Domain Name: BINARYTIDES.COM
   Registrar: NETLYNX, INC.
   Whois Server: whois.netlynx.com
   Referral URL: http://www.netlynx.com
   Name Server: OMIKRO1.ALLWEBSERVER.COM
   Name Server: OMIKRO2.ALLWEBSERVER.COM
   Status: ok
   Updated Date: 14-jun-2011
   Creation Date: 30-jun-2009
   Expiration Date: 30-jun-2012

>>> Last update of whois database: Sat, 22 Oct 2011 13:59:39 UTC <<<

NOTICE: The expiration date displayed in this record is the date the
registrar's sponsorship of the domain name registration in the registry is
currently set to expire. This date does not necessarily reflect the expiration
date of the domain name registrant's agreement with the sponsoring
registrar.  Users may consult the sponsoring registrar's Whois database to
view the registrar's reported date of expiration for this registration.

TERMS OF USE: You are not authorized to access or query our Whois
database through the use of electronic processes that are high-volume and
automated except as reasonably necessary to register domain names or
modify existing registrations; the Data in VeriSign Global Registry
Services' ("VeriSign") Whois database is provided by VeriSign for
information purposes only, and to assist persons in obtaining information
about or related to a domain name registration record. VeriSign does not
guarantee its accuracy. By submitting a Whois query, you agree to abide
by the following terms of use: You agree that you may use this Data only
for lawful purposes and that under no circumstances will you use this Data
to: (1) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission of mass
unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations via e-mail, telephone,
or facsimile; or (2) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes
that apply to VeriSign (or its computer systems). The compilation,
repackaging, dissemination or other use of this Data is expressly
prohibited without the prior written consent of VeriSign. You agree not to
use electronic processes that are automated and high-volume to access or
query the Whois database except as reasonably necessary to register
domain names or modify existing registrations. VeriSign reserves the right
to restrict your access to the Whois database in its sole discretion to ensure
operational stability.  VeriSign may restrict or terminate your access to the
Whois database for failure to abide by these terms of use. VeriSign
reserves the right to modify these terms at any time. 

The Registry database contains ONLY .COM, .NET, .EDU domains and
Registrars.Connection closed by foreign host.

OK so now we again have some useful information. The line of interest is :
Whois Server: whois.netlynx.com

Step 3 :
So we have to repeat the above process with this new whois server whois.netlynx.com.

desktop:~$ telnet whois.netlynx.com 43
Trying 67.15.47.4...
Connected to whois.netlynx.com.
Escape character is '^]'.

Now we are connected with the whois server. Type the domain name binarytides.com and hit enter

binarytides.com
Registration Service Provided By: OMIKROSYS
Contact: +91.123456

Domain Name: BINARYTIDES.COM 

Registrant:
    PrivacyProtect.org
    Domain Admin        (contact@privacyprotect.org)
    ID#10760, PO Box 16
    Note - All Postal Mails Rejected, visit Privacyprotect.org
    Nobby Beach
    null,QLD 4218
    AU
    Tel. +45.36946676

Creation Date: 30-Jun-2009
Expiration Date: 30-Jun-2012

Domain servers in listed order:
    omikro1.allwebserver.com
    omikro2.allwebserver.com

Administrative Contact:
    PrivacyProtect.org
    Domain Admin        (contact@privacyprotect.org)
    ID#10760, PO Box 16
    Note - All Postal Mails Rejected, visit Privacyprotect.org
    Nobby Beach
    null,QLD 4218
    AU
    Tel. +45.36946676

Technical Contact:
    PrivacyProtect.org
    Domain Admin        (contact@privacyprotect.org)
    ID#10760, PO Box 16
    Note - All Postal Mails Rejected, visit Privacyprotect.org
    Nobby Beach
    null,QLD 4218
    AU
    Tel. +45.36946676

Billing Contact:
    PrivacyProtect.org
    Domain Admin        (contact@privacyprotect.org)
    ID#10760, PO Box 16
    Note - All Postal Mails Rejected, visit Privacyprotect.org
    Nobby Beach
    null,QLD 4218
    AU
    Tel. +45.36946676

Status:ACTIVE

PRIVACYPROTECT.ORG is providing privacy protection services to this domain name to
protect the owner from spam and phishing attacks. PrivacyProtect.org is not
responsible for any of the activities associated with this domain name. If you wish
to report any abuse concerning the usage of this domain name, you may do so at
http://privacyprotect.org/contact. We have a stringent abuse policy and any
complaint will be actioned within a short period of time.

The data in this whois database is provided to you for information purposes only,
that is, to assist you in obtaining information about or related
to a domain name registration record. We make this information available "as is",
and do not guarantee its accuracy. By submitting a whois query, you agree that you will
use this data only for lawful purposes and that, under no circumstances will you use this data to:
(1) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes that stress
or load this whois database system providing you this information; or
(2) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission of mass unsolicited,
commercial advertising or solicitations via direct mail, electronic mail, or by telephone.
The compilation, repackaging, dissemination or other use of this data is expressly prohibited without
prior written consent from us. The Registrar of record is Netlynx, Inc..
We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time.
By submitting this query, you agree to abide by these terms.

Connection closed by foreign host.

So now we have all the necessary whois information available. Try it out.

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