.TH WHOIS3 1
.SH NAME
whois3 \- query RIPE Whois server
.SH SYNOPSIS
.B whois3 [-h 
.I host 
.B | --host=
.I host
.B ] [-p
.I port
.B | --port=
.I port
.B ]
.I [whois_options] [whois_query]

.B whois3 [-h
.I host 
.B | --host=
.I host
.B ] [-p
.I port
.B | --port=
.I port
.B ]
-k
.SH DESCRIPTION
.B whois3
allows you to query the RIPE Whois server,
.IR whois.ripe.net .
Most options specified are passed through unchanged to the Whois server.
You can specify an alterate server name and port through the
.I host
and
.I port
options.

To perform a single query, specify any desired flags and the query
as arguments to
.B whois3 .
The query will be performed and the results displayed.

To perform multiple queries, use the
.B -k
option.  Then each query is read from input, sent to the server, and the
result displayed.  Standard input redirection operators work as
expected, allowing you to perform batches of queries by redirecting
input from a file or another program.
.SH OPTIONS
.IP "-h host | --host=host"
Query the server 
.I host
instead of the default server, 
.IR whois.ripe.net .
You may specify either the host name or IP address.
.IP "-p port | --port=port"
Use the port
.I port.
If not specified, then the system default port is used if defined,
otherwise port 43 is used.
.IP -k
Send multiple queries to the server.  Each line of standard input is
read and sent as a query to the server.  Note that if this option is
specified then no query can be specified on the command line.
.SH DOCUMENTATION
Details about the RIPE database and Whois service may be found in RIPE
and IETF documents.  Please consult:

ripe-157   RIPE Database Documentation  
  http://www.ripe.net/ripe/docs/ripe-157.html

ripe-189   RIPE Database Documentation (Update for v2.2.1)
  http://www.ripe.net/ripe/docs/ripe-189.html

RFC2622   Routing Policy System Specification Language (RPSL)
  http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2622.txt

RFC2725   Routing Policy System Security
  http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2725.txt
.SH AUTHOR
Shane Kerr <shane@ripe.net>, RIPE NCC
.SH "SEE ALSO"
.BR whois (1)
