Whois CGI
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A very nice addition to the web site of a company which specializes in web hosting is an InterNIC Whois database query. A small form and simple CGI can be designed to facilitate such a task.

Installation

To install the query CGI on your Virtual Private Server you will need to do the following:

1. Download the Query Form
   You will need to download the Internic Database Query form HTML source and store it somewhere in your ~/www/htdocs directory structure. Feel free to customize the form, add graphics, etc., but be sure that the variable name for the input field is not altered.

2. Install the Query CGI
   Connect to your Virtual Private Server via Telnet or SSH and run the following command:

   % vinstall whois

   This will install the query.pl and util.pl files in your www/cgi-bin/library/whois directory.

3. Customize the Appearance of the Query CGI
   Two subroutines in the util.pl file are used to print out header and footer information. These functions are print_header_info and print_footer_info. Feel free to modify these functions such that the CGI outputs pages that are in synch with the motifs of the rest of your site.

Example

Once you have completed the installation successfully, you will have a query form like the one shown below (simulated).

InterNIC Database Query Use the following form to perform a query exclusively on the InterNIC database (which includes the .com, .net, and .org top level domain names). Not only can you determine whether a domain name you desire is already in use, but you can find contact names, e-mail addresses, postal addresses, and telephone numbers. Simply enter the appropriate identifier (such as a domain name, NIC handle, etc) in the entry field below and select the Query button. The default action (unless directed otherwise by entering a specific domain name or NIC handle), is to do a very broad search, looking for matches in all types of records and most fields (name, nickname, hostname, net address, etc) in the database. For more information, enter help in the entry field above and select the Query button.

Please note: the information on this page applies to ITS web hosting plans. It may or may not apply to other environments. If you are looking for a feature described here, or better support from your hosting provider, please consider hosting your site with ITS!

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