'\"macro stdmacro
.if n .pH g1.whois @(#)whois	40.4 of 10/10/89
.\" Copyright 1989 AT&T
.nr X
.if \nX=0 .ds x} whois 1 "TCP/IP" "\&"
.if \nX=1 .ds x} whois 1 "TCP/IP"
.if \nX=2 .ds x} whois 1 "" "\&"
.if \nX=3 .ds x} whois "" "" "\&"
.TH \*(x}
.SH NAME
\f4whois\f1 \- Internet user name directory service
.SH SYNOPSIS
\f4whois\f1
[
\f4\-h\f1
.I host
]
.I identifier
.SH DESCRIPTION
\f4whois\f1
searches for an
.SM Internet
directory entry for an
.I identifier
which is either a name
(such as ``Smith'') or a handle (such as ``\s-1SRI-NIC\s0'').
To force a name-only search, precede the name with a period;
to force a handle-only search, precede the handle with an
exclamation point.
.LP
To search for a group or
organization entry, precede the argument with 
\f4*\f1
(an asterisk).
The entire membership list of the group 
will be displayed with the record.
.LP
You may of course use an exclamation point and asterisk, or a period
and asterisk together.
.SH EXAMPLES
The command
.LP
.RS
\f4whois Smith\f1
.RE
.LP
looks for the name or handle
\s-1SMITH\s0.
.br
.LP
The command
.LP
.RS
\f4whois !\s-1SRI-NIC\s0\f1
.RE
.LP
looks for the handle
\s-1SRI-NIC\s0
only.
.LP
The command
.LP
.RS
\f4whois .Smith, John\f1
.RE
.LP
looks for the name
\s-1JOHN SMITH\s0
only.
.LP
Adding \f4.\|.\|.\f1
to the name or handle argument will match anything from
that point; that is,
\f4\s-1ZU\s0 .\|.\|.\f1
will match
\s-1ZUL\s0, \s-1ZUM\s0\, and so on.
