| Domain Name "WhoIs" Query FAQs |
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- What is a "whois" query?
- A "whois" query is a standardized way of obtaining information from a registrar's or registry's database. Previously, when there was a single registrar, a domain name "whois" query would show the owner and other contacts for a registered domain name.
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- What information does a "whois" query show now?
- A "whois" query against a registry's database identifies the registrar and the name servers for the domain name specified in the query.
A query against a registrar's database identifies the owner of the domain name, and the contacts associated with it.
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- If a "whois" query does not find a domain name, does that mean it is available?
- If a domain name is not found in a registry's database, then the name is probably available.
If a name is not found in a registrar's database, it simply means that the name is not being managed by that particular registrar.
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- I just registered a domain name, but the registry query says "No match". Didn't my registration go through?
- There is typically a delay of up to 48 hours for Network Solutions to update the registry whois database. However, most registrars update their databases immediately, so if you query the registrar's database directly, you will probably see your registration for that domain name.
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- What if I query "rs.internic.net"?
- The "rs.internic.net" database will show the status of a domain only if it has been registered through Network Solutions. Domain names obtained through other registrars will show up as "No match".
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- What about domain name query pages on the web?
- Most web-based "whois" queries were originally written to query the "rs.internic.net" whois server and report a domain name as "available" if the name was not found. In order to report the correct status of domains being managed by the new registrars, webmasters need to update the CGI scripts which process these queries.
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- How do you update the CGI scripts to make them work properly?
- The CGI scripts should first query the registry's database. The output identifies the registrar for that domain name and the name of that registrar's "WhoIs Server". Then you can query that server to obtain the information on the domain.
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- What do the queries on Network Solutions' web site show?
- The query on Network Solutions' home page queries the registry database, showing whether or not a domain name is available. The whois page on Network Solutions' web site queries their registrar database, and therefore will not show the status of names managed by other registrars.
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- How can I tell if my favorite "whois" page is giving me the correct results?
- You can try some queries using domain names which are being managed by the new registrars.
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