Question

The Unix utility whois can be used to find the domain name corresponding to an organization, or vice versa. Read the man page documentation for whois and experiment with it. Try whois princeton.edu and whois princeton, for starters.

Short answer

Use `whois domain` for domain info and `whois organization` for organization-related domains.

Step-by-step solution

Open Terminal

Open the terminal application on your computer. This is where commands will be entered.

Read Documentation

Type `man whois` and press Enter. This will display the manual page for the whois command, which provides detailed information on how to use it.

Run whois Command for Domain

Type `whois princeton.edu` and press Enter. This command will query the whois database and return information about the domain princeton.edu.

Run whois Command for Organization

Type `whois princeton` and press Enter. This command will query the whois database for information related to the organization 'Princeton' and may return multiple results.

Review Output

Examine the output provided by the whois commands. The output for `whois princeton.edu` will include details such as the domain name, registrar, registrant, and contact information. The output for `whois princeton` may include various related domains and registrations.

Key concepts

Unix utilities

Unix utilities are essential tools for performing a wide range of tasks in Unix-based operating systems. These tools are usually accessed via the command-line interface, providing a powerful way to interact with the system through typed commands.
Some key Unix utilities include:

• file management tools (e.g., `cp`, `mv`, `rm`)
• text processing tools (e.g., `grep`, `awk`, `sed`)
• system monitoring tools (e.g., `top`, `ps`, `df`)
• networking tools (e.g., `ping`, `netstat`, `ifconfig`)

Each utility typically has a man page (short for manual page) that provides detailed information about its usage, options, and examples. You can access a utility's man page by typing `man ` in the terminal.

domain name resolution

Domain name resolution is the process of translating a human-readable domain name (like example.com) into a machine-readable IP address that computers use to identify each other on the network.
This process is primarily handled by the Domain Name System (DNS). DNS acts like a phonebook for the internet, mapping domain names to IP addresses.
When you run the `whois` command, you're querying a database that contains registration information about domain names. This information can include:

• The domain's registrar
• The domain owner (registrant)
• Contact information for the registrant
• Key dates (registration, expiration)

The `whois` command helps network administrators, security researchers, and others gather important information about domains.

command-line tools

Command-line tools are programs that can be run from a command-line interface (CLI) rather than a graphical user interface (GUI). They are often preferred by power users and system administrators for their flexibility and scripting capabilities.
Key aspects of command-line tools include:

• Efficiency: They can perform complex tasks quickly.
• Automation: Command-line tools can be used in scripts to automate repetitive tasks.
• Precision: They provide fine-grained control over the system.

The `whois` utility is a command-line tool specifically designed for querying domain registration information. By typing commands into the terminal, you can retrieve data about domains and organizations in just a few seconds.

networking basics

Networking basics involve understanding how computers communicate with each other over a network. This includes concepts such as IP addresses, DNS, and protocols like TCP/IP.
Here are some fundamental networking concepts:

• IP Address: A unique identifier for a device on a network.
• DNS: Converts domain names to IP addresses.
• TCP/IP: A set of protocols governing how data is transmitted over the internet.
• Subnetting: Dividing a network into smaller, manageable pieces.

Understanding these basics helps in using tools like `whois`, as it allows you to comprehend the information returned by the tool and how it fits into the larger picture of internet infrastructure.

system administration

System administration involves managing and maintaining computer systems and networks. This role encompasses a wide range of tasks, from setting up servers to ensuring security and troubleshooting issues.
Core responsibilities include:

• User account management
• System monitoring and performance tuning
• Security management
• Backup and recovery
• Network configuration and management

Using tools like `whois` is part of network management tasks. By obtaining accurate domain registration information, system administrators can manage domain-related issues, improve security, and ensure proper communication within the network. The ability to efficiently utilize these tools is a critical skill for any system administrator.