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[Text version]
This RFC is obsoleted by: RFC 954 , RFC 3912
Ken Harrenstien
Vic White
Network Information Center
SRI InternationalRFC-812
1 March 1982
- INTRODUCTION
This server, together with the corresponding Identification Data Base provides online directory look-up equivalent to the ARPANET Directory. DCA strongly encourages network hosts to provide their users with access to this network service.
- WHO SHOULD BE IN THE DATA BASE
- DCA requests that each individual with a directory on an ARPANET host, who is capable of passing traffic across the ARPANET, be registered in the NIC Identification Data Base. To register, send full name, middle initial, U.S. mailing address (including mail stop and full explanation of abbreviations and acronyms), ZIP code, telephone (including Autovon and FTS, if available), and one network mailbox, via electronic mail to NIC@SRI-NIC.
- PROTOCOL
- The NICNAME protocol is similar to the NAME/FINGER protocol (RFC 742). To access the server:
Connect to the service host (SRI-NIC) TCP: service port 43 decimal NCP: ICP to socket 43 decimal, establishing two 8-bit connectionsSend a single "command line", ending with <CRLF>.
Receive information in response to the command line. The server closes its connections as soon as the output is finished.
- EXISTING USER PROGRAMS
- NICNAME has been chosen as the global name for the user program, although some sites may choose to use the more familiar name of "WHOIS". There are versions of NICNAME for Tenex, Tops-20, and Unix. The Tenex and Tops-20 programs are written in assembly language (FAIL/MACRO), and the Unix version is written in C. They are easy to invoke, taking one argument which is passed directly to the NICNAME server at SRI-NIC. Normally it is best to use the NIC-supplied programs, if possible, since the protocol will continue to evolve. Contact NIC@SRI-NIC for copies.
- COMMAND LINES AND REPLIES
- A command line is normally a single name specification. The easiest way to obtain the most recent documentation on name specifications is to give the server a command line consisting of "?<CRLF>" (that is, a question-mark alone as the name specification). The response from the NICNAME server will list all possible formats that can be used.
The responses are not currently intended to be machine-readable; the information is meant to be passed back directly to a human user. The following three examples will illustrate the use of NICNAME.
Command line: ? Response: Please enter a name or a handle ("ident"), such as "Smith" or "SRI-NIC". Starting with a period forces a name-only search; starting with exclamation point forces handle-only. Examples: Smith [looks for name or handle SMITH ] !SRI-NIC [looks for handle SRI-NIC only ] .Smith, John [looks for name JOHN SMITH only ] Adding "..." to the argument will match anything from that point, e.g. "ZU..." will match ZUL, ZUM, etc. To have the ENTIRE membership list of a group or organization, if you are asking about a group or org, shown with the record, use an asterisk character "*" directly preceding the given argument. [CAUTION: If there are a lot of members this will take a long time!] You may of course use exclamation point and asterisk, or a period and asterisk together.- NICNAME/WHOIS