If you are about to start the process for register your own domain nameit is best to start everything knowing in advance what it consists of WHOIS, which will help you gain visibility and keep your new registration always active.
Additionally, by knowing everything related to this protocol, you will know how to handle yourself when you need to get information about any other domain name and its or its managers.
In this article we explain in detail everything about WHOIS, so that you know in depth the operation of this service, and learn how to use it correctly.
What is WHOIS and what is this Internet protocol for?
The service WHOIS, from English “Who Is” (Who is), is a transmission protocol () that works under the modality request and response. By acting as a large database, where a very high percentage of information related to domain registrars is stored, it helps us to know who owns a domain name or an IP address on the Internet. Until recently, all the information stored on the servers WHOIS was publicly available.
In addition to free, for all those interested in knowing all the data of the domain owners. However, there is currently a kind of legal limbo, due to the entry into force of the General Regulation for Data Protection (RGPE) in 2018. Notwithstanding the latter, WHOIS is still maintained as the main tool for domain registrars, so it’s best to keep reading to find out about other important issues on the subject.
History and Origin of WHOIS When and why was it created?
To know the whois originit is necessary to go back to 1982, when the IETF (acronym in English for Internet Engineering Workforce), made public its protocol of directory service. In its beginnings it was dedicated to exclusive use between network users ARPANET, for whom the protocol was created, which means that the directory only contained the data requested from the people who transmitted through the aforementioned network.
That’s how we got to 1998, year it was founded I CAN, a corporation responsible for assigning names and numbers on the Internet, in addition to their domain registrars, which from then on took over everything related to the service. The following year, the I CAN began to give licenses for other entities could offer services as domain name registrars, marking a milestone in their provision.
WHOIS vs DNS What is the difference between both systems?
There are some differences between the protocols WHOIS Y , which is good to keep in mind for avoid confusions between one and another. A better understanding of these differences will help you make correct use of the first one. The first thing we must see is that the DNS (Domain Name System) works as a huge distributed and hierarchical database, which makes it easier for each user to search for IP addresses of other computers.
As we well know, the IP addresses are made up of numbers difficult to memorize, for which the use of domain names has become necessary. This is where the DNS comes in. translating the numbers of the IP to these names. In this way, it is easier for us to connect with various websites for, among other things, gain agility in the use of email servers on the Internet.
But WHOIS goes beyond that, since it allows you to get all the information you need to know about the owner or administrator of the referred domain name. This is because the bases of WHOIS, are under the responsibility administration of registrars and registries, and in said databases the contact details of every legally used domain name.
Perform WHOIS queries. What ways are there to do it?
As we have said before, the WHOIS protocol is based on request/response, so it is good to know the type of answer that you receive after each of your queries. This will depend on the form of storage used by each particular server, which may be in the form dense or light. In this sense, you can carry out the queries using the WHOIS clients of command lineallowing to obtain more data in a single query.
Many prefer to carry out the procedure in the simplest way that exists, which consists of enter the official site http://whois.icann.org, write down a domain name, and then click on “Search”. Another way to do it is through web clients, which in most cases only save the light type of information, and in most cases they act as intermediaries between the user and the command line client.
What are the requirements to be able to use WHOIS?
All those who wish to register a domain name, regardless of whether they are individuals or companies, must be aware of their obligation to provide technical and contact information that will be included in the database of WHOIS. These data must meet certain requirements, starting with the accuracy thereof. This means that these data must be accurate and true.
Likewise, it should be taken into account that there are 7 days term to complete the requested data, a period that begins to run from the moment the domain name registration request has been made. In this section we will not fail to mention the importance of maintaining updated domain datathis every time the need to change the information arises for any reason.
What kind of data about a website can we find in WHOIS?
Although, as previously stated, the GDPR establishes some limitations in this regard, as a general rule in each query or request we can obtain information such as the following:
- Name of the domain
- Name of the registrar
- administrator ID of the domain name
- Name and email of the administrator
- ID technical
- Data about DNS used
- url of the registrar
- Creation date of the domain name
- Expiration date of the registration of the name
We must also refer to everyone has the right to maintain privacy over the datafor which you have two methods to prevent anyone else can access them.
One of them is to subscribe to a privacy servicewith which, although everyone can know who owns the domain, data such as the telephone number and postal address they will be hidden. The other is through the Proxy representation service, which is when the service provider appears as the owner of the domain name, leaving the client as a licensee of the same. In this way, whoever requests information about the domain name will only see the provider data in the answers.
Uses and applications What can we use the WHOIS system for?
The possible uses and applications with WHOIS They serve you for a variety of tasks.
Therefore, to end this article, we leave you with some of them:
- Know if the domain name that you plan to register is found available.
- Solve technical problems contacting network administrators.
- Contact the owner of a domain name, in case you wanted set up some kind of business with the.
- Know the expiration date of a domain, thus being able to establish contact with its owner in the event that it want to sell it.
- If you own intellectual property assetsyou can contact whoever you consider has violated your rights about them.
- know the origin of all email not wanted.
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