Hauptnavigation:

You are here: Homepage > DOMAINS > whois-Service > Changes-within-public-whois

DENIC public-whois – What’s New

The command-line-based public-whois which enables querying the status and specific data of .de domains has been comprehensively revised by DENIC lately.

Consolidation measures did not only include a revised architecture of the whois but also optimization of its functions: Systematic elimination of inconsistencies and simultaneous standardization of the parameter and output syntax blend to make the new whois much more user-friendly.
As of 21 September 2010, DENIC makes available a revised version of the public-whois in the productive environment.

The following domains were created for test purposes:

testdomain-connect-nsentry.de
(connected domain including NS entries)

testdomain-connect-nserver.de
(connected domain including nameservers)

testdomain-connect-nserver-dnskey.de
(connected domain including nameservers plus DNSKEY entry –
Note: This DNSSEC key material is not valid for the regular DNS but only for the name service in the DNSSEC testbed.)

tästdomain-failed-nserver.de
(non-connected domain, status: failed)

testdomain-failed-nserver-dnskey.de
(non-connected domain, status: failed, plus DNSKEY entry –
Note: This DNSSEC key material is not valid for the regular DNS but only for the name service in the DNSSEC testbed.)

in--valid.de
(domain status: invalid. reason: hyphens at 3rd and 4th places in string)

We have compiled the new features and amendments for you here. For more detailed information refer to the new public-whois documentation.

Survey of Changed Items

  • Parameter values: The input of parameter values may be case-insensitive (hELp, sT, DM).
  • Strict plausibility check of query syntax:
    • Check OK: Status and/or domain data are output in standard text format (depending on query object).

      - Status:
      • connect
      • failed
      • free
      • invalid

      - Domain data: The output will be consistent with the query.

    • Check NOK: The error message "Error 55000000007 Request not clearly specified" will be output.
  • The output always occurs in key/value format, separated by one empty space. Example: keyword (precisely one empty space) value
  • The blank line after the output values will be omitted.
  • Below keywords were renamed as follows:
    old: Pcode; new: PostalCode
    old: Country; new: CountryCode
  • The current Access Control Limit scheme was revised as follows

    Error: "55000000002 Connection refused; access control limit exceeded"

    To prevent excessive use, the number of queries per network and time interval is limited. If the permitted maximum value is exceeded, no further queries can be made until the next time interval after the time interval in which the query was started has expired. Each additional non-permitted query which extends into the respective next time interval will prolong the period of blocked access until the end of the respective succeeding interval. DENIC reserves the right to vary the permissible number of queries as well as the duration of the time interval in line with varying system load conditions. When the permitted maximum is exceeded the following error message will be output: "Connection refused; access control limit exceeded". In your own interest, you should observe an appropriate waiting period before making the next query after you have received such an error message. Repeated violation of the ACL will prolong the period during which the domain query service is not accessible for your IP addresses and your network.

Documentation DENIC-12p: whois