WHOIS Lookup Data

Unknown · 06-17-2009, 09:35 PM

When someone queries a WHOIS server for a domain name, is the data sent back strictly text or is it organized into fields (eg Expiration Date, Namservers, REgistrar).

I'm trying to implement a script that queries a WHOIS server and reports back only the expiration date and registrar and was wondering if I had to use regex to clean out the text or if there is an easier method.

Barrucadu · 06-18-2009, 12:57 AM

It's just text. And what's more, the format it is sent in depends on the server.

qbert220 · 06-18-2009, 03:07 AM

If you query the TLD whois server (with recursive lookup disabled), then you should get consistent results for any domain within that TLD. Each TLD (usually) has a separate whois server. This means they you may need a different regexp for each TLD that you want to support.

mholt · 06-18-2009, 08:26 AM

You can probably write some sort of parser. I've been looking to write one actually. Maybe I will this month and I'll post it when I release it. I'm sick of seeing different formats of WHOIS text, but since generally the expiration date is preceeded by "Expire", etc, it shouldn't be terribly difficult.

06-17-2009, 09:35 PM	THREAD STARTER #1 (permalink)
Unknown NamePros Regular Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: IL Posts: 657	WHOIS Lookup Data When someone queries a WHOIS server for a domain name, is the data sent back strictly text or is it organized into fields (eg Expiration Date, Namservers, REgistrar). I'm trying to implement a script that queries a WHOIS server and reports back only the expiration date and registrar and was wondering if I had to use regex to clean out the text or if there is an easier method.

06-18-2009, 12:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
Barrucadu Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: East Yorkshire, England Posts: 2,689 Follow @barrucadu	It's just text. And what's more, the format it is sent in depends on the server. __________________ Website \| Blog Arch Hurd developer; GNU Webmaster; FSF member #8385

06-18-2009, 03:07 AM	#3 (permalink)
qbert220 NamePros Regular Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: UK Posts: 395	If you query the TLD whois server (with recursive lookup disabled), then you should get consistent results for any domain within that TLD. Each TLD (usually) has a separate whois server. This means they you may need a different regexp for each TLD that you want to support. __________________ DNS Test and Check - PHP Tutorials Credit Score Ratings FHA Loan Information

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06-18-2009, 08:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
mholt DNOA Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 5,040	You can probably write some sort of parser. I've been looking to write one actually. Maybe I will this month and I'll post it when I release it. I'm sick of seeing different formats of WHOIS text, but since generally the expiration date is preceeded by "Expire", etc, it shouldn't be terribly difficult.

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