APNIC Whois Database search help

Less specific query options

Use these options to view IP address blocks that match or are larger than the IP address or range you wish to query.

-l    First level less specific

Use this option when querying:

• a single IP address
• a range of IP addresses
• an IP address prefix

This option returns:

The smallest IP address range that includes the IP address or range specified in the query.

Hint:

When querying the APNIC Whois Database on an IP address range, -l is the default option.

Example searches:

-l 61.48.0.130
-l 61.48.0.0-61.48.0.255
-l 61.48.0.0/24

-L    All levels less specific

Use this option when querying:

• a single IP address
• a range of IP addresses
• an IP address prefix

This option returns:

All IP address ranges that include the IP address or range specified in the query.

Hint:

Use this option to view any upstream IP address blocks associated with the query range.
Viewing the upstream IP address range can be useful for network troubleshooting.
Please note, that as well as upstream address blocks, the top level 'parent' range allocated to APNIC by IANA will also be returned. APNIC makes allocations from this range, but does operate the networks that use these addresses. The netname of the APNIC IP address block begins with 'APNIC-AP' (or similar).

Example searches:

-L 61.48.0.130
-L 61.48.0.0-61.48.0.255
-L 61.48.0.0/24

More specific query options

Use these options to view IP address blocks that match or are smaller than the IP address or range you wish to query.

-m    First level more specific

Use this option when querying:

• a range of IP addresses
• an IP address prefix

This option returns:

First level more specific address ranges within the boundaries of the IP address range specified in the query.

Hint:

Use this option to:

• view assignments made from a network's allocation block to customers
• view allocations or assignments made from an RIR or NIR block to networks

Example searches:

-m 41.48.0.0-61.55.255.255
-m 41.48.0.0/12

-M    All levels more specific

Use this option when querying:

• a range of IP addresses
• an IP address prefix

This option returns:

All more specific address ranges within the boundaries of the IP address range specified in the query.

Hint:

Use this option to:

• view all allocations and assignments made from a specified address block.
• check that no unauthorised address blocks have been created under address space allocated or assigned to your network.

Note: do not use this option to view all allocations and assignments in a /8. If you do try to do this, you will be blocked by the server for excessive query load.

Example searches:

-M 41.48.0.0-61.55.255.255
-M 41.48.0.0/12

Exact lookups

Use this option to view IP address blocks that exactly match the IP address range you wish to query.

-x    Exact match only

Use this option when querying:

• a range of IP addresses
• an IP address prefix

This option returns:

The specific address range specified in the query. If no exact match is found, nothing will be returned.

Hint:

Use this option to:

• view details of a specific address range you know exists

Note: If you are not sure of the exact address range, do not use this option. Instead, use one of the following options: -l, -L, -m, -M.

Example searches:

-x 61.49.9.128-61.49.9.143
-x 61.0.0.0/8

Associated reverse domains

Use this option to view reverse domains associated with IP address blocks returned by the query on an IP address or range.

-d    Return associated reverse domain

Use this option when querying:

• a single IP address
• a range of IP addresses
• an IP address prefix

This option returns:

An exact match, or the smallest IP address range that includes the IP address or range specified in the query. It also returns the smallest reverse domain that encompasses that IP address range.

Hints:

• view the reverse domain associated with an IP address or range.
• check if reverse domains have been created for all assigned address space.

Use this option in combination with -l, -L, -m or -M to:

• view reverse domains associated with all IP address ranges returned by the normal -l, -L, -m or -M queries.

Use this option in combination with -T to:

• restrict the search results to reverse domains only

Note: All assigned address space should have associated reverse domains created in the APNIC Whois Database. To create reverse domains for address blocks, see Reverse DNS delegations resource guide.

Example searches:

-d 61.49.9.128-61.49.9.143
-d 61.49.9.128
-d -M 61.48.0.0/15
-d -T domain 61.48.0.0/15

Inverse queries

Use this option when:

• searching for objects in the APNIC Whois Database that have an attribute matching the attribute type chosen from the inverse lookup scroll list and the query text given by the user.

This option returns:

All objects that have an attribute that matches the query text and attribute type.

Hint:

Use this option to:

• view all objects maintained by a particular maintainer
• view all objects where a particular NIC-handle is referenced
• Note: use -i person or -i mntner when staff leave a network to identify objects referencing that person that need to be updated.

Example searches:

-i notify hostmaster@apnic.net
-i tech-c,admin-c,zone-c DNS3-AP

Object types

Use this option when:

• you need to limit your search to particular types of objects

This option returns:

Results that match the query AND are of the object type specified in the scroll list.

Hint:

Use this option to:

• Reduce the number of objects returned if the specified query text appears in a number of object types.

Use this option in combination with -i options, or -d to limit the types of objects returned by the search.

Example searches:

-T person telstra
-T person -i mnt-by apnic-hm