whois -v option.

Dear Colleagues,

A new feature is available in the RIPE Database; "whois -v".

This option displays detailed information of any type of 
object that is accepted by the RIPE database.  Each attribute 
of the object is briefly described, as is the object itself.
A more detailed template of the object is also given.

A full list of objects is available by typing
"all" after the "-v" option.

The new, detailed template only is available using
"whois -t".

A full list of objects may be obtained by typing
"all" after the "-t" option.

The new template lists each of the attributes of an object
together with a list of flags.  Flags are enclosed in square 
brackets and separated within the list by white space. 

The flags are ...

[mandatory] - 	An object MUST NOT contain zero instances of this 
	        attribute.
[optional]  - 	An object MAY contain zero instances of this attribute.
[single]    -   An object MUST NOT contain more than one instance of 
	        this attribute.
[multiple]  -   An object MAY contain more than one instance of this 
	        attribute.
[look-up key] - Attribute  is indexed.
[inverse key] - Attribute is in the 'reverse' index. (use -i)
[primary key] - Attribute is (part of) the primary key.

[primary/look-up key] - Attribute is both indexed and is (part
			of) the primary key.

The "-t" option does not display a list of obsolete
attributes, as before.  The "-v" option must be used.


Example:

[an-lar]$ whois -h whois.ripe.net -t person

person:      [mandatory]  [single]      [primary/look-up key]
address:     [mandatory]  [multiple]    [ ]
phone:       [mandatory]  [multiple]    [ ]
fax-no:      [optional]   [multiple]    [ ]
e-mail:      [optional]   [multiple]    [look-up key]
nic-hdl:     [mandatory]   [single]     [primary/look-up key]
remarks:     [optional]   [multiple]    [ ]
notify:      [optional]   [multiple]    [inverse key]
mnt-by:      [optional]   [multiple]    [inverse key]
changed:     [mandatory]  [multiple]    [ ]
source:      [mandatory]  [single]      [ ]


To use "whois -v", you will need a new whois client.  The new
version of the whois client is available at

<ftp://ftp.ripe.net/tools/ripe-whois-tools-2.1.tar.gz>

If you have anymore questions, please contact
<ripe-dbm at ripe.net>.

Regards,

Ambrose Magee
____________________________
RIPE Database Administration.