How to Install WHOIS on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

WHOIS is a vital tool that allows users to query domain registration details, including registrar data, contact information, and key registration dates. For those seeking to install WHOIS on Ubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish or its older stable release of Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa, this introduction sheds light on its core functionalities and advantages.

Key Features of WHOIS:

• Domain Insights: WHOIS allows users to gain insights into domain registration, revealing details about the domain’s registrar, registration, and expiration dates.
• Network Diagnostics: It aids in network troubleshooting, helping administrators pinpoint and resolve issues efficiently.
• Ownership Verification: WHOIS is instrumental in verifying domain ownership, ensuring authenticity and credibility.
• Cybersecurity Utility: Security researchers and professionals utilize WHOIS for cybersecurity investigations, identifying potential threats and malicious domains.
• Spam Detection: By revealing domain details, WHOIS assists in identifying and mitigating potential spammers or harmful websites.

Given its multifaceted applications, WHOIS is an indispensable tool for administrators, developers, and cybersecurity experts. As we proceed, this guide will detail the steps to seamlessly install WHOIS on Ubuntu, ensuring you have access to this powerful domain querying tool for your tasks.

Install Whois on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

Installing whois on Ubuntu is a straightforward process requiring only a few simple commands. Begin by opening a terminal window on your system. For desktop users, you can do this by pressing the Ctrl+Alt+T keys simultaneously.

Step 1: Update Ubuntu Before Whois Installation

Once the terminal is open, you must ensure that your system’s package index is up-to-date by running the following command:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

This command will synchronize your system with the package repositories, ensuring you have access to the latest software packages.

Step 2: Install Whois on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

After updating the package index, you can install the whois package by executing the following command:

sudo apt install whois

The system will now download and install the whois package. Once the installation is complete, you can verify that whois has been successfully installed by typing whois in the terminal. If the installation was successful, you should see usage information and available options displayed in the terminal window.

Whois Command Examples on Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

Once you have successfully installed whois on your system, you can start using it to query domain registration and network information. This section will explore several basic whois commands and explain their usage.

To query domain information, use the following command:

whois example.com

Replace “example.com” with the domain name you want to query. This command will retrieve and display information about the specified domain, such as the registrar, contact details, and registration and expiration dates.

If you want to query information about a specific IP address, use the following command:

whois 192.168.1.1

Replace “192.168.1.1” with the IP address you wish to query. This command will return information about the organization responsible for the IP address and details about the IP address block.

To query information from a specific top-level domain (TLD) server, use the following command:

whois -h whois.nic.co example.co

In this command, replace “whois.nic.co” with the TLD server you want to query and “example. co” with the domain name you’re interested in. This command is useful when gathering information directly from a TLD server instead of the default whois server.

You can also access more information on WHOIS by using the help command:

whois -h

This command will display a list of available commands and options you can use with WHOIS.

Additional Learning: Remove Whois From Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04

If you no longer need whois, run the following command in your terminal:

sudo apt remove --purge whois

Clean up any residual package files by executing the following:

sudo apt autoremove

Conclusion

Now that you know how to install, use, and remove whois on an Ubuntu desktop or server, you can gather essential domain and network information for various tasks. Understanding whois commands and their applications will help you conduct thorough domain research, troubleshoot network issues, and contribute to cybersecurity investigations.