Unlike Linux and macOS, Windows doesn’t come with a built-in ‘whois’ command. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t access crucial domain ownership and registration information. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through how to use the whois command in Windows, covering installation, usage, and practical applications.
Getting Started: Installing WHOIS for Windows
Download WHOIS
Microsoft offers a WHOIS utility that can be downloaded from their website. You can often find it on the Sysinternals site (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/whois).
Extract and Setup
Extract the downloaded archive. For convenience, copy the ‘whois.exe’ file into your ‘C:\Windows\System32’ folder. This allows you to run the command directly from any Command Prompt window.
Using the WHOIS Command in Windows
Open a Command Prompt (Search for “cmd” in the Start menu) and use this basic syntax:
whois <domain-name>
Example:
whois microsoft.com
Understanding the Output
The output of the whois command in Windows will share similarities with the Linux counterpart. However, formatting and specific fields might differ slightly. Look out for the same core information that was outlined in the Linux-focused blog post.
Practical Applications of WHOIS in Windows
The use cases for the whois command in Windows mirror those for Linux:
- Website Troubleshooting: Track down the right company or individual to contact when encountering website problems.
- Competitor Analysis: Dig into your competitors’ domain registration information.
- Domain Availability: Discover if your desired domain name is already registered, even before attempting to purchase it.
- Security Research: Uncover potential red flags or suspicious domain registration patterns.
Additional Tips
- Third-Party WHOIS Websites: Many websites offer WHOIS lookup functionality without the need for any installation. This can be a quick alternative if you don’t need the command-line tool regularly.
- Specifying WHOIS Server: The Windows ‘whois.exe’ might not support the ‘-h’ flag for specifying servers. For those cases, rely on web-based tools.
Conclusion
Even though Windows lacks a native ‘whois’ command, obtaining WHOIS data remains simple. With the Microsoft WHOIS utility or web-based tools, you’ll gain powerful insights into the ownership and technical details behind domains. Mastering the whois command in Windows empowers you to make informed decisions about domains and troubleshoot network issues effectively.
Read also: