Hostname Server
RFC 953
Document | Type |
RFC - Historic
(October 1985; No errata)
Obsoletes RFC 811
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Authors | |||
Last updated | 2013-03-02 | ||
Stream | Legacy | ||
Formats | plain text html pdf htmlized bibtex | ||
Stream | Legacy state | (None) | |
Consensus Boilerplate | Unknown | ||
RFC Editor Note | (None) | ||
IESG | IESG state | RFC 953 (Historic) | |
Telechat date | |||
Responsible AD | (None) | ||
Send notices to | (None) |
Network Working Group K. Harrenstien (SRI) Request for Comments: 953 M. Stahl (SRI) Obsoletes: RFC 811 E. Feinler (SRI) October 1985 HOSTNAME SERVER STATUS OF THIS MEMO This RFC is the official specification of the Hostname Server Protocol. This edition of the specification includes minor revisions to RFC 811 which brings it up to date. Distribution of this memo is unlimited. INTRODUCTION The NIC Internet Hostname Server is a TCP-based host information program and protocol running on the SRI-NIC machine. It is one of a series of internet name services maintained by the DDN Network Information Center (NIC) at SRI International on behalf of the Defense Communications Agency (DCA). The function of this particular server is to deliver machine-readable name/address information describing networks, gateways, hosts, and eventually domains, within the internet environment. As currently implemented, the server provides the information outlined in the DoD Internet Host Table Specification [See RFC-952]. For a discussion of future developments see also RFC-921 concerning the Domain Name System. PROTOCOL To access this server from a program, establish a TCP connection to port 101 (decimal) at the service host, SRI-NIC.ARPA (26.0.0.73 or 10.0.0.51). Send the information request (a single line), and read the resulting response. The connection is closed by the server upon completion of the response, so only one request can be made for each connection. QUERY/RESPONSE FORMAT The name server accepts simple text query requests of the form <command key> <argument(s)> [<options>] where square brackets ("[]") indicate an optional field. The command key is a keyword indicating the nature of the request. The defined keys are explained below. The response, on the other hand, is of the form <response key> : <rest of response> Harrenstien & Stahl & Feinler [Page 1] RFC 953 October 1985 Hostname Server where <response key> is a keyword indicating the nature of the response, and the rest of the response is interpreted in the context of the key. NOTE: Care should be taken to interpret the nature of the reply (e.g, single record or multiple record), so that no confusion about the state of the reply results. An "ALL" request will likely return several hundred or more records of all types, whereas "HNAME" or "HADDR" will usually return one HOST record. COMMAND/RESPONSE KEYS The currently defined command keywords are listed below. NOTE: Because the server and the features available will evolve with time, the HELP command should be used to obtain the most recent summary of implemented features, changes, or new commands. Keyword Response HELP This information. VERSION "VERSION: <string>" where <string> will be different for each version of the host table. HNAME <hostname> One or more matching host table entries. HADDR <hostaddr> One or more matching host table entries. ALL The entire host table. ALL-OLD The entire host table without domain style names. DOMAINS The entire top-level domain table (domains only). ALL-DOM Both the entire domain table and the host table. ALL-INGWAY All known gateways in TENEX/TOPS-20 INTERNET.GATEWAYS format. Remember that the server accepts only a single command line and returns only a single response before closing the connection. HNAME and HADDR are useful for looking up a specific host by name or address; VERSION can be used by automated processes to see whether a "new" version of the host table exists without having to transfer the Harrenstien & Stahl & Feinler [Page 2] RFC 953 October 1985 Hostname Server whole table. Note, however, that the returned version string is only guaranteed to be unique to each version, and nothing should currently be assumed about its format. Response Keys: ERR entry not found, nature of error follows NET entry found, rest of entry follows GATEWAY entry found, rest of entry follows HOST entry found, rest of entry follows DOMAIN entry found, rest of entry follows BEGIN followed by multiple entries END done with BEGIN block of entries More keywords will be added as new needs are recognized. A more detailed description of the allowed requests/responses follows. QUERY/RESPONSE EXAMPLESShow full document text