Network solutions shut down that nifty telnet thing on whois.intenic.net on the default telnet port (25), despite many protests. However, there is something fun you can do with telnet with whois.internic.net or any other cooperating domain name server. At your DOS prompt in Windows (search for command.com or cmd.exe to run a DOS prompt) or teminal prompt (shell) in Linux or Unix, type:

telnet whois.internic.net 43

It gives a blank page. Type in the domain name you want to check and hit enter. Voila! You get something like this:

Whois Server Version 1.3

Domain names in the .com and .net domains can now be registered
with many different competing registrars. Go to http://www.internic.net for detailed information.

Domain Name: TECHBROKER.COM
Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, INC.
Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
Referral URL: http://www.networksolutions.com
Name Server: DNS1.WURLD.NET
Name Server: DNS2.WURLD.NET
Status: ACTIVE
Updated Date: 11-dec-2002
Creation Date: 13-feb-1996
Expiration Date: 14-feb-2006

>>> Last update of whois database: Fri, 14 Nov 2003 07:28:09 EST <<<

NOTICE: The expiration date displayed in this record is the date the registrar's sponsorship of the domain name registration in the registry is currently set to expire. This date does not necessarily reflect the expiration date of the domain name registrant's agreement with the sponsoring registrar. Users may consult the sponsoring registrar's Whois database to view the registrar's reported date of expiration for this registration.

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