Copyright: ® FTP Software, Inc. 1997. All rights reserved.
Citation: ® Copyright FTP Software, Inc. 1997. All rights reserved.


Query Help Contents

Overview

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts

Getting Technical Assistance


Introducing Query

What is Query?

Getting Started

Related Topics

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts


Step-by-Step Instructions

Getting Information About Network Users and Hosts

Find Users and Hosts on the Internet

Get Full Finger Information from a Remote Host

Get Information About a Specific User from a Remote Host

Get Information About All Users Logged in to a Remote Host

Get Information About Hosts, Users, and Services from an NIS Server

Get Special Internet Information from a Finger Server

Translate a Hostname to an Internet Address

Translate an Internet Address to a Hostname

Managing Query

Display the Status Bar

Display the Toolbar

Hide the Status Bar

Hide the Toolbar

Save Network Information

Related Topics

Introduction

Concepts


Concepts

General Information about Query

NIS Keys and Their Corresponding NIS Map Names

What is a Domain Name System Server?

What is a Finger Server?

What is a Network Information System Server?

What is a Nicname Server?

Commands

The Commands Menu

The Edit Menu

The Settings Menu

The Toolbar

When Things Go Wrong

Resolving Common Errors

Related Topics

Introduction

Step-by-Step Instructions


What is Query?

Query consists of four independent programs that help you find information about hosts, users, and services on a network. From the Command menu, you can issue the following commands:

Finger 	To get information about a specific user or about all users who are logged in to a remote host.  The Finger server determines the information that Finger displays in the Information box. From the Settings menu, choose Verbose to display more information about users.

Nicname 	To get information about hosts and users who are registered with the InterNIC.  Your network must be connected to the Internet for you to use Nicname.

Host 	To find the Internet address for a hostname, or a hostname for an Internet address.  The Host command uses domain name servers, or a local host table (if one exists), to find hostnames and Internet addresses.

NIS Query 	To get information about hosts, users, and services from a Network Information System (NIS) server. The NIS server determines the information that NIS Query displays in the Information box.

You can copy information that you obtain with Query from the Query Information box to the Windows Clipboard.

From the Settings menu, you can display or hide the toolbar and the status bar, and save settings for the next session.

Dialog Box Items

User/Key

Host/Server/Map

Start/Stop

Information

Related Topics

Getting Started

Common Errors

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts


Before You Start
Getting Started

Before you use the Finger command, be sure that you know the hostname or the IP address of at least one Finger server.

Before you use the NIS Query command, be sure that you configure at least one NIS server address. If you do not configure an NIS server address, the NIS Query command broadcasts a request on the local subnet to locate an NIS server.

Related Topics

What is Query?

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts


Display the TooIbar
Display the Toolbar

From the Settings menu, choose Display Toolbar if a check mark does not appear next to the command.

Related Topics

Display the Status Bar

Hide the Status Bar

Hide the Toolbar

Introduction

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts


Hide the Toolbar

From the Settings menu, choose Display Toolbar if a check mark appears next to the command.

Related Topics

Display the Status Bar

Display the Toolbar

Hide the Status Bar

Introduction

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts


Display the Status Bar

From the Settings menu, choose Display Status Bar if a check mark does not appear next to the command.

Related Topics

Display the Toolbar

Hide the Status Bar

Hide the Toolbar

Introduction

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts


Display the Status Bar
Hide the Status Bar

From the Settings menu, choose Display Status Bar if a check mark appears next to the command.

Related Topics

Display the Status Bar

Display the Toolbar

Hide the Toolbar

Introduction

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts


Troubleshooting Query
Resolve Common Errors

This section lists common situations that you might encounter with Query and describes how to respond.

The following message appears:

Cannot resolve hostname:Host unknown message.

Cause:  Query is unable to locate the hostname or the IP address of the remote host. The remote system may be down, or the kernel may not be able to locate the remote host.

Solution:  Verify the name or IP address of the remote host. Determine if the remote system is running.

A host request does not return a hostname for an IP address of an Internet host.

Cause:  The database may not contain the hostname for the IP address. On the Internet, the number-to-text database is not as well maintained as the text-to-number database.

Solution:  Contact your system administrator for assistance.

The following message appears as the result of an NIS Query:

Cant bind to server which serves this domain

Cause:  Your computer is not configured for NIS.

Solution:  Use the OnNet Configure utility to set up NIS. From the main menu, select Name Server Configuration. At the Name Server Configuration dialog box, select NIS. Then enter your computers name as the hostname and complete the remaining fields and click OK.

The following message appears:

host not responding

Cause:  The remote host did not respond to the Finger request.

Solution:  Use the Ping command to verify that you can connect to the remote host. Contact your system administrator to verify that the host runs a Finger server.

The following message appears:

Closed: foreign reset

Cause:  The remote host did not respond to a Finger request.

Solution:  Use the Ping command to verify that you can connect to the remote host. Contact your system administrator to verify that the host runs a Finger server.

Related Topics

Introduction

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts


Toolbar
The Toolbar

The toolbar gives you quick access to Query commands.

Use this button	To do this

Display the list of users who are currently logged in to a remote host, and display information about those users.

Display information about a user who has login privileges on a specified remote host.

Request information about users and hosts registered with a Network Information Center (an InterNIC Registration Services host).

Translate hostnames to Internet addresses and Internet addresses to hostnames.

Request information about users, hosts, and services from a Network Information System server.

Exit from Query.  You can also use the Exit command from the File menu.

Related Topics

Introduction

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts


Edit Menu Commands
The Edit Menu

Use the Edit menu commands to copy and remove text in the Query boxes.

Use this command	To do this

Copy	Copy selected text to the Clipboard.

Clear	Remove selected text.

Select All	Select all of the text in a box.

You can then use the Copy command to copy this selected text to the Clipboard.

Related Topics

Introduction

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts


Commands Menu Commands
The Commands Menu

Use the Commands menu commands to get information about users who are logged in to remote hosts, and to translate hostnames and Internet addresses.

Use this command	To do this

Finger	Display the list of users who are currently logged in to a remote host, and display information about those users.

Display information about a user who has login privileges on a specified remote host.

Nicname	Request information about users and hosts registered with the Network Information Center (an InterNIC Registration Services host).

NIS Query	Request information about users, hosts, and services from a Network Information System server.

Host	Translate hostnames to Internet addresses and Internet addresses to hostnames.

Related Topics

Introduction

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts


Settings Menu Commands
The Settings Menu

Use the Settings menu commands to customize the screen display of the Query application.

Use this command	To do this

Display Toolbar	Display the toolbar, or hide the toolbar.  Use the toolbar to gain quick access to the Query commands.

Display Status Bar	Display status bar messages at the bottom of the Query boxes, or hide the status bar.  The status bar gives you information about the application.

Verbose	Request additional Finger information about all users who are currently logged in to a remote host.  Verbose provides information such as a user's home directory, the program that person uses after logging in to the host, and the contents of user files that the host displays (called .PLAN  and .PROJECT files). Users can provide any information in these files that they want a Finger (verbose) request to display.

Save Settings on Exit	Save the most recent settings for Query when you exit from the application.

Related Topics

Introduction

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts


What is a Domain Name System Server
What is a Domain Name System Server?

A Domain Name System (DNS) server is a program, running on some hosts, that translates between hostnames and Internet Protocol addresses.

A system administrator can configure a DNS server to provide translation services for just a few hosts, or for all hosts on many subnets. DNS servers can communicate with one another, thus providing hostname-to-IP address translation for the entire Internet.

If you are unsuccessful in using the Host command to translate an IP address to a hostname, be aware that IP address-to-hostname databases are not as well maintained as hostname-to-IP address databases.

Related Topics

Introduction

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts


What is a Finger Server
What is a Finger Server?

A Finger server is a program, running on some hosts, which provides information about users who have login privileges on that host. That information can included a users full name, login name, and the users last login time. A Finger server may also provide a list of the users who are currently logged in to the host.

A system administrator can also configure a Finger server as a general information server, providing information about various topics, such as weather and earthquakes.

Not all Finger servers provide the same information for Finger requests, and some hosts do not run Finger servers. If you do not receive a reply for a Finger request, it may be that the remote host does not run a Finger server.

Related Topics

Introduction

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts


What is a Nicname Server
What is a Nicname Server?

A Nicname server is a program, running on a few hosts, which provides information about registered users and hosts on the Internet.

A Nicname server provides information about individual users, including their

•	Full name.

•	Username for a specified host (typically their e-mail address).

•	Site address.

•	Telephone number.

A Nicname server provides information about hosts, including

•	The physical location of the machine.

•	Its full hostname.

•	Its IP address.

A Nicname server can also occasionally provide additional information, including

•	What kind of computer a host is.

•	What operating system it runs.

•	Any administrative or technical contact registered for the host.

The default server is RS.INTERNIC.NET.

The Nicname command in Query lets you get the same information that you would get with the UNIX whois command.

Related Topics

Introduction

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts


What is a Nicname Server
What is a Network Information System Server?

A Network Information System (NIS) server is a program, running mostly on Sun Microsystems hosts, which provides information about users, hosts, and services available on or near that host.

An NIS server allows hosts to share common network-related data, including information about hostnames, user accounts, and mail aliases.  Some NIS servers also provide information about Remote Procedure Call (RPC) programs running on the server.

The administrator of an NIS server determines what kind of data to provide.  An NIS administrator creates a database, consisting of NIS maps, which you access by specifying keys and  NIS map names.

NIS databases can contain a wide variety of data.

The NIS Query command in Query lets you get the same information that you would get with the UNIX ypcat and ypmatch commands.

Related Topics

Introduction

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts


Translate a Hostname to an Internet Address

1.	From the Commands menu, choose Host.

--or--

From the toolbar, choose the Host button [image].

2.	In the Host box, enter the name of a remote host.

3.	Choose Start.

The Information box displays the Internet address for the remote host.

You can use commands on the Edit menu to copy or remove the information that appears in the Information box.

Related Topics

Save Network Information

Introduction

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts


Translate an Internet Address to a Hostname

1.	From the Commands menu, choose Host.

--or--

From the toolbar, choose the Host button  [image].

2.	In the Host box, enter the Internet address of a network host.

3.	Choose Start.

The Information box displays the hostname for the Internet address.

You can use commands on the Edit menu to copy or remove the information that appears in the Information box.

Related Topics

Save Network Information

Introduction

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts


Get Information About a Specific User from a Remote Host

1.	From the Commands menu, choose Finger.

--or--

From the toolbar, choose the Finger button [image].

2.	In the User box, enter the username of a user.

3.	In the Host box, enter the hostname or the Internet address of the remote host.

4.	Choose Start.

You can use commands on the Edit menu to copy or remove the information that appears in the Information box.

Related Topics

Get Full Finger Information from a Remote Host

Get Information About All Users Logged in to a Remote Host

Get Special Internet Information from a Finger Server

Save Network Information

Introduction

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts


Get Information About All Users Logged in to a Remote Host

1.	From the Commands menu, choose Finger.

--or--

From the toolbar, choose the Finger button [image].

2.	In the Host box, enter the hostname or Internet address of the remote host.

3.	Choose Start.

You can use commands on the Edit menu to copy or remove the information that appears in the Information box.

Related Topics

Get Full Finger Information from a Remote Host

Get Information About a Specific User from a Remote Host

Get Special Internet Information from a Finger Server

Save Network Information

Introduction

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts


Get Full Finger Information from a Remote Host

1.	From the Settings menu, choose Verbose.

2.	From the Commands menu, choose Finger.

--or--

From the toolbar, choose the Finger button [image].

3.	In the Host box, enter the hostname or Internet address of the remote host.

4.	Choose Start.

You can use commands on the Edit menu to copy or remove the information that appears in the Information box.

Related Topics

Get Information About a Specific User from a Remote Host

Get Information About All Users Logged in to a Remote Host

Get Special Internet Information from a Finger Server

Save Network Information

Introduction

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts


Get Special Internet Information from a Finger Server

1.	From the Commands menu, choose Finger.

--or--

From the toolbar, choose the Finger button [image].

2.	In the User box, enter the user entry required by the Finger server.

3.	In the Host box, enter the hostname or the Internet address of the remote host that provides the information service.

4.	Choose Start.

You can use commands on the Edit menu to copy or remove the information that appears in the Information box.

Related Topics

Get Full Finger Information from a Remote Host

Get Information About a Specific User from a Remote Host

Get Information About All Users Logged in to a Remote Host

Save Network Information

Introduction

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts


Finding Hosts and Users on the Internet
Find Users and Hosts on the Internet

1.	From the Commands menu, choose Nicname.

--or--

From the toolbar, choose the Nicname button [image].

2.	In the User box, enter an entry using one of the acceptable formats.

3.	In the Server box, select the hostname of an InterNIC Registration Services host.  The default server is RS.INTERNIC.NET.  The default server for the Department of Defense is NIC.DDN.MIL.

--or--

In the Server box, enter the hostname or Internet address of an InterNIC Registration Services host.

4.	Choose Start.

You can use commands on the Edit menu to copy or remove the information that appears in the Information box.

Related Topic

Introduction

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts


Acceptable Nicname User Formats

Use this format	To find

user@host	Information about a specified user at a specified host.  Typically, this format is the same as a user's e-mail address.

username	Information about a specified name or user ID.

.last_name	Information about users with the specified last name.

hostname	System administration information about a specified host.

@hostname	A list of registered users on a specified host.

name.	Every username, hostname, and last name that starts with a specified name.

handle	Information about a user identified by the handle (a handle is a set of characters that uniquely identifies a user).  The handle appears in parentheses after the name of a user in a list of users returned by a Nicname request.


Get Information About Hosts, Users, and Services from an NIS Server

1.	From the Commands menu, choose NIS Query.

--or--

From the toolbar, choose the NIS Query button [image].

2.	In the Key box, enter an appropriate key type for your search.

3.	In the Map box, enter an NIS map name, or select a map from the default map names in the pull-down menu.

You must enter a key type appropriate to the NIS map name.

If you leave the Key box blank, the NIS Query command displays all of the values in the map name that you specify in the Map box.

4.	Choose Start.

You can use commands on the Edit menu to copy or remove the information that appears in the Information box.

Related Topic

Introduction

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts


NIS Key Types and NIS Map Names
NIS Key Types and Their Corresponding NIS Map Names

For this map name	Use this key type	Which returns this information
ethers.byname	hostname	Ethernet MAC address
group.byname	group name	members of the group (by username)
hosts.byaddr	IP address	hostname
hosts.byname	hostname	IP address
mail.aliases	mail alias	member(s) of the mail alias group
networks.byaddr	IP address	network domain name
passwd.byname	username	user account data
protocols.bynumber	protocol number	protocol name
services.byname	service name	port number for service
Related Topics

Get Information About Hosts, Users, and Services from an NIS Server

What is a Network Information System Server?

Introduction

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts


Saving Network Information
Save Network Information

1.	In the Information box, select text.

--or--

From the Edit menu, choose Select All (your cursor must be in the Information box).

2.	From the Edit menu, choose Copy.

Query copies the selected text to the Windows Clipboard. You can copy the text from the Clipboard to a file.

Related Topics

Get Full Finger Information from a Remote Host

Get Information About a Specific User from a Remote Host

Get Information About All Users Logged in to a Remote Host

Get Special Internet Information from a Finger Server

Translate a Hostname to an Internet Address

Translate an Internet Address to a Hostname

Introduction

Step-by-Step Instructions

Concepts


Domain Name Servers
Domain Name System (DNS) Servers

Computers on the network that run a program that translates between hostnames and Internet Protocol (IP) addresses.


hostname

The name of a computer on a network.


toolbar

A group of graphical symbols that appears below the menu bar.  These symbols give you quick access to the functions that you can use with Query.


status bar

The line at the bottom of a window that gives you information about the application.


Internet address

A unique identifier for a specific TCP/IP host (computer) on a network.  An Internet address is also called an Internet Protocol (IP) address.  Internet addresses consist of four integers separated by dots (.); for example, 128.127.55.55.


InterNIC

A clearinghouse for network information.  InterNIC provides network numbers for the Internet and collects and disseminates information about protocol standards.  InterNIC registration services hosts maintain directories that list information about people working on Internet issues.


local host table

A file that lists names of hosts on your local network.  The file contains Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, hostnames, and aliases for hosts.  Network applications use this file when translating between hostnames and Internet Protocol addresses.


remote host

Another computer on the network.


NIS maps

Specialized NIS database entries, consisting of a key and some corresponding information, matched to that key (for example, a map could match a hostname with its IP address, or a username and GID.)


NIS map names

Data types for accessing information in NIS databases, usually expressed in the following form: datatype.format (for example, hosts.byaddr or gid.byname).


server

An application that provides services to other computers on the network.


User (Finger and Nicname modes): Enter the username of the user for whom you are searching.
Key (NIS Query mode): Enter an NIS key here, corresponding to the NIS map name you selected from the Map dropdown box. For example, enter an IP address for the map name hostname.byaddr, or a username for the map name passwd.byname.


Displays the network information you receive in response to your queries. You can copy and paste text from this area to other files.

Finger: Detailed user information

NicName: User and host information

Host: IP address

NIS Query: Depends on the Map value you select


Host (Finger and Host modes):Enter the hostname or IP address of the network host you want to reach.

Server (Nicname mode):Select a Nicname server from this list.

Map (NIS Query mode): Enter an NIS map name here, or select a map name from the dropdown list.


Enter an NIS key here, corresponding to the NIS map name you are searching (for example, enter an IP address for the map hostname.byaddr, or a username for the map passwd.byname).


Enter an NIS map name here, or select a map name from the list.


account name: The name or word that identifes who is billed for this session on a computer system.


case sensitivity: The ability of a program to evalutate the difference between the capitalized and non-capitalized versions of a character. Case sensitive programs treat for example, cat and Cat, as distinct items.

It matters how you enter file and variable names on a case sensitive operating system (such as the UNIX operating system). If you want to view a file named Cat, and you enter the characters cat,  the system displays the file named cat if one exists, or gives you an error message. It does not display a file named Cat. Case sensitivity also effects the way that files are listed when sorted in alphabetical order.

.


filename conventions: A TCP/IP network usually contains computers that run different operating systems. Each operating system has different conventions for naming files. For example, both the number and kinds of characters that can be used in a name are often subject to limits.

When you use some TCP/IP supported services such as telnet and ftp, use the filenaming conventions in effect on the host system to work with files that are on the host.


hostname: The name of a networked computer.

The hostname is one form of the computers TCP/IP network address; the other is its complete numeric network address.You can access a computer by its hostname or its numeric network address.


toolbar: A group of buttons that appears below the menu bar. These buttons let you gain access quickly to the application's features.


IP address: A number (in the form n.n.n.n  where each n is a value in the range 0 to 255) that uniquely identifies a networked computer that uses the TCP/IP communication protocol. (The Internet Protocol is defined in RFC 791.)


MIB-II: The Management Information Base (MIB) database used by an SNMP MIB agent to store information about the network operations of your PC. MIB-II (or MIB version 2) is the second version of the Internet-standard MIB. RFC 1213 defines the format of MIB-II.


packet: A single network message with its associated header, addressing information, data, and optional trailer. Also known as a "frame" or "datagram".


password: A word or string of characters that you supply in order to login to another system on a network. Systems that accept the username "anonymous" often require you to provide your e-mail address as the password.


permissions: On UNIX systems, settings that control who has access to a file and what rights (read, write, or execute) are given. NFS uses UNIX-style permissions to control access to network files.


protocol window: Some OnNet applications support a window dedicated to displaying the interactions between your PC and the remote host (the protocol). You can display the window usually from a View, Settings, or Options menu.


remote host: A networked computer that makes a service available to other computers on the network. Typical host services include transferring files, printing files, and managing logins from remote users.


SNMP community: A relationship between an SNMP agent and one or more SNMP management stations.


SNMP community name: A unique name shared by the members of an SNMP community.


SNMP message: A packet of data, consisting of an SNMP community name and SNMP commands and operands.


status bar: A message area, typically at the bottom of the application window, that provides information about the component that is currently selected, or the state of the application.


session: A session comprises the interactions between your PC and a remote host  beginning with the initial connection and ending when you or the host explicitly disconnect.

Some OnNet applications allow you to configure sessions, that is, automatically send parameters such as your username and password to the remote host..


session definition: The configuration settings for a particular session or host connection. A session definition might include such settings as the hostname of a computer on the network and your login name for that computer, as well as other values that you specify. The set of session parameters you can specify differs with each program.


TCP (Transmission Control Protocol): A Transport layer, connection-oriented, end-to-end protocol that provides reliable, sequenced, and nonduplicated delivery of bytes to a remote or a local user. TCP provides reliable byte stream communication between pairs of processes in hosts attached to interconnected networks.


time out: A period of time when a connection between a PC and a  host computer is allowed to be idle or unused, or when a PC can attempt to make a connection to a networked host..

When the time period elapses, the host closes the idle connection, or the PC reports that it failed to connect to a host.


UDP (User Datagram Protocol): A Transport layer, connection-less mode protocol providing a (potentially unreliable, unsequenced, and/or duplicated) datagram communication for delivery of packets to a remote or a local user. UDP provides a procedure for a process to send messages to other processes with a minimum of protocol mechanism.


username: A name required for login to a remote system.


wildcard:  A character such as * or ? that represents one or more characters in a filename. In a network, each operating system supports its own wildcard characters and syntax. When you use wildcards on a remote host, follow the conventions that apply to that host.


Displays or hides additional elements of this dialog box.


Returns to the previous dialog box.


Displays the Open dialog box so that you can search for a specific file.


Cancels your selection(s) and close the dialog box without taking any action.


Closes the dialog box.


Exits the application.


Displays Help about the contents of this dialog box.


Does not proceed as indicated.


Proceeds to the next dialog box.


Confirms your selection(s) and close the dialog box.


Opens the Options dialog box.


Enter a word or string of characters to log in to another system, workgroup, or domain on a network.


Protects the contents of the file from modification.


Starts the operation.


Stops the operation.


Starts or stops the operation.


Enter the hostname or IP address of the remote host that you are trying to reach.


Enter the name that you use to log in to a computer on a network.


Proceeds as indicated.


Proceeds as indicated and avoids further prompts for confirmation.


Click this to set up options,


Saves all the changes you have made without closing the dialog box.


Context-sensitive help for this item is not yet implemented.


Help for this dialog box is not yet implemented.


Technical assistance

Users in the U.S. and Canada, and worldwide resellers  Contact FTP Software®:

Telephone:	(800) 382-4387

(508) 685-3600

E-mail:	support@ftp.com

Fax:	(508) 794-4484

 or

Users outside of the U.S. and Canada  Contact your local reseller.

Tip

For FREE online technical services, see:

World Wide Web:	http://www.ftp.com

Anonymous Ftp Server:	ftp.ftp.com

Bulletin Board System:	(508) 684-6240 ( settings  8,N,1)

CompuServe:	GO FTPSOFT (PCVENJ Section 8)