Hosting News - About the APNIC Whois Database

About the APNIC Whois Database

Contents

• What is the APNIC Whois Database?
• How do I update the information in the database?
• Why should I maintain the database?
• What is a "nic-handle" ("person object")?
• What are "admin-c" and "tech-c"?
• What is a "maintainer object"?
• Can I download the full contents of the database?
• Can I use the database to map IP addresses to geographic location?

---

What is the APNIC Whois Database?

The APNIC Whois Database contains registration details of IP addresses and AS numbers originally allocated by APNIC. It shows the organisations that hold the resources, where the allocations were made, and contact details for the networks. The organisations that hold those resources are responsible for updating their information in the Database. The Database can be searched by using the web interface on the APNIC site, or by directing your whois client to whois.apnic.net (for example, whois -h whois.apnic.net 203.37.255.97).

How do I update the information in the database?

Both web- and text-based forms are available for updating APNIC Whois Database objects.

Why should I maintain the database?

To fulfil the goals of global addressing policy, previous allocations must be properly and accurately registered in the Database before requests for additional address space can be fully processed. See section 10.4 of Policies for address space management in the Asia Pacific region for more information. Maintaining accurate and up to date Database objects ensures that Internet troubleshooting is possible and helps to reduce the incidence of network abuse.

What is a "nic-handle" ("person object")?

A nic-handle, or a person object, is a unique person identifier, which references contact details for a specific person. APNIC Whois Database objects list contact persons by their nic-handles, as these are a more reliable identifier than an email addresses or a person's name (which may not be unique). An online form is available to create nic-handles.

What are "admin-c" and "tech-c"?

admin-c (administrative contact) and tech-c (technical contact) are network contact personnel and are required to be listed by their nic-handles in certain APNIC Database objects for the purposes of network troubleshooting and other operational correspondence.

The admin-c should be physically located at the site of the network.

The tech-c does not need to be physically located at the site of the network.

What is a "maintainer object"?

A maintainer object is a database object that is used to provide a method of authorising updates to the APNIC Whois Database. All objects in the APNIC Whois Database must be protected by a maintainer.

If you already have a person object, you can request a maintainer using the online form. If you do not yet have a person object, you can request a maintainer and person object at the same time using the APNIC Maintainer and Person Object Request Form.

Can I download the full contents of the database?

That depends on your intended use. APNIC's Whois Database is subject to a copyright and its use is restricted to "Internet operational issues". These words are tightly defined and would include network troubleshooting, abuse reporting, and Internet research and analysis; but would not include compiling marketing lists, demographic mapping, or any other commercial application. For more information, see the APNIC Whois Database copyright statement.

Can I use the database to map IP addresses to geographic location?

No (see Can I download the full contents of the database?). However, APNIC does produce another data source (APNIC allocation and assignment report) that allows for convenient geographic mapping.