URL retrieval - help plz!

[gvanto]

I would like to know if there's some way of checking availability of domain names
by means of querying a URL somehow...?

E.g. if i had "google.com" can i get the availability from something like:
www.godaddy.com/register.php?domain=google.com (by parsing through the returned file ?)

Any help much appreciated,
Gerry
newbie

[bpat1434]

wouldn't it be easier to search the ARIN Database for a WHOIS lookup? If it's returned, it's registered; otherwise, it's open. Actually, this one will do you better. Check any domain in the world:
AllWhois.com

You can't guarantee the output will not change in layout; however, you can still use it.

Once you learn what items to post to it (probably through cURL), and get the response text, it's a matter of parsing it, and finding the portion that looks like this:

<tr>
<td width="100">
<img src="/images/searchresults.gif" align="bottom" height="20" width="100"><br>
</td>
<td width="20">
<img src="/images/search-notavailable.gif" align="bottom" height="20" width="20"><br>
</td>
<td class="small">
Domain Taken<br>Please Search Again<br>
Domain name is currently unavailable for registration
</td></tr>

Or this for an available domain:

<tr>
<td width="100">
<img src="/images/searchresults.gif" align="bottom" height="20" width="100"><br>
</td>
<td width="20">
<img src="/images/search-available.gif" align="bottom" height="20" width="20"><br>
</td>
<td class="small">
Domain name is available and may be registered today!
</td></tr>

Then, based upon that, you can determine whether it's available or not.

[gvanto]

Parsing is OK, no problemo. The problem comes with getting the file to parse in the first place. (I am not using CURL).

I think I need to query the RIPE database - only I havent got the faintest idea how to get the WhoIS (or any other info identifying the domain as not being available)? (same with ARIN)

any suggestions ??

[bpat1434]

The RIPE database doesn't even have all the registered domains available to it. And, it's web-updatabale. This seems that it could cause issues with the truth. I could write info about a non-registered domain, to make you think it's registered. Your best bet is using the AllWhois.com website to send a POST through cURL (or alternatively through PHP and the [man]header/man command) and parse the returned result(s).

<?php
$domain = $_GET['d'];

$ch = curl_init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, 'http://www.allwhois.com/cgi-bin/allwhois.cgi');
curl_setpot($ch, CURLOPT_POST, 1);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, 'd='.urlencode($domain));
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_FOLLOWLOCATION, 0);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HEADER, 1);
$contents = curl_exec($ch);
curl_close($ch);
?>

Now, you should be able to get the info from the resulting page.

[gvanto]

allwhois.com doesn't seem very reliable:
thecrazywebsite.com works
sent.in doesn't work;
sex.co.za doesn't work

Then tried internic.net's whois, and got No match for domain "MATCH.CO.UK"....

any ideas as to a reliable whoIS provider ??

thanks,
gerry
ps: not using curl so entire query has to be in URL if possible...can CURL be extended for use in C++ / C# ?

[bpat1434]

Wait wait wait... so this is for a C++/C# script/program? Then why are you posting it in a PHP area?

[gvanto]

Because the php / C# part of it is irrelevant....there's no forum for "URL retrievals" 😃

Any ideas?

[Weedpacket]

Yes; have a look at the [man]cURL[/man] page and see what it says about getting and installing libcurl. Specifically, where to get it from. There will probably be information about using it there.

Or you could search around for a proper whois client and use that. Some of the top-level registries (ARIN, APNIC, RIPE, AfriNIC, and LACNIC) will no doubt have information about using whois databases. Try doing some research.