inetutils @2.4: whois can’t query AFNIC’s (.fr) whois server

[jleroy (Jonathan Leroy)]

I can’t query AFNIC’s whois server using this port while it works with macOS built-in whois command. The server always answer NOT FOUND.

After digging using tcpdump, the issues seems to be that whois send a -VMd4.5 argument to the server, which should only be sent to « RIPE-like » whois servers.

The thing I don’t undestand is that this issue has been fixed upstrean in version ​5.5.14 (​Debian bug). I’m using 5.5.19.

Response received using macOS built-in whois client:

$ /usr/bin/whois -h whois.nic.fr nic.fr
%%
%% This is the AFNIC Whois server.
%%
%% complete date format: YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssZ
%%
%% Rights restricted by copyright.
%% See https://www.afnic.fr/en/domain-names-and-support/everything-there-is-to-know-about-domain-names/find-a-domain-name-or-a-holder-using-whois/
%%
%%

domain:                        nic.fr
status:                        ACTIVE
eppstatus:                     serverTransferProhibited
eppstatus:                     serverDeleteProhibited
hold:                          NO
...

Using this port:

$ whois -h whois.nic.fr nic.fr
%%
%% This is the AFNIC Whois server.
%%
%% complete date format: YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssZ
%%
%% Rights restricted by copyright.
%% See https://www.afnic.fr/en/domain-names-and-support/everything-there-is-to-know-about-domain-names/find-a-domain-name-or-a-holder-using-whois/
%%
%%

%% NOT FOUND
>>> Last update of WHOIS database: 2023-10-29T09:02:44.121612Z <<<

[ryandesign (Ryan Carsten Schmidt)]

I do not see this problem on my system. Please confirm which whois you have installed with the output of a few commands:

port -v installed whois
type whois
whois --version

[jleroy (Jonathan Leroy)]

Oh I see, I’m using the whois command from the inetutils port:

$  port -v installed whois
The following ports are currently installed:
  whois @5.5.19_0 (active) requested_variants='' platform='darwin 22' archs='arm64' date='2023-10-29T09:12:21+0100'

$ type whois
whois is /opt/local/libexec/gnubin/whois


$  whois --version
whois (GNU inetutils) 2.4
Copyright (C) 2022 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>.
This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.
There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

Written by Marco d'Itri.

Should I assign this bug to the inetutils port?

Also maybe inetutils port should not provides the whois command as it’s an outdated version of this one?

[ryandesign (Ryan Carsten Schmidt)]

I agree that /opt/local/libexec/gnubin/whois installed by inetutils 2.4 has the bug you describe, and that it is related to /opt/local/bin/whois installed by the whois port; they are both attributed to the same developer.

I agree that we might not need two ports that install the same software.

[Schamschula (Marius Schamschula)]

The notes to inetutils tell the user that they may symlink the binaries under libexec/gnubin to ${prefix}/bin or add ${prefix}/libexec/gnubin to their path. This is the only way /opt/local/bin/whois would show up.

[ryandesign (Ryan Carsten Schmidt)]

Yes, the problem is clearly happening because the user did one of those things. That doesn't change the bug report.

[Schamschula (Marius Schamschula)]

To confuse this issue MacPorts also provides whois @5.5.19 (net). This not the same code base as (g)whois provided by inetutils @2.4. Hence, I wouldn't expect the Debian patch to have been applied.

[Schamschula (Marius Schamschula)]

I suppose, I could disable building gwhois in inetutils.

[jleroy (Jonathan Leroy)]

Both softwares are written by the same developper and are very similar, but Marco d'Itri’s whois seems to be more active and more up-to-date. So I think it’s preferable to keep the whois port and disable building gwhois in inetutils.

[Marius Schamschula <mschamschula@…>]

In 5587876dd3d8b18e29a364ec7582d488dae69a79/macports-ports (master):

inetutils: remove (g)whois

Closes: #68585