I want to install this on my own system. Is the source code available?

Yes, you can obtain the latest source release from the GeekTools Software page. Make sure you have perl 5 or better installed or things won't work. The proxy code has not been tested extensively with ActiveState Perl on Windows NT (or other flavors of Windows) but it should work with a few minor tweaks. Please don't ask us how to configure it though.

Hey! I'm getting a message saying I can't access the proxy anymore. What's up with that?

You're probably seeing the "too many hits" message and if you read it closely you'll see that the reason is because there have been too many hits from your host in the past 24 hours. You can either wait until the time limit rollover or send mail to the address shown in the message and ask for extended access. If you have a really good reason for wanting the extended access then send us email with the following information:

a) Your real name.
b) Your real physical address and real phone number where we can verify who you are.
c) The source IP address where your queries will be made from. Remember we'll only allow access to a DHCP range in exceptional and trustworthy circumstances only!
d) The compelling reason you need more than 50 lookups a day.

Compelling reasons do not include:
1) I am looking to register a new domain name.
2) I am curious
3) I saw you on ZDTV
4) I run windows, and just installed a new personal firewall, and I want to see who is connecting to me.

Compelling reasons do include:
1) I am a sysadmin for a big ISP (which we will verify) and we use the tool to troubleshoot dns issues.
2) I am a sysadmin for a big ISP (which we will verify) and we use the tool to track down spammers.
3) I am a sysadmin (which we will verify) and we use the tool to verify intrusion logs in a *real* firewall.
4) My geekcode meets or exceeds the minimum standards of TNG (send geekcode for verification) and I use the proxy to xxxxx (fill in the blanks).
Please remember that access to the proxy is a privilege rather than a right, we make arbitrary decisions because we *can*, and we can take it away at any time.

Send your request to access@geektools.com

I want to find all domain names that contain foo but I receive a message saying that there is a limit of 50 hits. How can I get around that?

You can't, at least not with the GeekTools WHOIS proxy. This is a limit imposed by Network Solutions (and possibly other registrars). Sorry.

I'm a bulk emailer (spammer). Can I use your proxy to harvest email addresses?

Sure, but by doing so you give us the express permission to visit your home or place of business and beat you severely. If this doesn't sound like your idea of a good time, the answer is "No."

WHOIS results from different registrars are in different formats. Can you make them all look the same?

We don't "process" the data in any way except to remove the annoying 1/2 page disclaimer message that appears courtesy of a few of the registrars. Attempting to process the output from each and every registrar would make the proxy almost unmaintainable. For this reason we have decided to display the information just as it comes from the registrar's WHOIS server.

That's all for now! Any future questions will be added to this FAQ list if we get them often enough.