NAME

virgil − pose question to name resolver

SYNOPSIS

include "security.m";
virgil := load Virgil Virgil->PATH;
 virgil:fn(args: list of string): string;

DESCRIPTION

­Virgil provides a client side interface for interactions with the name resolution service virgild(8).

­Args is a command line of the form:

virgil [-v address] [name]

­Name is the host name to be resolved to a network address.  Normally the request is broadcast to any and all ­virgild servers on the network, which ­virgil expects to find on UDP/IP port 2202.  The ­-v option instead directs the request to the given numeric IP address.

­Virgil waits up to 5 seconds for a reply, retransmitting the request once a second.  It accepts and returns the first answer it receives. 

SOURCE

­/appl/lib/virgil.b

SEE ALSO

sys-dial(2), cs(8), register(8), virgild(8)

DIAGNOSTICS

­Virgil returns ­nil for invalid arguments and if the name was not resolved. 

BUGS

The ­virgild port is hard coded. 

Plan 9  —  June 07, 2000