VIRGIL(2)                                               VIRGIL(2)

     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.

     Page 1                       Plan 9            (printed 10/29/25)