-l <ip-lookup>   Returns first level less specific inetnum, 
                 inet6num or route objects, excluding exact matches.
-L <ip-lookup>   Returns all level less specific inetnum, 
                 inet6num or route objects, including exact matches.
-m <ip-lookup>   Returns first level more specific inetnum, 
                 inet6num or route objects, excluding exact matches.
-M <ip-lookup>   Returns all level more specific inetnum, 
                 inet6num or route objects, excluding exact matches.
-x <ip-lookup>   Requests that only an exact match on a prefix be
                 performed.  If no exact match is found no objects are
                 returned.
-c <ip-lookup>   Requests first level less specific inetnum or inet6num
                 objects with the "mnt-irt:" attribute.
-d <ip-lookup>   Enables use of the -m, -M, -l and -L flags for lookups on
                 reverse delegation domains.

-i <attribute-name> <inverse-key> Perform an inverse query.

-F               Produce output using short hand notation for attribute
                 names.
-K               Requests that only the primary keys of an object to be
                 returned.  The exceptions are set objects, where the
                 members attributes will also be returned. This flag does
                 not apply to person and role objects.
-k (optional normal query) Requests a persistent connection. After
                 returning the result the connection will not be closed by
                 the server and a client may issue multiple queries on the
                 same connection. 
                 Note, that server implements 'stop-and-wait' protocol,
                 when no next query can be sent before receiving a reply
                 for the previous one.  Use RIPE whois3 client to be able
                 to send queries in batch mode. 
                 Except the first -k query, -k without an argument closes
                 the persistent connection.  
-g (mirroring request) Request a NRTM stream from the server. 
                 See [REF], section 4. "Mirroring the RIPE Database" for
                 more information".

-R               Switches off use referral mechanism for domain lookups,
                 so that the database returns an object in the RIPE
                 database with the exact match with the lookup argument,
                 rather than doing a referral lookup.
-r               Switches off recursion for contact information after 
                 retrieving the objects that match the lookup key.
-T (comma separated list of object types, no white space is allowed)
                 Restricts the types of objects to lookup in the query.
-a               Specifies that the server should perform lookups in all
                 available sources.  See also -q sources" query.
-s (comma separated list of sources, no white space is allowed) Specifies
                 which sources and in which order are to be looked up when
                 performing a query.

-q sources       Returns the current set of sources along with the
                 information required for mirroring. See [REF], section
                 2.9 "Other server features" for more information.
-q version       Displays the current version of the server.
-t <object-type> Requests a template for the specified object type.
-V<client-tag>   Sends information about the client to the server.
-v <object-type> Requests a verbose template for the specified object
                 type.

[REF] RIPE Database Reference Manual.
      http://www.ripe.net/ripe/docs/databaseref-manual.html
