def query_nds2(cls, name, host=None, port=None, connection=None,
                   type=None):
        """Query an NDS server for channel information

        Parameters
        ----------
        name : `str`
            name of requested channel
        host : `str`, optional
            name of NDS2 server.
        port : `int`, optional
            port number for NDS2 connection
        connection : `nds2.connection`
            open connection to use for query
        type : `str`, `int`
            NDS2 channel type with which to restrict query

        Returns
        -------
        channel : `Channel`
            channel with metadata retrieved from NDS2 server

        Raises
        ------
        ValueError
            if multiple channels are found for a given name

        Notes
        -----
        .. warning::

           A `host` is required if an open `connection` is not given
        """
        return ChannelList.query_nds2([name], host=host, port=port,
                                      connection=connection, type=type,
                                      unique=True)[0]
Query an NDS server for channel information

        Parameters
        ----------
        name : `str`
            name of requested channel
        host : `str`, optional
            name of NDS2 server.
        port : `int`, optional
            port number for NDS2 connection
        connection : `nds2.connection`
            open connection to use for query
        type : `str`, `int`
            NDS2 channel type with which to restrict query

        Returns
        -------
        channel : `Channel`
            channel with metadata retrieved from NDS2 server

        Raises
        ------
        ValueError
            if multiple channels are found for a given name

        Notes
        -----
        .. warning::

           A `host` is required if an open `connection` is not given