Downstream Allocations by LIRs A Proposal Address Policy SIG APNIC14, Kitakyushu, Japan 5 Sept 2002

Definitions Allocation Assignment A pool of address space held by an IR for subsequent redistribution Not yet used to address any networks Assignment Address space used to address an operational network May be provided to LIR customers, or used for an LIR’s infrastructure (‘self-assignment’) Is not redistributed further

Background and Problem Current policy only allows LIRs to assign address space Assignments should not be sub-assigned In practice, LIRs do allocate Needs formal policy recognition if practice is to continue Whois v3 database software Database migration made policy conflict now visible

Other RIRs ARIN LACNIC RIPE NCC Members/subscribers able to allocate Members able to allocate RIPE NCC LIRs are currently only able to assign Proposal to allow ‘sub-allocations’ being presented at next meeting

Proposal – Policy Framework To permit LIRs to make allocations Downstream allocations are non portable Maintains aggregation All assignments and allocations must be registered in APNIC/NIR database ‘Status’ value for downstream allocations is ‘allocated non-portable’ Second opinion process Includes allocations (and assignments) above LIRs ‘assignment window’

Proposal – Policy Framework Measuring ‘utilisation’ Downstream allocations will be counted as ‘used’ 80% ‘used’ currently measures only assignments Only LIRs can allocate Downstream allocations pose risks to management of address space Risks greatly increased if multiple levels of allocations permitted

Effects of Proposal Database registrations Utilisation May decrease quality and quantity of end-user database assignments APNIC/NIR relationship is with LIR only, not with those receiving allocations Utilisation Trade off with actual utilisation as address space may not be ‘in use’ but is counted as ‘used’ APNIC/NIR may ask for documentation on larger allocations

Utilisation Trade-Off /20 Allocation by APNIC Allocations and assignments by LIR to customers /21 + /22 /28 /26 /25 /24 Address space in use is much less than 80% + /24 + /26 + /25 + /25 = 80% Assignment by downstream to customer /28 +

Three months after consensus Implementation Three months after consensus To allow time to modify software, documentation etc Requests will be accepted and processed immediately

Questions? Proposal and slides at http://www.apnic.net/meetings/14/sigs/policy/