1. A Proposal for IPv4 Essential Infrastructure
Address Policy SIG
APNIC14, Kitakyushu, Japan
5 Sept 2002

2. Background and Problem
No specific policy exists for infrastructure which is critical to Internet operation
Resources for ‘critical infrastructure’ important to protect stability of core Internet functions
Current policy regime only recognises ‘need’ rather than type of organisation
Most critical infrastructure unlikely to qualify for routable address space allocation
Addresses from upstream LIR: risk of widespread instability when renumbering

3. Proposal
Allow portable addresses to be assigned to ‘critical infrastructure’
Minimum assignment of /24
“Critical Infrastructure” to be defined unambiguously
Definition could change over time
Address assignments specifically for servers and services comprising critical infrastructure
Not for other purposes by receiving organisation

4. Proposal Continued Critical Infrastructure includes:
Domain registry infrastructure (whois and DNS servers)
Root DNS
Generic top-level domain (gTLD)
“Country Code” top-level domain (ccTLD)
Address registry infrastructure (whois and reverse DNS servers)
RIRs and NIRs
IANA

5. Other RIRs ARIN RIPE NCC LACNIC
‘critical infrastructure’ assignments recognised to: ccTLD, gTLD, RIRs, IANA, IXes
Recent modification: minimum assignment /24
RIPE NCC
No special policy for critical infrastructure
LIRs can request portable address space on behalf of their customers – no minimum size
LACNIC
No policy, but a proposal will be made at next policy meeting

6. Source of Address Space - Options
Allocate a single large block for all assignments
Allows easy configuration of ISP filters
May be necessary to ensure routability
More open to DOS attacks OR
Use existing ‘swamp’ space
Utilise existing free space
Likely to be routable in small blocks
Assignments not contiguous or easily recognisable

7. Implementation
Secretariat to implement policy from three months after consensus
Documentation
Request forms and process
Inform community
Secretariat to report activity at future meetings
Review of policy as needed
Including definition of critical infrastructure

8. A Proposal for IPv4 Essential Infrastructure
Questions?