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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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’

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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 +

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

10. Questions? Proposal and slides at