Assignment Window FAQ

1. What is an Assignment Window (AW)?
2. What size is my Assignment Window (AW)?
3. When will my Assignment Window (AW) be increased?
4. Why has my Assignment Window (AW) been decreased?
5. Why is my Assignment Window (AW) still zero (0)?

What is an Assignment Window (AW)?
An Assignment Window (AW) is the maximum amount of IP addresses that you, as a Local Internet Registry (LIR), can assign to End Users or to your own infrastructure from your allocations without prior approval from the RIPE NCC.

The AW for a new LIRs is 0 (zero). This means that every assignment made by the LIR requires prior approval by the RIPE NCC.

An AW enables an experienced Local Internet Registry (LIR) to evaluate address requests without having to interact with a RIPE NCC IP Resource Analyst (IPRA).

Using the AW:

Making Assignments to End Users
You can assign any number of IP addresses to each End User without prior approval from the RIPE NCC within a 12-month period as long as you do not exceed your AW size.

Making Infrastructure Assignments
You can make any number of assignments to your own infrastructure without prior approval from the RIPE NCC, as long as each individual assignment is not larger than your AW.

IP addresses should be assigned on the basis of technical needs and registered on the RIPE Database.

More information about Assignment Windows can be found in section 7 of the RIPE Document "IPv4 Address Allocation and Assignment Policies in the RIPE NCC Service Region".

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What size is my Assignment Window (AW)?

You can find out the size of your LIR's Assignment Window (AW) by logging into the LIR Portal (authorisation required) and choosing the 'IPv4' option. The size of an LIR's AW is confidential and will not be disclosed to anyone outside the LIR.

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When will my Assignment Window (AW) be increased?

Assignment Windows (AWs) are regularly reviewed by the RIPE NCC staff. Local Internet Registries (LIRs) may approach the RIPE NCC for an evaluation of their AW at any time by emailing lir-help@ripe.net.

All new LIRs start with an AW of zero (0). An LIR's AW will be set automatically to a "/21" (2048 addresses) six months after receiving their first allocation if the LIR has no database errors and has registered the assignments it has made in the RIPE Database.

As the proficiency of the LIR increases, the size of the AW may be increased. This is determined by the RIPE NCC staff based on:

• The LIR's understanding of RIPE NCC assignment policies and procedures
• Whether request documentation presented to the RIPE NCC is completed correctly
• Whether the LIR demonstrates good judgment when evaluating address space requests
• If the LIR's past assignments have been registered correctly in the RIPE Database
  
  

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Why has my Assignment Window (AW) been decreased?

A less experienced Local Internet Registry (LIR) contact may make errors evaluating address space requests and/or when following RIPE NCC procedures. If errors happen repeatedly, the Assignment Window (AW) may be decreased to prevent the LIR from making invalid assignments.

An LIR's AW may also be decreased during or after an audit by the RIPE NCC if invalid assignments are seen to be present.

The AW may be increased again based on the criteria stated in question 3.

AWs are regularly reviewed by the RIPE NCC staff. LIRs may approach the RIPE NCC for an evaluation of their AW at any time by e-mailing lir-help@ripe.net

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Why is my Assignment Window (AW) still zero (0)?

If you are a new Local Internet Registry (LIR), you will automatically have an Assignment Window (AW) of zero (0).

An LIR's AW will be set automatically to a "/21" (2048 addresses) six months after receiving their first allocation if the LIR has no database errors and has registered the assignments it has made in the RIPE Database.

AWs are regularly reviewed by the RIPE NCC staff. LIRs may ask the RIPE NCC for an evaluation of their AW at any time by e-mailing lir-help@ripe.net.

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