hierarchical route objects, part 1

 Dear colleagues,

 regarding hierarchical authorization of route objects in the RIPE database:
 from what I have heard there is a general feeling that it is needed and the
 basic scheme to implement it should follow the lines:

 * The root of the authorization tree is an AS-object (aut-num object). If
   it contains a "mnt-lower" attribute it controls all route-objects which
   have this AS as origin.

 * Then for route-objects the same rules apply as for inetnum-objects with
   respect to IP subranges: If a route-object contains a "mnt-lower" attri-
   bute it controls all more specific route-objects immediately below.

 * The authorization is checked against
   - more or less specific route-objects, or existence of the route-object
     itself with same origin (differing origin rejected)
   - if no route-objects exist: which authorization is specified for the
     autnum-object referred to by the origin attribute (rejected if this
     authorisation is not met)
   - if not even an autnum-object exists no action is taken

 However: there is still a problem that route-objects are somehow logically
 linked to allocated address space. The question how to deal with this is
 still open - I continue on this in a separate mail.

 Yet, the three rules for route-objects described above are a kind of common
 denominator(*) and moreover a very reasonable approach (these rules are also
 independent of the address space allocation relation to route-objects).
 If there are no further denials I suggest to implement it that way.

 Regards
    Joachim

 (*) Yes, I know: When aiming for the common denominator, be prepared for the
     occasional division by zero.
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 Dr. Joachim Schmitz                                   schmitz@localhost
 DFN Network Operation Center
 Rechenzentrum der Universitaet Stuttgart              ++ 711 685 5553 voice
 Allmandring 30                                        ++ 711 678 8363  FAX
 D-70550 Stuttgart                                     FRG (Germany)
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