RIPE Policy Proposal 2006-07

This proposal suggests the Assignment Window (AW) available to new LIRs should automatically be raised from zero (0) to /21 (2,048 IPv4 addresses) six months after they receive their first allocation. Because the sub-allocation policy references the AW policy, the sub-allocation policy also needs to be updated. This proposal suggests that the maximum sub-allocation should be kept at /20 (4,096 IPv4 addresses).

a. Current (ripe-387):

An LIR may sub-allocate IPv4 space up to 400% of its Assignment Window (AW) to an organisation every twelve months. Thus, an LIR with an AW of /26 may make a /24 sub-allocation. LIRs with an AW smaller than /26 may not make sub-allocations as the minimum sub-allocation size is /24.

[...]

The maximum size of a sub-allocation is /20 even if this is less than 400% of the LIR’s AW. For example, an LIR with a /21 AW may not sub-allocate a /19 to a downstream network.

[...]

All new LIRs start with an AW of zero (0). This means that every assignment requires prior approval from the RIPE NCC.

[…]

AWs are regularly reviewed by the RIPE NCC Hostmasters. LIRs may approach the RIPE NCC for an evaluation of its AW at any time. Please note that LIRs are always welcome to approach the RIPE NCC for a second opinion on requests even if they fall within the LIR's AW.

b. New:

An LIR may sub-allocate up to an IPv4 /20 (4096 addresses) to a downstream network operator every twelve months.

[...]

All new LIRs start with an AW of zero (0). Their AW will automatically be set to a /21 (2048 addresses) six months after receiving their first allocation. This means that all new LIRs need to request approval before making each assignment until their AW has been raised.

[...]

AWs are regularly reviewed by RIPE NCC staff. LIRs may approach the RIPE NCC for an evaluation of their AW six months after receiving their first allocation and at any time after that. Please note that LIRs are always welcome to approach the RIPE NCC for a second opinion on requests even if they fall within the LIR's AW.

a. Arguments Supporting the Proposal

In 1993 the minimum Assignment Window (AW) was recommended to be /19. Just two years later this was set to zero and the maximum AW to /19, with AWs being set in-line with individual LIRs' needs and experience. Since 1995 the AW policy has slowly been relaxed as LIRs have become more familiar with the RIPE community's policies.

The maximum AW was dropped in 1999 and the time constraint was removed for LIRs' infrastructure assignments in 2001.

The number of RIPE NCC members (LIRs) has grown by about 35% over the last five years. Despite this, the RIPE NCC has not seen a rise in the number of requests sent for approval over this period. Instead, the number of approval requests per LIR, and in absolute terms, have dropped by 17%.

However, there has been a steady increase in the number of requests received for assignments to medium sized networks (/24 - /19). There was a 15% growth in this category between 2001 and 2005.

During this period the RIPE NCC has made significant improvements to the effectiveness of its training services. About 1,000 LIR staff attend RIPE NCC training courses each year. The RIPE NCC has tried to reduce the need for LIRs to send staff abroad when attending courses, and the number of LIRs doing so dropped by 7% between 2004 and 2005.

While RIPE NCC training materials have always been available from the web site, an e-learning portal was launched in 2005 to provide better access to a wider range of training material. This portal allows LIRs to access training and educational resources at the time and place they choose, and as frequently as they want.

The broadening of access to training about the RIPE NCC procedures has been extended with the E-Learning Centre and will be extended even more in the beginning of 2007 when the LIR Training Course will be webcast and made available on-line.

LIRs are also supported through the RIPE NCC's audit service. This service, which is described in ripe-170, aims to promote consistent and fair application of the community's policies as well as identifying procedures that can be improved. The audit process has recently been improved and expanded so that more LIRs are audited.

Accepting this proposal would allow the RIPE NCC to focus more time on audits. It will also allow many LIRs to speed up their provisioning processes. It is not intended to promote larger PA assignments to End Users.

b. Arguments Opposing the Proposal

Despite improved training and support activities, a small minority of LIRs do not follow the community's policies. These LIRs would find it more difficult and time consuming to obtain an additional allocation when returning to the RIPE NCC for more IPv4 address space.

LIRs may also need to supervise new staff more closely, as those staff would not need to send as many requests to the RIPE NCC for evaluation.

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Additional Supporting Information:

During the Address Policy Working Group session at RIPE 53, the RIPE NCC was asked to provide statistics showing how many of the requests to make a PA assignment involve discussion with the requester; and how much discussion takes place in those requests. Leo Vegoda gave a presentation on this.

The RIPE NCC looked at all the tickets where we approved PA assignments of prefixes up to and including /21 during the last three complete months of July, August and September in 2006. This was a set of 1,100 tickets.

This graph illustrates:

• - 80% of requests are approved immediately, or following just one exchange
• - 15% are approved with just two or three messages being exchanged
• - 4% of tickets involve a significant amount of discussion
  
  

 

 

 

 

Please note: Tickets often include messages that are not directly related to the specific request. For instance, when an LIR is eligible for an additional allocation discussion can also occur on how to register something in the database, or the IP Resource Analyst may remind them about an unpaid invoice.

These figures show that only a small fraction of LIRs need significant assistance with their decision making. The RIPE NCC will be able to dedicate significantly more time to this small group of LIRs if the initial Assignment Window is raised.

The full table of results:

Exchanges	Tickets
0	673
1	214
2	118
3	48
4	11
5	20
7	6
8	4
11	4
12	2