[db-wg] Using the RIPE Database for IPAM

denis walker via db-wg wrote on 13/09/2022 14:16:
> I was struggling to know exactly
> what is meant by the phrase "using the RIPE Database as an IPAM
> solution".

the dbtf interpreted this as something along the lines of: "using the 
RIPE Database as the canonical reference for the holder's internal 
address assignments".

The difficulty here is that the ripe db wasn't really designed to be 
granular enough, or private, or extensible enough, to suit the 
requirements of LIRs and other DB consumers for generic IPAM 
functionality.  Separate to this, because it's a public database, there 
is no way of not exposing potentially confidential data. On the other 
hand, IPAM software suites are built for these purposes.

Ultimately, people need to use tools that are fit for purpose. You can 
knock in a nail with a pliers, but that doesn't make it the best tool 
for hammering.  Nor does it make it pliers any less useful as a type of 
tool.  We're in the same territory here with the RIPE DB and 
purpose-built IPAM systems.

Nick