[AfriNIC-rpd] AS4 / 32bit ASN's

[alain aina]

On Jan 16, 2009, at 9:43 PM, Andrew Alston wrote:

>
>
> I'm VERY worried that people are going to be applying for ASN's, not  
> quite understanding this whole 32bit/16bit ASN scenario as they are  
> new to BGP and new to the whole game, and get handed 32bit ASN's by  
> default which a.) they cannot use on their own equipment unless its  
> absolutely cutting edge (and even most of that doesnt yet support  
> this) or b.) if they are lucky enough to HAVE equipment that  
> supports 32bit ASN's will find that there is no one out there that  
> can neighbor with them for peering or transit!
>
> I'm not asking that we revoke the policy, that would be contrary to  
> what every other RIR is doing, I'm asking for a warning, which by  
> the way RIPE has also put on their documents according to someone I  
> spoke to there today.
>
> Any comments/thoughts?
>


  On the ASN request template (http://www.afrinic.net/forms/affrm-asn200501.htm 
), i  read


# 4-BYTE OR 2-BYTE AS NUMBER ?
# # Please indicate what length (in bytes) of AS Number
  # you are requesting. (example, 2-byte or 4-byte). Please note
# that 4-byte ASNs are a new standard and that some equipment
# may need a firmware upgrade in order to support 4-byte ASNs.

--alain