[AfriNIC-rpd] IPv4 Softlanding Policy

Thu Sep 24 05:57:20 UTC 2009

I like the policy.

I like Scott's comments.
The first 2 I would like to see incorporated and with the last about
'reserved space', I ...
a) wonder if it should be more - like a /12 ...
b) believe it should stay reserved even when all else runs out
c) in that case it can be reduced (from /12 to /16) by board decision or
policy proposal....

just thinking...

Frank

Scott Leibrand wrote:
> Douglas,
> 
> Looks good overall.  A few comments/suggestions inline...  (You can take
> them or leave them as you wish.  I have no definitive opinions either
> way: I just wanted to throw out some suggestions based on previous
> experience with similar policies in our region.)
> 
> -Scott
> 
> Douglas Onyango wrote:
>> After the last Public policy meeting, the consensus was that this
>> policy be taken back to the mailing list for further discussion.
>>
>> As Policy author, i hereby submit the policy for further review; your
>> comments on the same are welcome.
>> ==============================================================
>>
>> Incentive
>> ------------
>>
>> In order to ensure a flexible transition from IPv4 to IPv6, the
>> lifespan of IPv4 can be increased in order to give network operators
>> more time to make the transition. This document proposes a strategy
>> for allocation and maintenance of AfriNIC's final /8 block of IPv4
>> from IANA.
>>
>> Background
>> ---------------
>>
>> Following the much anticipated IPv4 pool exhaustion, a global policy,
>> "Global Policy for the Allocation of the Remaining IPv4 Address
>> Space", has been ratified. The policy ensures that IANA reserves one
>> (1) IPv4 /8 address block for each RIR. Details of the Global Policy
>> for the Allocation of the Remaining IPv4 Address Space can be found
>> at: http://www.afrinic.net/docs/policies/afpol-v4gp200802.html.
>>
>> This policy (IPv4 Soft Landing) applies to the management of address
>> space that will be available to AfriNIC under the Global Policy
>>
>> The purpose of this document is to ensure that this last block will be
>> used in a manner that is acceptable by the AfriNIC community.
>>
>> Policy Documents to be affected:
>>
>> --------------
>>
>>
>> (a) IPv4 Allocation Policy
>> http://www.afrinic.net/docs/policies/afpol-v4200407-000.htm
>> (b) Proposal to Change the Allocation & Assignment Period to 12 months
>> http://www.afrinic.net/docs/policies/afpol-af200611.htm
>>
>> Definitions
>> --------------
>>
>> (a) Local Internet Registry (LIR)
>>
>> A Local Internet Registry (LIR) is an Internet Registry (IR) that
>> receives allocations from an RIR and primarily sub-allocates or
>> assigns address space to 'end-users'. LIRs are generally ISPs. Their
>> customers are other ISPs and possibly end-users. LIRs must be members
>> of an RIR like AfriNIC; which serves the Africa Region and part of the
>> Indian Ocean (Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles).
>>
>> (b) Existing LIR´s An existing LIR is defined as being an organization
>> that
>>    assigns address space to 'end-users' and who has already been
>> assigned or allocated
>>    IPv4 address space by AfriNIC.
>>
>>  (c) New LIR´s A new LIR is defined as being an organization that
>> assigns address
>>    space to 'end-users' and who is a member of AfriNIC but has not
>> been assigned or
>>    allocated any IPv4 address space prior to the Exhaustion phase.
>>
>>
>> Summary
>> ------------
>>
>> This proposal describes how AfriNIC shall allocate and manage IPv4
>> resources from the last /8 block of IPv4 address allocated by IANA at
>> the time of total depletion of the IANA IPv4 address free pool.
>>
>> (i) Current Phase:
>>
>> During this phase, AfriNIC will continue allocating IPv4 addresses to
>> the LIR's using the current allocation policy
>> http://www.afrinic.net/docs/policies/afpol-v4200407-000.htm. This
>> phase will continue until a request for IPv4 address space from any
>> LIR to AfriNIC either cannot be fulfilled with the IPv4 address space
>> available in the AfriNIC pool (with the exception of the last
>> allocated /8 address block from IANA) or can be fulfilled but leaving
>> the AfriNIC IPv4 address pool empty (with the exception of the last
>> allocated /8 address block from IANA).
>>
>> This will be the last IPv4 address space request that AfriNIC will
>> accept from any LIR in the Current Phase, AfriNIC, will declare that
>> the Exhaustion Phase has begun at this point.
>>
>> (ii) Exhaustion Phase:
>>
>> During the exhaustion phase, the following allocation and assignment
>> policy for the last /8 IPv4 address will be used:
>> a) Instead of the /22 block (1024) addresses allocated in the current
>> policy, the new minimum allocation size of /23 (512 addresses) will be
>> allocated to any LIR that requests for IPv4 resources.
>>
> 
> This could be construed to mean that any LIR that requests resources
> gets them automatically.  You might want to say "any LIR that is
> approved for" rather than just "requests".
> 
>> This is also the maximum allocation size, even though LIRs may request
>> for more than a /23. No LIR may get more than 4 allocations once the
>> Exhaustion phase has begun.
>> b) Together with the v4 allocation, AfriNIC shall allocate an IPv6
>> address block in compliance with the current IPv6 allocation policy
>> (http://www.afrinic.net/docs/policies/afpol-v6200407-000.htm) to the
>> LIR (in case it doesn't have any).
>>
>> The current allocation and assignment period of 12 months shall be
>> changed to 8 months. This will help to ensure that LIRs request only
>> for resources they need in the short to medium term, and promote
>> fairness in the equitable distribution of the last IPv4 address pool.
>>
>> Allocation Criteria
>> ---------------------
>>
>> a) Existing LIR's
>>
>> At the time of the first IPv4 allocation made during the exhaustion
>> phase, AfriNIC shall also allocate an IPv6 address block in compliance
>> with the current IPv6 allocation policy
>> (http://www.afrinic.net/docs/policies/afpol-v6200407-000.htm) to the
>> LIR. In order to receive additional IPv4 allocations in the exhaustion
>> phase, the existing LIR must have used at least 90% of the previous
>> allocations from the exhaustion phase
>>
> 
> This statement that the 90% usage criterion (only) applies to
> allocations from the last /8 would seem to create a loophole.  If an
> organization gets a /23 and uses that up, but has a bunch of free space
> in their non-exhaustion-phase allocations, it would seem that they can
> get another /23 based solely on the exhaustion-phase usage without
> regard to overall usage.  I'm not sure if that's what you intended, but
> if not, you might want to just have it say something like "90% of all
> previous allocations."
> 
>>
>> b) New LIR's
>>
>> Each New LIR will receive IPv4 addresses which they can use for
>> supporting legacy IPv4 services to ensure their full presence on the
>> IPv4 Internet during the transition to IPv6. The following will apply:
>>
>> Upon application, a New LIR may receive a maximum of four (4) address
>> blocks according to the minimum allocation size in effect at time of
>> allocation in the AfriNIC region. However, the /23 address blocks
>> shall be issued one at a time.
>>
>> In order to receive additional IPv4 allocations, the New LIR should
>> have used at least 90% of the previous allocations from the exhaustion
>> phase.
>>
>> New LIRs may apply for and receive this allocation once they meet the
>> criteria to receive IPv4 address space according to the policy in
>> effect at the time.
>>
>> IPv4 Address Space Reserve
>> ---------------------------------
>>
>> A /16 IPv4 address block will be in reserve out of the last /8 pool.
>> This /16 IPv4 address block shall be preserved by AfriNIC for some
>> future uses, as yet unforeseen. The Internet is innovative and we
>> cannot predict with certainty what might happen. Therefore, it is
>> prudent to keep this block in reserve, just in case some future
>> requirement creates a demand for IPv4 addresses.
>>
>> In the event that the reserved /16 IPv4 address block remains unused
>> by the time the remaining /8 address space covered by this policy has
>> been allocated to LIRs, it returns to the pool to be distributed in
>> compliance with this policy.
>>
> 
> It would seem that this clause would defeat the purpose of having the
> reservation in the first place.  In other words, the /16 wouldn't really
> be "reserved" if it is thrown back in the general pool as soon as the
> general pool is fully allocated.
> 
> -Scott
> 
>>
>> AfriNIC resources are for the AfriNIC geographical region. None of
>> these resources can be used outside of the AfriNIC region. All LIR's
>> requesting resources must have operations in Africa and all of the
>> allocations shall be used to support the LIR's African Operations.
>> ==============================================================
>>
>> Regards,
>> Douglas Onyango +256(0712)981329
>> If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the Problem.
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
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