[AfriNIC-rpd] Updated Version of the "IPv4 Soft Landing Policy" now Available Online

[James Blessing]

On 21/02/2011 09:53, Mukom Akong T wrote:

> [3] The Proposal
>
> This policy (IPv4 Soft Landing), applies to the management of address
> space that will be available to AfriNIC after the current IPv4 pool is
> depleted. The purpose of this document is to ensure that address space
> used in a manner that is acceptable to the AfriNIC community especially
> during this time of scarcity.

Wording here seems to be in the wrong tense (or incorrect)

> AfriNIC will publicly announce that the Exhaustion Phase has begun at
> this point.

Add "For the avoidance of doubt all applications that are currently in 
the process at this point will be evaluated as per the new policy."

> 3.5 Exhaustion Phase:
>
> During the Exhaustion Phase, the following allocation and assignment
> policy will be used. This policy applies to both LIRs and End Users, and
> applies at all times after the transition to the Exhaustion Phase.

Why does this apply to EU and LIR, surely this policy is for LIRs only

> The exhaustion phase will be divided into two parts:-
> a) Exhaustion Phase 1
> b) Exhaustion Phase 2
>
> 3.5.1 Exhaustion Phase 1
> During this phase, allocation/assignment of address space will continue
> as in the Current phase (/24 for a EU and /22 for a LIR) but the maximum
> will change from /10 to /13.
>
> Allocations and assignments will be made from the /8 pool until we reach
> a /11. At this point the Exhaustion Phase 2 phase will kick in.

Again add "For the avoidance of doubt all applications that are 
currently in the process at this point will be evaluated as per the new 
policy."

> Exhaustion Phase 2
> During this phase a minimum allocation/assignment size will be /27. And
> a maximum of /22 per allocation/assignment.

I think that this is a bad idea as it will increase the memory tables of 
routers disproportionately. Could this not remain at /24?

> 3.6) If any LIR or End User requesting IPv4 address space during the
> Exhaustion Phase does not already have IPv6 address space, then AfriNIC
> shall allocate or assign an IPv6 address block in compliance with the
> IPv6 allocation or assignment policies in effect at the time.

Why? Surely the LIR should have applied and completed the process of 
obtaining a IPv6 allocation/assignment before applying... (this should 
be a Phase 1 requirement)

> 3.7) 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.

Is this meant to in Phase 1 or Phase 2 - the numbering of the document 
is not clear.

> 3.8 Allocation Criteria
>
> In order to receive IPv4 allocations or assignments during the
> Exhaustion Phase, the LIR or End User must have used at least 90% of all
> previous allocations or assignments (including those made during both
> the Current Phase and the Exhaustion Phase). In the case of new LIRs or
> End Users with no previous allocations or assignments, this requirement
> does not apply to their first allocation or assignment request.

Is this for clarification, this should be 90% of the aggregate space 
assigned or allocated rather than 90% in each separate assignment/allocation

>
> AfriNIC resources are for the AfriNIC geographical region. For each
> allocation or assignment made during the Exhaustion Phase, no more than
> 10% of these resources may be used outside of the AfriNIC region, and
> any use outside the AfriNIC region shall be solely in support of
> connectivity back to the AfriNIC region.

How is this measured? What counts as 'outside'?

> 3.9 IPv4 Address Space Reserve
>
> A /12 IPv4 address block will be in reserve out of the Last /8. This /12
> 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.

How does this impact with the /11 in 3.5?

Would a better approach not to be take a /12 from existing space, set it 
aside as 'future use' and then change the /11 in 3.5 to a /12?

> 3.9.2
> When AfriNIC, can no longer meet any more requests for address space
> from the last /8 pool because the pool is either empty or has no more
> contiguous blocks, the Board will based on the demand and other factors
> at the time exercise their prerogative to replenish the exhaustion pool
> with whatever address space that will be available to AfriNIC at the
> time in a manner that is in the best interest of the community.

I suggest this is striken from this policy and added to another.

J

-- 
James Blessing
+44 7989 039 476
Strategic Relations Manager, EMEA
Limelight Networks