CIDR,Sprint and the Big Guys.

Fri Apr 5 07:29:10 UTC 1996

On Thursday, April 04, 1996 3:07 PM, Christian Nielsen[SMTP:cnielsen at vii.com] wrote:
@
@	I think we all agree that CIDR is a good thing, I have no 
@problems with it and feel that we should use it as best we can. The 
@problems that I see, yes I know this has been said before, it is getting 
@harder and harder for the little guy to get IPs from the Nic. Now that 
@Sprint is saying that you now need a /16 to route over their network, I 
@don't see the nic just handing out /16s like they did with the /19 or 
@before that the /20s etc.. 
@

Yes CIDR is a good thing...unfortunately, it does not guarantee that the
net will grow and aggregate in a rational way. When coupled with the
"slow start" ISP policy, CIDR helps to rapidly fragment the IP address
space and in some cases causes poor IP address utilization all in the
name of "protecting the future of the Internet" or maybe "protecting the
Internet from ISPs".

@	And Just because I have nothing else to do, except work, sleep, 
@work, internet, eat, work, sleep, I did some looking around.
@
@[21]/export/home/c/cnielsen> whois 208.0.0.0
@Sprint (NETBLK-SPRINTLINK-BLKS)
@
@   Netname: SPRINTLINK-BLKS
@   Netblock: 208.0.0.0 - 208.3.255.0
@
@	Here now shows that Sprint is getting a /15 from the nic and that 
@they can now server more customers, move their ips around with little 
@problem, etc. But what about some other ISP? Can they get a /15? Nope.

You have to face the fact that "THE Internet" as you know it has been turned over
to big demand, big money and big business. This will result in big government
stepping in to get the beast under control. If the government(s) do not step in,
we are going to have Cyber Wars never before experienced on the planet.

The people paying the admission (mostly consumers) will not tolerate these "wars"
and will have to turn to their government(s) for intervention. Politicians will thrive
on protecting the net from itself. Stay tuned for toll charges, taxes, certifications,
licensing, tariffs, and auditing.

@But I bet you that if Sprint wanted to or even MCI for that matter, they 
@could get a /14 or a /13 from the nic.
@

They have to walk a fine line to look like good netizens while making sure
that they get their plates filled with ample helpings of resources. This is
sort of what happens when people stand in line at an "all you can eat buffet",
no one puts their face directly into the food or eats directly out of the serving
trays that would be "rude". Instead, some people stand in line, fill their plate
to the brim, and rush back to stand in line again. The management requests
that you "eat what you take". The food flows to those that can eat the fastest,
get back in line, and show a big empty plate plus a healthy appetite.

There is very little attention paid to how much food falls on the floor or is
passed to other parties. As long as the line keeps moving the food will keep
flowing. The management is just enforcing the policies which are clearly posted
on the walls.

@	How can we solve this problem? How can we make sure that everyone 
@has equal access to IP addresses to make IP addresses usable around the 
@Net, save on router memory etc? This is how I would do it.
@
<snip>
@
@Christian Nielsen

Another possible solution is to "reinvent the net"...using the net...the Internet
can be used as a large bit transporter and a "new" Internet can be constructed
around the edges of the current net. Customers interested in gourmet foods
and a more relaxed atmosphere can be attracted to the side-walk cafes that
can be positioned around the busy buffet described above. The crumbs provided
by THE net can easily fuel the new net.

I believe that there are technical ways of doing this that do not require IPv6...
the key will be to provide specific market reasons for customers to move to
this new net...(i.e. better service, faster service, better food, etc.)

Keep in mind that, not everyone eats at buffets...

--
Jim Fleming
UNETY Systems, Inc.
Naperville, IL 60563

e-mail: JimFleming at unety.net