standards for giving out blocks of IP addresses

Mon Jun 18 14:28:22 UTC 2001

Richard:
  I'm glad you jumped in here to clarify things from ARIN's perspective.
Regardless of what the actual policy is, I think it's important for
everyone to have a reasonable expectation that it's understandable and
consistant. This is particularly true when end-users are involved. If you
don't mind, I'd like you to further clarify a couple points below.

Chuck Scott

On Mon, 18 Jun 2001, Richard Jimmerson wrote:

> It is true that end-user organizations who request additional IP
> address space directly form ARIN must demonstrate 80 percent of 
> their prior assignment has been efficiently utilized before their 
> new request may be considered.  It is also true this is not stated
> at the above referenced URL.  It is stated at a different URL where
> ISP guidelines for issuing additional IP address space to customers
> is described (more about this below).  A discussion about adding this
> language to http://www.arin.net/regserv/ip-assignment.html will take 
> place on ARIN's public policy mailing list (ppml at arin.net).

  While my focus in this discussion wasn't on allocation by ARIN directly
to end users, I'm glad to hear this discussion will be taking place. 

> When it comes to ISPs who assign IP address space to their end-user
> customers, it is expected the assignment size will be determined based
> on the customer's 25 percent immediate and 50 percent one-year needs,
> as described in RFC 2050.  It is also stated at
> http://www.arin.net/regserv/addipspace.html that ISPs need to adhere
> to the following when considering requests for additional IP address
> from their customers:
> 
> "Reassignment information for prior allocations must show that each
> customer meets the 80% utilization criteria and must be available via
> SWIP/RWHOIS prior to your issuing them additional space."

  The very next bullet point after the above quote is "Customers must
follow ARIN guidelines for ISPs." I can see how those two bullet points
are appropriate when those customers in turn assign address space to
their customers, however, it seems funny to say that true end-users should
be following guidelines for ISP's.

  This brings up a question I have hesitated to bring into the mix. What
is meant by "80% utilzation"? It would seem to me that to apply this
fairly and evenly to ISP's and end-users alike, that it needs to be a
consistant definition. From that, I'd expect the definition to be 80% of
the end-user's address space is internally assigned to specific tasks
(sub-nets, ...) rather than simply defining it as 80% of the address space
is in use by hosts (broadcast addresses, ...). 
  In other words, if an end user internally assigns a block of addresses
to an application where they expect that application to immediatly consume
25% of that block and 50% in a year, then that whole block should be
considered consumed when figuring the 80% utilization target. Perhaps this
is the common interpretation, but I suspect some ISP's don't figure it
that way. In any case, if that's how ARIN intends the consumption of
end-user space to be figured, then I agree that the 80% target for
additional assignments to end-users is a rational figure. It would,
however, be nice if that is stated in official policy so assignments are
handled in a consistant manner.

Chuck