[ppml] My idea was a non-starter

[william at elan.net]

On Fri, 3 Oct 2003, Ron da Silva wrote:

> fyi...not that this is an issue, but folks may be interested, other RIRs
> have micro assignments but not micro allocations:
> 
> http://www.arin.net/library/internet_info/rir_comp_matrix.html

The matrix is a little outdated as it does not show latest policies from 
LACNIC. Also its not quite true that other RIRs do not make micro-allocations.
In fact as RIPE person here already pointed out they do make micro-allocations
(and if you're interested, I can produce you exact list of those for RIPE &
APNIC by looking at blocks with ALOCATED PI and ALLOCATED PORTABLE status in
whois with block size of /24 - /21), but other RIRs have different meaning for
allocations/assigned blocks which make those two terms seem almost the same.

What is true is that it appears that for other RIRs, micro allocations or
assignments are made only to non-members (but possibly APNIC allows members
to get micro-assignments/allocations too). For LIR/ISPs the minimum allocation
size is /20 but non-members can also request micro (aka portable, aka 
provider independent) assignment or allocation either through any LIR
(with RIPE) or directly coming to RIR (as with APNIC and possibly LACNIC).

The details of policies on this topic are all very different among RIRs
so its difficult to compare exactly (even the matrix does not help on this 
particular issue), but I do think all other RIRs have policies that allow 
organizations (ISPs or not) to get blocks smaller then /20 if they need.

-- 
William Leibzon
Elan Networks
william at elan.net