[ppml] allocate/assignxy

[Lee Howard]

>From RFC2050:

This document makes a distinction between the allocation of IP
   addresses and the assignment of IP addresses.  Addresses are
   allocated to ISPs by regional registries to assign to its customer
   base.
[. . .]
An assignment is the delegation of authority over a block of IP
   addresses to an end enterprise.   The end enterprise will use
   addresses from an assignment internally only; it will not sub-
   delegate those addresses.

I think "delegation" here is used in a common English sense, and
could be defined from context.  This also clearly explains
"assignment" and "allocation."


>From ARIN's web page (http://www.arin.net/registration/index.html):

A distinction is made between address allocation and address assignment, i.e., ISPs are "allocated" address space, while end-users are "assigned" address space. ISPs are allocated blocks of IP addresses for the purpose of assigning or further allocating that space to their customers, while end-users receive assignments of IP addresses exclusively for use in their operational networks. 


The concern in Wednesday's policy BOF, as I heard it, was not that
the terms are poorly defined, but that even knowing the definitions
it's easy to confuse which term applies to which definition, and maybe
ther distinction isn't necessary after all.

My memory is not perfect, so maybe the person who raised the concern
could raise it again.

Lee

On Thu, 23 Oct 2003 bmanning at karoshi.com wrote:

> Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 14:39:03 -0700 (PDT)
> From: bmanning at karoshi.com
> To: CJ Wittbrodt <cjw at groovy.com>
> Cc: bmanning at karoshi.com, ppml at arin.net
> Subject: Re: [ppml] allocate/assign
> 
> 
> 	that may be true in your world... :)
> 	
> 	I am of the opinion that if I am granted a delegation
> 	that I need to apply the principles of stewardship, e.g.
> 	effective utilization of the space ... if that means that
> 	I have an operational model that allows me to sub-assign
> 	and sub-allocate space using the same rules for management
> 	of the delegation for users of my space as apply to me.
> 
> 	note that "my" here refers not to ownership of the space
> 	but ownership of the responsiblity for effective stewardship.
> 
> 
> > Bill,
> > 
> > Allocations can be broken up into assignments and given to customers,
> > but assignments can not be further delegated to other organizations, 
> > or customers.  
> > 
> > ----CJ
> > 
> >     From: bmanning at karoshi.com
> >     Subject: [ppml] allocate/assign
> >     
> >     Ok...
> >     
> >     	grousing about terms leads me to put my personal thoughts to
> >     	phosphor (or LCD analog):
> >     
> >     allocated:  Internet resources earmarked for specific use. period.
> >     assigned:   an allocation is bound to a duely vetted party who agrees
> >     	    to manage the allocation according to the "principles of
> >     	    stewardship" (from the ARIN mission stmt)
> >     
> >     	such an assignment is considered delegated when such allocations 
> >     	and assignments are published - say via whois and DNS, perhaps 
> >     	in an rdb.
> >     
> >     	thoughts?
> >     --bill
> > 
> 
>