[ppml] Proposed Policy: 4-Byte AS Number Policy Proposal

[Robert E.Seastrom]

Geoff Huston <gih at apnic.net> writes:

> I went through a similar thought process and came to the conclusion that 
> the combination of Appletalk and BGP and AS numbers was going to be a rare 
> one out there in the field!

That was an attempt to be funny whilst punchy from jet lag.

On a more serious note, I think what you're suggesting is actually
three separate proposals..

The first proposal (start allocating 32 bit ASNs upon request), I'm
all for, and the sooner the better.

The second proposal (start allocating 32 bit ASNs by default), my
problem is not with the body of the proposal so much as I take issue
with the notion that we can set a date for it before we have some
operational experience with proposal 1.  I would fully support this
phase as part of an omnibus roll-up if it were altered to say "after
no less than $MONTHS of operational experience with 32 bit ASNs, at
the registry staff's discretion, $REGISTRY may change its operational
procedures to issue 32 bit ASNs by default and only issue 16 bit ASNs
upon special request." or words to that effect.

The third proposal (discontinue issuance of 16 bit ASNs), is one for
which I don't see any compelling reason.  If we let them be available
upon request indefinitely, they'll be requested with lower and lower
frequency, until finally there are no more.  Beyond the notion to
"save for a rainy day" (or maybe a router museum with CSC2s and
Proteons and a BBN C30 speaking EGP on a VDH or X.25 interface),
what's the motivation?

Assuming that there's actually a good reason for the third propsal
which I am not understanding, I would think it would be premature to
propose such a policy change until the first and second proposals are
solidly behind us and executed.

My $0.02 on the notation: It's just a u_int32.  Write it that way.  It
will be easy for humans to differentiate between old style and new
style by the fact that the 32 bit ASNs are all bigger than 65535.

                                        ---Rob