[ppml] Policy Proposal: Global Policy for the Allocation of the Remaining IPv4 Address Space

[Brian Dickson]

Leo Vegoda wrote:
> On 25 Jul 2007, at 10:32pm, Brian Dickson wrote:
>
> [...]
>
>>> Do you want to change the unit size or the maximum amount of space
>>> that can be allocated? The current global policy allows the RIRs to
>>> receive all the space they need and changing the way it is measured
>>> from /8s to /10s doesn't change anything other than add extra lines to
>>> the IPv4 registry.
>> Unit size.
>> Clearly this method won't support maximum space allocations that exceed
>> available space - but no method can.
>>
>> Maximum space would likely be a function of number of blocks left at
>> current unit size, and/or some kind of "oversubscription" rules that
>> relate to how many additional blocks (of decreasing size) get assigned
>> to satisfy requests for blocks. The sequence of block sizes would be
>> strictly deterministic. 18 /10's, 18 /12's, 18 /14's, 18 /16's, etc.,
>> until the plug is pulled via the last 6 blocks being
>> assigned without subdivision.
>>
>> If collectively the RIRs are about to hit the exhaustion of IPv4 space
>> "wall", then the presumption is more frequent and smaller allocations
>> make it possible to continue to serve up *something*, rather than having
>> no more space.
>
> Would you suggest limiting ISPs to some percentage of the amount they
> requested, or would the RIR be free to return to the IANA for an
> additional block straight away, allowing them to fulfil the request in
> a piecemeal fashion?

I'd expect (suggest) that the RIR's track their customer usage rate, and
adjust the customer request time window to match their own available
space vs run rate. If an RIR was getting space that satisfied only 3
months of run-rate, I'd hope they turn around and specify to their
customers that requests would be for 3 months of usage.

In either case, regardless of time-frame for ISP usage, requests that
can't be satisfied by available space would, I would expect, result in
the RIR going to IANA for another block.

Of course, if the requested block is larger than the IANA allocations,
the ISP is SOL. :-)

Brian