[arin-ppml] Draft Policy ARIN-2021-3: Private AS Number and Unique Routing Policy Clarifications

[Andrew Dul]

Based upon the input we have received from ARIN staff it seems that 
additional clarity is desired in section 5 for ASN assignments.

I am not convinced however that the current draft text is the best way 
to fix the issues raised so far.  I don't have specific test suggestions 
at this point but believe we should discuss how the text should be 
improved in light of how ASNs are now being used by various cloud 
providers and the fact that ASNs are now 32-bits in length which in many 
cases reduces the need to use private AS numbers.

Andrew

On 7/20/2021 5:23 PM, Chris Woodfield wrote:
> Speaking in support, but I’d like to recommend an adjustment in the proposal text. I think the phrase “unique routing policy, such as BGP” is technically incorrect; BGP is a protocol, not a policy. BGP is how a network *communicates* the relevant aspects of its unique routing policy to its peers, but is not the policy in and of itself.
>
> As such, where the proposal text says “unique routing policy, such as BGP”, I think this should read “unique routing policy, implemented via BGP” - that should fix the bug here.
>
> Hope this helps,
>
> -C
>
>> On Jul 20, 2021, at 12:52 PM, ARIN <info at arin.net> wrote:
>>
>> On 15 July 2021, the ARIN Advisory Council (AC) accepted "ARIN-prop-298: Private AS Number and Unique Routing Policy Clarifications" as a Draft Policy.
>>   
>> Draft Policy ARIN-2021-3 is below and can be found at:
>>   
>> https://www.arin.net/participate/policy/drafts/2021_3/
>>   
>> You are encouraged to discuss all Draft Policies on PPML. The AC will evaluate the discussion in order to assess the conformance of this draft policy with ARIN's Principles of Internet number resource policy as stated in the Policy Development Process (PDP). Specifically, these principles are:
>>   
>> * Enabling Fair and Impartial Number Resource Administration
>> * Technically Sound
>> * Supported by the Community
>>   
>> The PDP can be found at:
>> https://www.arin.net/participate/policy/pdp/
>>   
>> Draft Policies and Proposals under discussion can be found at:
>> https://www.arin.net/participate/policy/drafts/
>>   
>> Regards,
>>   
>> Sean Hopkins
>> Senior Policy Analyst
>> American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN)
>>   
>>   
>>   
>> Draft Policy ARIN-2021-3: Private AS Number and Unique Routing Policy Clarifications
>>   
>> Problem Statement:
>>   
>> At ARIN 47, staff identified three points of potential confusion with current text in NRPM Section 5: AS Numbers.
>>   
>> 1. “Sites that do not require a unique AS Number should use one or more of the AS Numbers reserved for private use.” Some customers are not aware that their need for a unique AS Number depends upon their need (or lack thereof) to utilize the AS Number on the public Internet.
>>   
>> 2. “In order to be assigned an AS Number, each requesting organization must provide ARIN with verification that it has one of the following…A unique routing policy (its policy differs from its border gateway peers)…A multihomed site.” Few customers qualify for an AS Number under the “unique routing policy” requirement, specifically because they aren’t aware of what “unique routing policy” applies to.
>>   
>> 3. “AS Numbers are issued based on current need. An organization should request an AS Number only when it is already multihomed or will immediately become multihomed.” All ARIN delegations are based on current needs, and some customers aren’t aware they need network plans when they request an AS Number. Additionally, clarification that some organizations may have a unique need for an AS Number outside of utilizing a unique routing policy, such as BGP.
>>   
>> Policy statement:
>>   
>> In Section 5 -
>>   
>> Replace
>>   
>> “Sites that do not require a unique AS Number should use one or more of the AS Numbers reserved for private use.”
>>   
>> with
>>   
>> “Private ASNs should be used only when there is no plan to use them on the public Internet.”
>>   
>> Replace
>>   
>> “1. A unique routing policy (its policy differs from its border gateway peers) 2. A multihomed site.”
>>   
>> with
>>   
>> “1. A plan to connect their network using a unique routing policy, such as Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) 2. A network requiring routing policies to be deployed which are unique only to that network”
>>   
>> Replace
>>   
>> “AS Numbers are issued based on current need. An organization should request an AS Number only when it is already multihomed or will immediately become multihomed.”
>>   
>> with
>>   
>> “AS Numbers should be requested when an organization has network plans ready and is either planning to use a unique routing policy (such as BGP) or has a unique need for an AS Number.”
>>   
>> Timetable for implementation: Immediate
>>   
>>   
>>   
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