________________________________________________________________________ prop-085-v001: Eligibility for critical infrastructure assignments from the final /8 ________________________________________________________________________ Authors: Terence Zhang Yinghao Wendy Zhao Wei Version: 1 Date: 22 July 2010 1. Introduction ---------------- This policy proposal seeks to make it possible for critical infrastructure account holders (such as new ccTLDs or gTLDs) to receive portable IPv4 assignments from the final /8 space. In the spirit of the current final /8 policy [1], this proposal still ensures each account holder is only eligible to receive one single allocation OR assignment from the final /8 space. 2. Summary of the current problem ---------------------------------- Currently, critical infrastructure networks such as TLDs (Top Level Domains) are eligible to receive portable IPv4 assignments under the critical infrastructure policy [2]. But the current final /8 policy permits only allocations to account holders to be made. This means that during the final /8 phase, it will be impossible to make IPv4 addresses assignments to end users under the critical infrastructure policy. With the recent launch of Internationalized Domain Name country code TLDs (IDN ccTLDs) and ongoing discussion on policy for open global TLDs (gTLDs), we can expect dozens of IDN TLDs and gTLDs to be created in the next few years. Even if we have great developments in IPv6 deployment during these few years, legacy IPv4 networks will remain in co-existence with IPv6 for many years. Critical infrastructure networks like TLD nameservers will still need IPv4 addresses to serve the IPv4 Internet. 3. Situation in other RIRs --------------------------- AfriNIC has a policy proposal under discussion that permits assignments as well as allocations to be made from AfriNIC's last /8 from IANA: AFPUB-2010-v4-002: IPv4 Soft Landing Proposal http://www.afrinic.net/docs/policies/AFPUB-2010-v4-002.htm ARIN has adopted a policy that will take effect when ARIN receives its final /8 from IANA. This policy permits both assignments and allocations to be made from a reserved /10 block as long as the requestor can demonstrate immediate IPv6 deployment requirements: NRPM section 4.10, Dedicated IPv4 block to facilitate IPv6 Deployment https://www.arin.net/policy/nrpm.html#four10 RIPE has a policy proposal under discussion that permits allocations to be made from RIPE's last /8 worth of space, but not assignments: Allocations from the last /8 http://www.ripe.net/ripe/policies/proposals/2010-02.html LACNIC has adopted a policy that permits critical infrastructure assignments to new members from LACNIC's final /12: LACNIC Policy Manual, section 10.1, Special IPv4 Allocations/ Assignments Reserved for New Members http://www.lacnic.net/en/politicas/manual11.html 4. Details ----------- It is proposed that each APNIC account holder will be eligible to request and receive a single assignment from the remaining /8 worth of space, with the following conditions: 4.1 The account holder must meet the criteria for receiving an IPv4 portable assignment specified in section 11.3, "Critical infrastructure" in "Policies for IPv4 address space management in the Asia Pacific region"[2]. 4.2 Each assignment will consist of the minimum IPv4 assignment size for critical infrastructure, or the minimum IPv4 allocation size, whichever is smaller. 4.3 All APNIC account holders are eligible to receive only one allocation OR assignment from the final /8 worth of address space. This applies to both current and future account holders. 5. Pros/Cons ------------- 5.1 Advantages - This proposal makes it possible for critical infrastructure account holders to receive portable assignments from the final /8 space. 5.2 Disadvantages - None. 6. Effect on APNIC Members --------------------------- APNIC Members with critical infrastructures may receive IPv4 address assignments from the final /8. 7. Effect on NIRs ------------------ Same as effect on APNIC Members. 8. References ------------- [1] See section 9.10, Distribution of the final /8 worth of space in the unallocated APNIC IPv4 address pool" in "Policies for IPv4 address space management in the Asia Pacific region" http://www.apnic.net/policy/add-manage-policy.html#9.10 [2] See section 11.3, "Critical infrastructure" in "Policies for IPv4 address space management in the Asia Pacific region" http://www.apnic.net/policy/add-manage-policy.html#11