_____________________________________________________________________ Proposal for an amendment to APNIC-089: Should APNIC allocate Global Unicast IPv6 Address Space to 'unconnected' networks? _____________________________________________________________________ Proposed by: APNIC Version: draft 1.0 Date: January 2004 1. Summary ---------- In making IPv6 allocations, the RIRs currently work from a single policy document - the common 'IPv6 address allocation and assignment policy' (published in this region as an APNIC document APNIC-089). Despite a common framework, it has been noted that due to a lack of clarity in the policy document, the RIRs have adopted different practices in interpretation of the document. Specifically, there are different interpretations applied to the issue of IPv6 allocations to 'unconnected' networks, where the network is not to be connected to the global IPv6 Internet. The interpretation made by the APNIC Secretariat in this respect included 'unconnected' networks as within the scope of this policy. The APNIC Executive Committee (EC), in their review of this situation, published an interim clarification on the APNIC interpretation of IPv6 allocations to closed networks in November 2003.[1] The clarification notice is to the effect that: - "While this notice is in force, APNIC will allocate global IPv6 space to organisations in accordance with the criteria stated in the 'IPv6 allocation and assignment policy' to both networks that are to be connected to the global IPv6 Internet and to unconnected networks." - All such allocations made under this interim notice shall be regarded as valid allocations, and shall not be rescinded by APNIC in any subsequent change to the IPv6 allocation and assignment policy. - 'The IPv6 allocation and assignment policy' is to be referred to the APNIC Open Policy Forum, with a request for explicit clarification of the policy with respect to connected and unconnected networks. The outcomes from this process will then be adopted by APNIC, at which time this interim notice will lapse. This proposal is the result of the APNIC EC decision. 2. Background and problem ------------------------- The common 'IPv6 address allocation and assignment policy' adopted by all RIRs (published in this region by APNIC as document APNIC-089), states that IPv6 allocations are made to organisations meeting the following criteria: 5.1.1. Initial allocation criteria To qualify for an initial allocation of IPv6 address space, an organization must: a) be an LIR; b) not be an end site; c) plan to provide IPv6 connectivity to organizations to which it will assign /48s, by advertising that connectivity through its single aggregated address allocation; and d) have a plan for making at least 200 /48 assignments to other organizations within two years. It is noted that there is no explicit reference in this criteria for the organisation to connect to the global IPv6 Internet. It is unclear whether the original proponents of this allocation policy intended that this policy explicitly refer only to public networks that connect to the global IPv6 Internet, or whether the scope for other forms of deployment were encompassed within this criteria. The document refers only to the provision of connectivity to other organisations, and while it states that such connectivity will be advertised as an aggregated announcement, there is no mention of the context of this aggregate advertisement. The APNIC Secretariat, according to the directive from the APNIC EC, has interpreted the IPv6 policy document in a manner that allows allocations to networks that that are unconnected but that otherwise meet the relevant allocation criteria. One such allocation has been made to date, when the APNIC Secretariat received a request for IPv6 address space for a large network that was not to be immediately connected with the Internet. APNIC hostmaster staff assessed and approved the request on consideration of all relevant factors. In particular, the "connected status" of the network was not regarded as grounds for refusal of the request. 3. Other RIRs ------------- In surveying the manner in which this has been interpreted by the other RIRs, it has been established that ARIN and LACNIC have stated that they will not make IPv6 allocations for unconnected networks within the current framework of the common 'IPv6 allocation and assignment policy' document, and the RIPE NCC has stated that allocations are made on a case-by-case basis. This difference of interpretation of the common IPv6 policy has been raised within the global IPv6 policy discussion as to whether unconnected networks can receive allocations from the RIRs. To date there has been no consensus reached in the discussions. 4. Proposal ----------- This matter is for the consideration of the APNIC community. It is proposed for the reasons outlined above that the APNIC Secretariat continue to allocate global IPv6 space to organisations in accordance with the criteria stated in the 'IPv6 allocation and assignment policy' to both networks that are to be connected to the global IPv6 Internet and to unconnected networks. Additional reasoning is that there currently is no alternative for users wishing to deploy IPv6 address space in the context of a private network 5. Implementation ----------------- Following a consensus decision from the open policy process, this change would be implemented immediately, and the APNIC EC notice will be withdrawn. A companion addendum document to APNIC-089 will be published. 6. References ------------- 1 EC clarification note: http://www.apnic.net/policy/ipv6-policy-clarification.html