________________________________________________________________________ prop-033-v001: End site assignment policy for IPv6 ________________________________________________________________________ Authors: Geoff Huston, APNIC Randy Bush, IIJ Version: 1 Date: 18 March 2006 SIG: Policy Introduction ------------ This policy proposal proposes to amend the APNIC IPv6 address allocation policies regarding the definition of the default size of End Site assignments, and specify the calculation of address utilization efficiency relating to subsequent allocation criteria. Rationale --------- The current IPv6 Address Allocation and Assignment Policy (APNIC-089) indicates that end sites should be allocated a /48 as a uniform allocation states unit. This proposal alters the existing policy regarding LIR and ISP assignments to End Sites to allow the unit of assignment to be an LIR or ISP decision. In assessing the address utilization efficiency for ISPs or LIRs, the definition of an End Site for the purposes of the calculation of ISP or LIR End Site allocation efficiency is to be made according to a /56 size. For the purpose of evaluating LIR and End Site IPv6 IP address allocation efficiency using the HD ratio, the starting bit position used in the calculation is to be bit position 56. This measure, if undertaken generally by all RIRs, and assuming that further measures are undertaken by the addressing community regarding the HD ratio to a larger value, would increase the anticipated useful lifetime of IPv6 to encompass a period in excess of 100 years during which period no further allocation policy changes would be anticipated to encompass a relatively encompassing diversity of future IPv6 deployment scenarios. A more detailed rationale is available in Geoff Huston's presentation on the subject, at RIPE 50, which can be found at: http://www.ripe.net/ripe/meetings/ripe-50/presentations/ ripe50-plenary-wed-ipv6-roundtable-report.pdf Situation in other RIRs ----------------------- A comparable policy proposal has been submitted to RIPE and ARIN. Details ------- End User allocations: End Users are assigned an End Site assignment from their LIR or ISP. The size of the assignment is a local decision for the LIR or ISP to make, using a minimum value of a /64 (only one subnet is anticipated for the End Site). ISPs and LIRs: ISPs and LIRs may chose whether to make changes to their procedures for assigning address blocks to End Sites. The threshold End Site allocation efficiency level is between 20% to 50% for most ISPs and LIRs when based on a 0.94 HD Ratio. APNIC: APNIC will amend its IPv6 allocation criteria to reflect the use of an HD ratio with the size calculation starting at bit position 56 as the unitary metric in the calculation of the ISP or LIR's end site allocation efficiency. Appendix - References --------------------- This material is not formally part of the Policy Proposal. It is included here for informational purposes. 1. The IPv6 Address Plan - Geoff Huston http://www.potaroo.net/ispcol/2005-07/ipv6size.html 2. Internet Draft: Issues Related to the Management of IPv6 Address Space - Thomas Narten http://tools.ietf.org/wg/ipv6/draft-narten-iana-rir-ipv6-considerations-00.txt 3. Internet Draft: IPv6 Address Allocation to End Sites - Thomas Narten, Geoff Huston & Lea Roberts http://www.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-narten-ipv6-3177bis-48boundary-00.txt