________________________________________________________________________ prop-086-v003: Global Policy for IPv4 Allocations by the IANA Post Exhaustion ________________________________________________________________________ Authors: Steve Bertrand Chris Grundemann Aaron Hughes Louie Lee Matt Pounsett Jason Schiller Note: The above individuals donated their time, resources and effort to develop this proposal on behalf of the Internet Community. Version: 3 Date: 18 February 2011 1. Introduction ---------------- This policy defines the process for the allocation of IPv4 addresses post "Exhaustion Phase" [1]. A global policy is required in order for the IANA to be able to transparently continue to be able to allocate IPv4 addresses beyond exhaustion. In order to fulfill the requirements of this policy, the IANA must set up a reclamation pool to hold addresses in and distribute from in compliance with this policy. This policy establishes the process by which IPv4 addresses can be returned to and re-issued from the IANA post Exhaustion Phase. This document does not stipulate performance requirements in the provision of services by the IANA to an RIR in accordance with this policy. Such requirements should be specified by appropriate agreements among the RIRs and ICANN. The intent of this policy is as follows: - To include all post Exhaustion Phase IPv4 address space returned to the IANA. - Allows allocations by the IANA from the Reclamation Pool once the Exhaustion Phase has been completed. - Defines "need" as the basis for further IPv4 allocations by the IANA. - Does not differentiate any class of IPv4 address space unless otherwise defined by an RFC. - Encourage the return of IPv4 address space by making this allocation process available. - Disallow transfers of addresses sourced from the Reclamation Pool in the absence of an IPv4 Global Transfer Policy to neutralize transfer process inequities across RIR regions. - Applies to legacy IPv4 Address Space initially allocated by the IANA to users including the allocations to RIRs. - Includes any length of fragments currently held by the IANA now or in the future. 2. Definitions --------------- IANA: Internet Assigned Numbers Authority, or its successor ICANN: Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or its successor RIR: Regional Internet Registry as recognized by ICANN MoU: Memorandum of Understanding between ICANN and the RIRs IPv4: Internet Protocol Version Four(4), the target protocol of this Global Policy Free Space Pool: IPv4 Addresses that are in inventory at any RIR, and/or the IANA 3. Summary of the current problem ---------------------------------- With the depletion of the IANA free pool of IPv4 address space, the current policy regarding the allocation of IPv4 address space to the RIRs will become moot. The RIRs may, according to their individual policies and procedures, recover IPv4 address space. This policy provides a mechanism for the RIRs to retro allocate the recovered IPv4 address space to the IANA and provides the IANA the policy by which it can allocate it back to the RIRs on a needs basis. This policy creates a new global pool of IPv4 address space that can be allocated where it is needed on a global basis without a transfer of address space between the RIRs. This policy proposal addresses the issues raised with the previous policy proposal prop-069, which the authors agree will not gain global consensus without significant revision. 4. Situation in other RIRs --------------------------- This proposal is being submitted in all RIR regions, with a view to becoming a global policy [1]. - AfriNIC Submitted. Presented at AfriNIC 13. However, due to a change in the text of the proposal within a week of the meeting, consensus could not be obtained. Returned for further discussion on mailing list, and to be presented at AfriNIC 14. http://www.afrinic.net/docs/policies/AFPUB-2010-v4-006.htm - ARIN Submitted. The ARIN Address Council has recommended adoption. https://www.arin.net/policy/proposals/2010_10.html - LACNIC Submitted. Presented at LACNIC XIV. Returned to the mailing list for further discussion. http://www.lacnic.net/documentos/politicas/LAC-2010-04-propuesta-en.pdf - RIPE Submitted. Under initial discussion. http://www.ripe.net/ripe/policies/proposals/2010-05.html 5. Details ----------- 5.1 Reclamation Pool Upon adoption of this IPv4 address policy by the ICANN Board of Directors, the IANA shall establish a Reclamation Pool to be utilized post RIR IPv4 exhaustion as defined in Section 4. The reclamation pool will initially contain any fragments that may be left over in IANA inventory. As soon as the first RIR exhausts its inventory of IP address space, this Reclamation Pool will be declared active. When the Reclamation Pool is declared active, the Global Policy for the Allocation of the Remaining IPv4 Address Space [3] and Policy for Allocation of IPv4 Blocks to Regional Internet Registries [4] will be formally deprecated. 5.2 Returning Address Space to the IANA The IANA will accept into the Reclamation Pool all eligible IPv4 address space that are offered for return. Eligible address space includes addresses that are not designated as "special use" by an IETF RFC or addresses allocated to RIRs unless they are being returned by the RIR that they were orignally allocated to. Legacy address holders may return address space directly to the IANA if they so choose. 5.3 Address Allocations from the Reclamation Pool by the IANA Allocations from the Reclamation Pool may begin once the pool is declared active. Addresses in the Reclamation Pool will be allocated on a CIDR boundary equal to or shorter than the longest minimum allocation unit of all RIRs in order to complete these allocations. The Reclamation Pool will be divided on CIDR boundaries and distributed evenly to all eligible RIRs. Any remainder not evenly divisible by the number of eligible RIRs based on a CIDR boundary equal to or shorter than the longest minimum allocation unit of all RIRs will remain in the Reclamation Pool. Addresses that are left over will be held in the Reclamation Pool until additional IP addresses can be returned to rejoin addresses on CIDR boundaries to the Reclamation Pool or a minimum allocation unit is set to allow allocation from existing inventory. 5.4 RIR Eligibility for Receiving Allocations from the Reclamation Pool Upon the exhaustion of an RIR's free space pool and after receiving their final /8 from the IANA [3], an RIR will become eligible to request address space from the IANA Reclamation Pool when it publicly announces via its respective global announcements email list and by posting a notice on its website that it has exhausted its supply of IPv4 address space. An RIR is considered at exhaustion when the inventory is less than the equivalent of a single /8 and is unable to further allocate or assign address space to its customers in units equal to or shorter than the longest of that RIR's policy defined minimum allocation unit. Any RIR that is formed after the ICANN Board of Directors has ratified this policy is not eligible to utilize this policy to obtain IPv4 address space from the IANA. 5.5 Reporting Requirements The IANA shall publish on at least a weekly basis a report that is publicly available which at a minimum details all address space that has been received and that has been allocated. The IANA shall publish a Returned Address Space Report which indicates what resources were returned, by whom and when. The IANA shall publish an Allocations Report on at least a weekly basis which at a minimum indicates what IPv4 address space has been allocated, which RIR received the allocation and when. The IANA shall publish a public notice confirming RIR eligibility subsequent to Section 5.4. 5.6 No Transfer Rights Address space assigned from the Reclamation Pool may be transferred if there is either an ICANN Board ratified global policy or globally coordinated RIR policy specifically written to deal with transfers whether inter-RIR or from one entity to another. Transfers must meet the requirements of such a policy. In the absence of such a policy, no transfers of any kind related to address space allocated or assigned from the reclamation pool is allowed. 5. Pros/Cons ------------- 5.1 Advantages - The policy provides a mechanism for the ongoing distribution of IPv4 address space. 5.2 Disadvantages - None identified. 6. Effect on APNIC Members --------------------------- This policy governs the allocation relationship between the IANA and the RIRs. It does not imply any change to allocation relationships between APNIC and its members. 7. Effect on NIRs ------------------ This policy governs the allocation relationship between the IANA and the RIRs. It does not imply any change to allocation relationships between APNIC and NIRs. 8. References ------------- [1] IANA, Global Policy for the Allocation of the Remaining IPv4 Address Space http://www.icann.org/en/general/allocation-remaining-ipv4-space.htm [2] ICANN Address Supporting Organization (ASO) MoU http://aso.icann.org/documents/memorandum-of-understanding [3] Global Policy for the Allocation of the Remaining IPv4 Address Space http://www.icann.org/en/general/allocation-remaining-ipv4-space.htm [4] Policy for Allocation of IPv4 Blocks to Regional Internet Registries http://aso.icann.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/aso-001-2.pdf