------------------------------------------------------------------------ prop-110v002: Designate 1.2.3.0/24 as Anycast to support DNS Infrastructure ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Proposers: Dean Pemberton, dean@internetnz.net.nz Geoff Huston, gih@apnic.net 1. Problem statement -------------------- Network 1 (1.0.0.0/8) was allocated to APNIC by the IANA on 19 January 2010. In line with standard practice APNIC's Resource Quality Assurance activities determined that 95% of the address space would be suitable for delegation as it was found to be relatively free of unwanted traffic [1]. Testing, conducted by APNIC R&D found that certain blocks within Network 1 attract significant amounts of unwanted traffic, primarily due to its unauthorised use as private address space [2]. Analysis revealed that, prior to any delegations being made from the block, 1.0.0.0/8 attracted an average of 140Mbps - 160Mbps of unsolicited incoming traffic as a continuous sustained traffic level, with peak bursts of over 800Mbps. The analysis highlighted individual addresses such as 1.2.3.4 with its covering /24 (identified as 1.2.3.0/24) remain in APNIC quarantine and it is believed they will not be suitable for normal address distribution. The proposal proposes the use of 1.2.3.0/24 in a context of locally scoped infrastructure support for DNS resolvers. 2. Objective of policy change ----------------------------- As the addresses attract extremely high levels of unsolicited incoming traffic, the block has been withheld from allocation and periodically checked to determine if the incoming traffic profile has altered. None has been observed to date. After four years, it now seems unlikely there will ever be any change in the incoming traffic profile. The objective of this proposal is to permit the use 1.2.3.0/24 as a anycast addresses to be used in context of scoped routing to support the deployment of DNS resolvers. It is noted that as long as providers who use this address use basic route scope limitations, the side effect of large volumes of unsolicited incoming traffic would be, to some extent mitigated down to manageable levels. 3. Situation in other regions ----------------------------- Improper use of this address space is a globally common issue. However the block is delegated only APNIC and so therefor, no other RIR has equivalent policy to deal with the situation. 4. Proposed policy solution --------------------------- This proposal recommends that the APNIC community agree to assign 1.2.3.0/24 to the APNIC Secretariat for use in the context of locally scoped infrastructure support for DNS resolvers. At some future point there is nothing restricting an RFC being written to include this prefix into the special-purpose IPv4 registry. However, at this time it is considered sufficient for the APNIC community to designate this prefix to be managed as a common anycast address for locally scoped infrastructure support for DNS resolvers. 5. Advantages / Disadvantages ----------------------------- Advantages - It will make use of this otherwise unusable address space. - DNS operators will have an easy-to-remember address they can use to communicate with their users (e.g. configure "1.2.3.4" as your DNS resolver") Disadvantages - The address attracts a large volume of unsolicited incoming traffic, and leakage of an anycast advertisement outside of a limited local scope may impact on the integrity of the DNS service located at the point associated with the scope leakage. Some operators with high capacity infrastructure may see this as a negligible issue. 6. Impact on APNIC ------------------ Although this space will no longer be available for use by a single APNIC/NIR account holder, the proposal would result in benefit for all APNIC community members, as well as the communities in other regions. References ---------- [1] Resource Quality Good for Most of IPv4 Network "1" http://www.apnic.net/publications/press/releases/2010/network-1.pdf [2] Traffic in Network 1.0.0.0/8 http://www.potaroo.net/ispcol/2010-03/net1.html