[sig-policy][prop-015-v001] FINAL CALL FOR COMMENTS
Final call for comments: [prop-015-v001]
"Proposal for an amendment to APNIC-089. Should APNIC
allocate global unicast IPv6 address space to 'unconnected' networks?"
____________________
This is the final call for comments on policy proposal [prop-015-v001]
"Proposal for an amendment to APNIC-089.Should APNIC allocate global
unicast IPv6 address space to 'unconnected' networks?"
This proposal was presented at APNIC 17 and consensus was
reached:
"to implement the proposal to permit allocation of IPv6 address space
to closed networks "
This proposal is now submitted to the sig-policy mailing list for an
eight week discussion period. At the end of that period, if consensus
appears to have been achieved, the Chair of the Policy SIG will
ask the Executive Council to endorse the proposal for implementation.
* Send all comments and questions to: <sig-policy at apnic dot net>
* Deadline for comments: 3 May 2004
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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/docs/policy/ipv6-policy-clarification.html
______________________________________________________________________
APNIC Secretariat <secretariat at apnic dot net>
Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) Tel: +61-7-3858-3100
PO Box 2131 Milton, QLD 4064 Australia Fax: +61-7-3858-3199
Level 1, 33 Park Road, Milton, QLD http://www.apnic.net
______________________________________________________________________