prop-102: Sparse allocation guidelines for IPv6 resource allocations
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Dear colleagues
The eight-week final comment period for the proposal 'Sparse allocation
guidelines for IPv6 resource allocations' has ended. During the comment
period there were no objections raised to the proposal. The Chairs
therefore deem that consensus has been maintained on the proposal.
We formally request that the APNIC Executive Council endorse this
proposal.
This proposal also requires that the details of any sparse allocation
algorithm used for the allocation by APNIC of IPv6 resourcesmust be
published on the website, and any revisions should be handled inline
with the procedures contained within APNIC-112.
2. Summary of the current problem
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Large networks and economies are requesting blocks of IPv6 space larger
than the current allocation models allow. At present the allocation
strategies look at a timeline on the order of 1-2 years. Organisations
are now having to look to a 5-10 year time-frame when deploying large
IPv6 networks.
They are understandably concerned about their ability to secure access
to 5-10 years of aggregatable address space if they are only allocated
on 1-2 year needs basis. We have seen requests in proposals such as
prop-98, prop-99 and prop-100, which seek to find ways to allow for
larger allocations or reserve an amount of space for future
organisational use. All of these proposals seek to make large changes to
the way that IPv6 addresses are allocated by APNIC in order to address
these legitimate concerns.
It would seem however that there is an alternative solution which would
only require a small change to current operating procedure.
At present the APNIC operating procedure is for hostmasters to use a
method of sparse-allocation when allocating IPv6 addresses out of the
APNIC free pool.
The sparse-allocation allows for allocations to be given from a larger pool
in such a way that members can request neighbouring allocations at a later
date and aggregate these together in to a larger routable allocation.
While this has been APNIC operating procedure for some time, the
specific details of the algorithm have not been publically published.
As such the exact algorithm used as well as the parameters around this
sparse-allocation algorithm are not open to member input or comment
through a consultation process.
3. Situation in other RIRs
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Unknown at this point.
4. Details
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This proposal seeks to make the following additions/changes to APNIC
policy
1. APNIC must publish the details of any sparse allocation
framework on the APNIC website as a numbered document. Changes
to this document should be handled as per APNIC-112 "APNIC
document editorial policy".
5. Pros/Cons
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Advantages:
- APNIC Members will have visibility of the details of any sparse
allocation algorithm used by APNIC to allocate IPv6 resources
Disadvantages:
- The hostmasters would be required to document and publish the
sparse allocation mechanism.
This may have an increased workload requirement. It is not
anticipated that this increase would be significant as changes to
the algorithm are not expected to occur frequently.
6. Effect on APNIC Members
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APNIC members would be able to see the published details of the sparse
allocation policy used by APNIC to allocate IPv6 resources from its
address pool.
7. Effect on NIRs
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The policy would apply when NIRs request address space from APNIC
The proposal allows NIRs to choose when to adopt this policy for their
Members.