[ipv6-wg at ripe.net] Re: [lir-wg] IXP networks routing

Hi,

On Wed, Mar 05, 2003 at 01:29:22PM +0100, Måns Nilsson wrote:
> So, if we simply give every AS number holder currently present in the v4
> table a /32 or so, with STRICT instructions to forget getting another
> prefix until half that prefix is pingable, we attain several things:
> 
> * This makes the PI/PA distinction moot, or rather, we have PI only. 
>   Perhaps the mootness is temporary, but I hope not. It might be 
>   replaced with AA -- AS Allocated, ie "these addresses belong to AS1653, 
>   and cannot be placed under any other AS". 

Unfortunately it's not that easy.  It will just change the discussion from
"I need IPv6 PI address space for my enterprise XYZ" to "I need an AS
number for my enterprise!".

I agree that "give every existing AS holder a /32" seems like a very
elegant solution - but what about *new* ASes?  I think it might create 
a "land rush" situation in the AS area ("get one while they are still
easy to get"), which would be very bad.  

32 bit AS numbers are possible, yes, but will not solve the core problem.

[..]
> * Everybody will hunt me with both sharp and blunt objects for being 
>   a filthy pragmatic person with blasphemous opinions. 

It's not that this solution hasn't been proposed before.  I'm just convinced
that it won't work as a reliable way to scale into the future.

Gert Doering
        -- NetMaster
-- 
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