Hi, On Thu, Mar 10, 2011 at 02:05:31PM +0100, Shane Kerr wrote:
1. Closing the allocation window / giving LIRs less leeway in approvals [so there should be no difference in submitting a request through a LIR, or through the RIR]
Do you mean the "assignment window"?
As I understand it, when you get an allocation from the RIPE NCC you can't actually use it for anything until you get approval to assign that space. After a certain amount of time, you have proven yourself more-or-less trustworthy, then you get an assignment window, and can make smallish assignments yourself without prior approval. These assignments are reviewed - both by automated tools and by humans - if and when you ask for another allocation.
Mostly correct, yes. You still start with an AW=0, and that goes up after 6 month to /22 if you have done some NCC-approved assignments in that time. (It was somewhat more strict in previous times, where you'd only get to about the size you have assigned - while today, you always get /22 or bigger) [..]
If you mean the process by which provider-independent (PI) space is assigned, then as I understand it this REQUIRES an LIR to make the request on your behalf. I assume that the RIPE NCC reviews each request, the same as they would any address request.
To be honest, I don't really understand what the LIR role in this whole process is, other than maybe companies prefer to work with a local company that speaks their language, is in their time zone, and understands their business environment.
This is the whole point. There might be a business relation with a local LIR already, and that's way easier for "smallish companies" than to do international contracts with Amstedam. You *can* get the PI space from the RIPE NCC directly (nowadays) by becoming a so-called "direct access user" - but this is more expensive, and more paperwork. Gert Doering -- NetMaster -- did you enable IPv6 on something today...? SpaceNet AG Vorstand: Sebastian v. Bomhard Joseph-Dollinger-Bogen 14 Aufsichtsratsvors.: A. Grundner-Culemann D-80807 Muenchen HRB: 136055 (AG Muenchen) Tel: +49 (89) 32356-444 USt-IdNr.: DE813185279