On Thu, 31 Aug 2000, Jorma Mellin wrote:
service. So, if a LIR decides to have an SLA-bound agreement, it will pay N times more (N may be even 10 or 20) than a standard contribution fee, but will get guaranteed service. If RIPE NCC fails to provide service to those registries, they would pay penalties, which would be automatically deduced from the LIR contribution fee.
All other registries should pay normal fees and get normal class of service (not SLA bound, no penalties for delays etc.).
I't doesn't sound too good, because in that model you can use money to obtain better service. So that model is going to hurt the LIR's who are not willing or able to pay. I know my employer can easily afford to pay to get the service we want, but somehow it doesn't sound right when we are talking about a resource (IP addr. space) what should be divided among users as equally as possible. But, if every LIR would agree to pay a small amount if service is running smoothly then we are all at the same level. And it doesn't require an application to keep track who has what SLA.
So far I haven't hear a fact that the long delays are caused by lack of human resources. It has beeing an assumption so far. If it really is a manpower problem how many people we do need more and how much money it takes to hire and train them?
Perhaps it would be best to use those people who are doing hostmaster's job at their places? To form special organizations joining a number of LIRs, hire well trained and exprienced hostmasters authorized to make assignements from LIR's blocks; requests for new allocations send to RIPE NCC with reports. The remuneration should make n% of the service fee.
BTW, I have handled the problem with queues so that we do not make any exact promices to our customers that they can have numbers an a given date. More or less we explain that there is a process behind all this and it is there because of a reason. 99% of them are happy with that. Problems usually start when too optimistic promices are beeing made (by someone not familiar with the process).
Jorma
With respect, Larisa Yurkina --- RIPN Registry center -----