RFC 1466 (rfc1466) - Page 3 of 10
Guidelines for Management of IP Address Space
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
RFC 1466 Guidelines for Management of IP Address Space May 1993
d) is committed to allocate IP numbers according to
the guidelines established by the IANA and the IR, and
e) is committed to coordinate with the IR to establish
qualifications and strategies for sub-allocations of
the regional allocation.
The distributed regional registry is empowered by the IANA and the IR
to provide the network number registration function to a geographic
area. It is possible for network applicants to contact the IR
directly. Depending on the circumstances the network subscriber may
be referred to the regional registry, but the IR will be prepared to
service any network subscriber if necessary.
3.0 Allocation of the Network Number Space by the Internet Registry
The Class A portion of the number space represents 50% of the total
IP host addresses; Class B is 25% of the total; Class C is
approximately 12% of the total. Table 1 shows the current allocation
of the IP network numbers.
Total Allocated Allocated (%)
Class A 126 49 38%
Class B 16383 7354 45%
Class C 2097151 44014 2%
Table 1: Network Number Statistics (May 1992) [2]
Class A and B network numbers are a limited resource and therefore
allocations from this space will be restricted. The entire Class A
number space will be retained by the IANA and the IR. No allocations
from the Class A network numbers will be made to distributed regional
registries at this time. (See section 4.1.)
Allocations from the Class B network number space will be restricted
also. Small blocks of numbers may be allocated to regional
registries, which will be required to ensure that the allocation
guidelines are met. The IR will monitor those allocations. (See
section 4.2.)
It is proposed that the IR, and any designated regional registries,
allocate addresses in conformance with this overall scheme. Where
there are qualifying regional registries established, primary
responsibility for allocation within that block will be delegated to
that registry. It should be noted that the Reseaux IP Europeens
Network Coordination Center (RIPE NCC) had been allocated a block of
Class C addresses (193.0.0 - 193.255.255) prior to the adoption of
this proposal. The RIPE NCC has agreed to allocate the addresses
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