RFC 2008 (rfc2008) - Page 1 of 13
Implications of Various Address Allocation Policies for Internet Routing
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group Y. Rekhter
Request for Comments: 2008 T. Li
BCP: 7 Cisco Systems
Category: Best Current Practice October 1996
Implications of Various Address Allocation
Policies for Internet Routing
Status of this Memo
This document specifies an Internet Best Current Practices for the
Internet Community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
improvements. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
IESG Note:
The addressing constraints described in this document are largely the
result of the interaction of existing router technology, address
assignment, and architectural history. After extensive review and
discussion, the authors of this document, the IETF working group that
reviewed it, and the IESG have concluded that there are no other
currently deployable technologies available to overcome these
limitations. In the event that routing or router technology develops
to the point that adequate routing aggregation can be achieved by
other means or that routers can deal with larger routing and more
dynamic tables, it may be appropriate to review these constraints.
1 Abstract
IP unicast address allocation and management are essential
operational functions for the Public Internet. The exact policies for
IP unicast address allocation and management continue to be the
subject of many discussions. Such discussions cannot be pursued in a
vacuum - the participants must understand the technical issues and
implications associated with various address allocation and
management policies.
The purpose of this document is to articulate certain relevant
fundamental technical issues that must be considered in formulating
unicast address allocation and management policies for the Public
Internet, and to provide recommendations with respect to these
policies.
The major focus of this document is on two possible policies,
"address ownership" and "address lending," and the technical
implications of these policies for the Public Internet. For the
organizations that could provide reachability to a sufficiently large
Rekhter & Li Best Current Practice