RFC 2036 (rfc2036) - Page 1 of 9
Observations on the use of Components of the Class A Address Space within the Internet
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group G. Huston
Request for Comments: 2036 Telstra Internet
Category: Informational October 1996
Observations on the use of Components of the Class A
Address Space within the Internet
Status of this Memo
This memo provides information for the Internet community. This memo
does not specify an Internet standard of any kind. Distribution of
this memo is unlimited.
Abstract
This document is a commentary on the recommendation that IANA
commence allocation of the presently unallocated components of the
Class A address space to registries, for deployment within the
Internet as class-less address blocks.
The document examines the implications for service providers and end
clients within this environment. The document notes the major
conclusion that widespread adoption of class-less routing protocols
is required, within a relatively rapid timeframe for this
recommendation to be effective.
Introduction
The Address Lifetime Expectancy (ALE) Working Group of the IETF has
recorded the allocation of Internet addresses from the unallocated
address pool. ALE has noted that the existing practice of drawing
addresses from the Class C space (192/3 address prefix) will result
in near to medium term exhaustion of this section of the unallocated
address pool. The largest remaining pool is in the Class A space,
where some 25% of Internet addresses (the upper half of the Class A
space) remain, to date, unallocated.
This document is a commentary on the potential recommendation that
the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), through delegated
registries, commence allocation of the presently unallocated
components of the Class A address space to registries, for
deployment within the Internet through the mechanism of allocation of
class-less address prefixes.
The deployment of class-less address prefixes from the Class A space
within the Internet will require some changes to the routing
structure within Internet component network domains. The motivation
Huston Informational