RE: Independent space from ARIN

["Brian Johnson" <brianj () nvc net>]

I hate to pile on, but Andrea is right.

I had absolutely no problem getting any of my ARIN numbers because I wrote
an essay about my network. I though at the time that it was a waste of my
time but have come to understand even more about my network than before.

Even if you know your network and what you need like the back of your hand,
ARIN doesn't. They don't even really want to.

On an initial allocation they don't know "JACK" about you. You need to
supply them with a reason to trust you and pouring out your network "guts"
on the request usually does the trick.

JMHO

Brian Johnson
Internet Operations Specialist
Northern Valley Communications


> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-nanog () merit edu [mailto:owner-nanog () merit edu] On 
> Behalf Of Andrea Abrahamsen
> Sent: Monday, April 14, 2003 1:01 PM
> To: Richard A Steenbergen; nanog () merit edu
> Subject: Re: Independent space from ARIN
>
>
>
>
> Richard A Steenbergen wrote:
>
> > * Why have I NEVER been able to submit an ARIN request 
> without receiving
> >   a response asking for information I included in the 
> original request.
> >
>
> I would say it's because you need to explain yourself more 
> clearly in your
> requests.  You can never give them too much information, so 
> bowl them over
> with all the detail you can possibly muster up.  And if you 
> find they're
> asking for similar information every time, perhaps including 
> that information
> in the initial application would negate the need for a clarification.
>
> Bottom line -  you have to type a lot.  Sorry.
>
>
> > * Why do we have to submit to the equivalent of an IP anal 
> probe, and
> >   cough up extremely detailed documentation on network 
> architectures and
> >   the use of every IP address.
>
> I think this goes without saying.  How else can the Internet 
> community be
> assurred of efficient address space utilization on both a 
> local and global
> level ?  If you can't justify the need for IP space, no soup 
> for you.  It's
> inconvenient, but it has to be done to ensure proper utilization.
>
>
> > * Why any of this "police state" is necessary given that 
> the shortage of
> >   IPv4 addresses seems to be artifically created. There are 
> still tons of
> >   IP addresses that are either unallocated, unreasonably 
> allocated (hey
> >   Merit, lets see your documentation on 35.0.0.0/8 :P), or 
> long dead and
> >   never reclaimed. Only 32% of the available IPv4 space is being
> >   announced, where is the shortage?
>
> See above - if there wasn't the policing in place, you 
> wouldn't be asking this
> question.  The shortage isn't the reason for ARIN's policies.  Ongoing
> scalability and sustainability from local accountability and 
> adherence to good
> practice is.
>
>
> > * Why do we have to pay very large sums of money ($2500+ 
> per year at a
> >   minimum) for this wonderful IP policing service. Where in 
> the heck does
> >   all that money go?
>
> The flaming pitchforks ? :)
>
>
> > * Why does ARIN have no problem assigning large blocks of 
> unallocated
> >   space (usually 2x or more) around a new "customer" to 
> accomodate for
> >   future growth, but have policies preventing ISPs from 
> doing the same
> >   (aka 80% utilization for more space).
>
> Because they need to give them something to start off with, 
> then adjust future
> allocations based on their growth.
>
> Networks who have demonstrated the need for a certain size 
> block will get that
> size block based on past usage.  If their utilization 
> increases, they may have
> to apply early.  In doing so, they may demonstrate that a 
> larger block is
> needed this time.  How's that for a benefit.
>
>
> > * Etc etc etc, not counting the problems that have already 
> been mentioned.
> > Yes, if you take the time to try and figure out what goes 
> on inside the
> > minds of ARIN, you'll find that some of the people actually 
> do try to be
> > useful human beings. But most of us don't have the time or 
> desire to do
> > that, we just want a system that works. I don't think the 
> current system
> > meets anyone's standard for useful, efficient, or cost effective.
>
> There is no such thing as a shortage of time, only a shortage 
> of priority.
> Giving ARIN what they want takes time and can be a pain in 
> the nether regions,
> but it is a necessary evil.  The system works if you take the time and
> attention to make it work for you.
>
>
> Andrea Abrahamsen
> Software Engineer, Intelligent Network Services
> Cisco Systems