nanog mailing list archives

Re: Re: IPv6 fc00::/7 — Unique local addresses


From: Mark Andrews <marka () isc org>
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:48:45 +1100


In message <585A7AD9-E6D6-4477-B8DC-4A09539F0EB9 () delong com>, Owen DeLong write
s:

On Oct 20, 2010, at 5:29 PM, Mark Smith wrote:

On Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:39:19 -0400
Deepak Jain <deepak () ai net> wrote:
=20
Use a pseudo random number, not follow bad examples. Where are these
examples? I'd be curious as to what they say regarding why they =
haven't
followed the pseudo random number requirement.
=20
Use something like fd00::1234, or incorporate
something like the interface's MAC address into the address? It'd
make
the address quite unreadable though.
=20
Unique Local IPv6 Unicast Addresses
http://tools.ietf.org/rfc/rfc4193.txt
=20
=20
[snipped a bunch of stuff above].=20
=20
According to the RFC:=20
=20
3.2
=20
  The local assignments are self-generated and do not need any =
central
  coordination or assignment, but have an extremely high probability =
of
  being unique.
=20
3.2.1.  Locally Assigned Global IDs
=20
  Locally assigned Global IDs MUST be generated with a pseudo-random
  algorithm consistent with [RANDOM].  Section 3.2.2 describes a
  suggested algorithm.  It is important that all sites generating
  Global IDs use a functionally similar algorithm to ensure there is =
a
  high probability of uniqueness.
=20
  The use of a pseudo-random algorithm to generate Global IDs in the
  locally assigned prefix gives an assurance that any network =
numbered
  using such a prefix is highly unlikely to have that address space
  clash with any other network that has another locally assigned =
prefix
  allocated to it.  This is a particularly useful property when
  considering a number of scenarios including networks that merge,
  overlapping VPN address space, or hosts mobile between such =
networks.
=20
----
=20
Global ID in this case means the 40 bit pseudo random thing. The =
point here is, we are all supposed  to pick our own poison and pray that =
we are unique.
=20
The chance of collision is dependent on both the randomness of 40 bits
*and* how interconnected the ULA domains are. You'll have to sin a lot =
to be that unlucky.
=20
Here's the table from the RFC showing the odds of collision based on =
interconnectedness -
=20
The following table shows the probability of a collision for a range
  of connections using a 40-bit Global ID field.
=20
     Connections      Probability of Collision
=20
         2                1.81*10^-12
        10                4.54*10^-11
       100                4.54*10^-09
      1000                4.54*10^-07
     10000                4.54*10^-05
=20
  Based on this analysis, the uniqueness of locally generated Global
  IDs is adequate for sites planning a small to moderate amount of
  inter-site communication using locally generated Global IDs.
=20
=20
Though an algorithm is suggested in 3.2.2. Perhaps SIXXS uses it. =
Anyway, the SIXXS tool seems pretty slick.
=20
=20
One thing I'm not keen on that sixxs have done is to create a =
voluntary
registry of the non-central ULAs. By creating a registry, I think some
people who use it will then think that their ULA prefix is now
guaranteed globally unique and is theirs forever. If there ever was a
collision, those people are likely to point to that completely
voluntary registry and say "I had it first" and are likely to refuse
to accept that the voluntary registry has no status or authority over
the random ULA address space.
=20
Which is part one of the three things that have to happen to make ULA
really bad for the internet.

Part 2 will be when the first provider accepts a large sum of money to
route it within their public network between multiple sites owned by
the same customer.

They can do that without needing to pay.  They just setup tunnels
between the sites.

Alternatively the ISP provides virtual circuits between the sites
for a small on going fee to cover the additional administrative
costs and bills on the aggregate traffic across all the circuits
to each site.  The ISP doesn't need to accept ULA routes to cross
connect the sites.

It's not like ISP's don't provide virtual circuits today to cross
connect parts of companies.  Or companies don't run VPN tunnels
between sites today.

Part 3 will be when that same provider (or some other provider in the
same boat) takes the next step and starts trading routes of ULA space
with other provider(s).

At that point, ULA =3D GUA without policy =3D very bad thing (tm).

Since feature creep of this form is kind of a given in internet history,
I have no reason to believe it won't happen eventually with ULA.

Owen
-- 
Mark Andrews, ISC
1 Seymour St., Dundas Valley, NSW 2117, Australia
PHONE: +61 2 9871 4742                 INTERNET: marka () isc org


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