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RFC 1881 INFORMATIONAL IPV6 · IANA · ALLOCATION

IPv6 Address Allocation Management

Who will hand out the next generation of Internet addresses

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PUBLISHED
December 1995
AUTHORS
IAB, IESG
STREAM
IETF
ADDRESS WIDTH
128 bits
CENTRAL AUTHORITY
IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority)
DOI
10.17487/RFC1881

RFC text

Contents
Original text · RFC Editor View on rfc-editor.org ↗ 
Network Working Group                                       IAB and IESG
Request for Comments: 1881                                 December 1995
Category: Informational


                   IPv6 Address Allocation Management

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

   The IPv6 address space will be managed by the IANA for the good of
   the Internet community, with advice from the IAB and the IESG, by
   delegation to the regional registries.

Statement

   The IPv6 address space must be managed for the good of the Internet
   community.  Good management requires at least a small element of
   central authority over the delegation and allocation of the address
   space.

   The Internet community recognizes the Internet Assigned Numbers
   Authority (IANA) as the appropriate entity to have the responsibility
   for the management of the IPv6 address space.

   The IANA will rely on the advice of the Internet Architecture Board
   (IAB) and the Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG) in the
   management of the IPv6 address space.

   The IANA will delegate to regional (and other) registries the task of
   making specific address allocations to network service providers and
   other subregional registries.  Individuals and organizations may
   obtain address allocations directly from the appropriate regional (or
   other) registry, or from their service provider.

   Delegation of address space by the IANA is not irrevocable. If, in
   the judgement of the IANA, a registry has seriously mishandled the
   address space delegated to it, the IANA may revoke the delegation,
   with due notice and with due consideration of the operational
   implications.  IANA will make every effort in such a case not to
   revoke addresses that are in active use, unless there are
   overwhelming technical reasons for doing so.

   Any revenues (such as transaction fees) received with respect to the
   IPv6 address space should be used only for expenses related to
   registry activities, and not to subsidize any other activities.
   There will be no charges for the address space itself, only fees to
   recover the registry costs.

   Any situation in the management of the IPv6 address space that leads
   to monopoly control or predatory practices must be avoided.

   The IANA will develop a plan for the initial IPv6 address allocation,
   including a provision for the automatic allocation of IPv6 addresses
   to holders of IPv4 addresses. IANA will also develop mediation and
   appeals procedures concerning delegation and revocation.

Security Considerations

   Security issues are not discussed in this memo.

Contact Information:

   Internet Architecture Board
   EMail: <iab@isi.edu>

   Internet Engineering Steering Group
   EMail: <iesg@cnri.reston.va.us>

AI ELI5

On this page
PROBLEMAs IPv6 deployment approached, the Internet community needed to decide who would manage and allocate the vastly larger IPv6 address space.
MECHANISMRFC 1881 establishes that IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) manages the IPv6 address space on behalf of the Internet, with advice from the IAB and IESG, by delegating to regional registries that make the actual allocations to service providers and organizations.
WHY IT MATTERSA clear management hierarchy ensures orderly allocation, prevents conflicts, and allows delegation so one authority need not handle every allocation request worldwide.

§1Why IPv6 Needs Centralized Management

IPv6 introduces 128-bit addresses, enough for every star in the universe to have a billion Internets. With such a huge space, the Internet community recognized that some central authority must oversee allocation to prevent conflicts and ensure fair distribution. That authority is IANA.

IANA does not make every allocation itself. Instead, it delegates responsibility to regional registries (such as RIPE, APNIC, and ARIN) that are closer to end-users and service providers, and those regional registries make allocations in their regions.

With so many addresses available, you still need one person to say who gets which big block, then let regional offices give out smaller chunks.

§2Principles for Address Management

RFC 1881 states that IPv6 addresses MUST be managed for the good of the Internet community. IANA relies on advice from the IAB (Internet Architecture Board) and IESG (Internet Engineering Steering Group) when making allocation decisions.

The document also establishes that if a regional registry mishandles its delegated space, IANA may revoke the delegation after due notice. Revenue from address space (if any) goes only to cover registry costs, not to subsidize other activities. And monopoly control or predatory practices must be avoided.

An office gets a block of addresses and is supposed to be fair about giving them out. If it acts unfairly or wastes the addresses, the central office can take the block back.

§3What This Establishes

RFC 1881 declares that individuals and organizations may obtain IPv6 address allocations directly from their regional registry or through a service provider. It commits IANA to developing a plan for initial allocation and procedures for appeals if an allocation is denied.

This informational RFC does not define specific allocation policies, block sizes, or technical procedures; those details were developed in separate standards documents that follow IANA's guidance.

Organizations know now that they can ask for addresses from a regional office near them, and there's a fair process if something goes wrong.