This is all great and dandy, but then why does it appear that anybody with a cable modem this side of the sun are using static IP's. Granted that the Nic probably didn't allocate the current /8 (or the next one), but I don't see any (and didn't see any prior) 'investigation' to make dynamic allocation possible (or using RFC1918 addresses). Are they looking at DHCP or RFC1918 as a solution for their userbase ? While we're here pulling our teeth on returning addresses and not allowing static IP's for a combined user base of several million internet users, a group of users with less than 50K (correct me if I'm wrong here) and no track history of rwhois/swipped addresses gets gets /8's for allocation to a static IP userbase....... Ed On Sun, 8 Jun 1997, Jeremy Porter wrote: : :Use DHCP, get your customers to use DHCP. Current Best Current Pratices :for IP allocations (http://ftp.fc.net/rfc/rfc2050.txt) states: : 5. Due to the requirement to increase the utilization efficiency : of IPv4 address space, all assignments are made with the : assumption that sites make use of variable length subnet mask : (VLSM) and classless technologies within their network. Any : request for address space based on the use of classfull : assumptions will require a detailed justification. The use of : classfull technologies for the purposes of administrative : convenience is generally insupportable due to the limited : availability of free IPv4 address space. :... : 7. : While it is understood that the use of static addressing may : ease some aspects of administration, the current rate of : consumption of the remaining unassigned IPv4 address space does : not permit the assignment of addresses for administrative ease. : Organizations considering the use of static IP address assignment : are expected to investigate and implement dynamic assignment : technologies whenever possible. : : :This means that you should use renumbering technology as much as :possible, so that when you can justify a /19 you can get one, :until then, find an ISP that is multi-homes and can provide you :the IP addresses you need, and consider two connections to them, :giving you the benefit of being multi-homed without the cost of :the routers needed for full BGP, or needing to justify a /19. : :