At 07:31 PM 2/26/97 -0600, Karl Denninger wrote:
As long as a provider can get their own /19 I have no problem with prefix filtering at the /19 level.
The problem comes about when big ISPs filter at /19s *AND* the allocators of space refuse to give ISPs /19s.
These two goals seem to be at odds in the current system for address allocation. How would you change the system to allow people to aquire address space that they need and get it routed? The address allocation scheme is geared towards trying to promote utilization of IP space, thus the sorta "take just what you need" methodology. The filters that you talk of seem to me to be crude proxies for controlling routing space on a particular providers network, this seems to me to be a reasonable thing (i.e. they have to make their network work). If different providers were to sell routing "slots" on their network such that an ISP could guarantee that their announcements would be accepted (regardless of address length) this would seem to solve the problems of both those that can't "justify" a big block and those of the providers that want to control the use of their resources on their network as well. It appears that you're primary argument is one of fairness and level playing field for all comers regardless of size, and I think this is a worthy goal if it can be done technically. -scott