Hi, william(at)elan.net wrote:
If the end user no longer exists then we can clean up the database and make the unused resources available for assignment to another network - after a suitable quarantine period.
What amounts to "suitable quarantine period"?
It varies. Our concern is that the resource has not appeared in the RIPE Database or those route views we have access to for a few months.
How do you determine if the user "no longer exists"?
Most of the time we are contacted by the system or network administrators of companies that are closing, telling us that they can return resources because their are turning their networks off. Essentially, it's people voluntarily handing back resources that their networks no longer need. In other cases we follow a set of steps to determine whether the resource is no longer in use. The precise details of the process can vary depending on where the resources were used - there are a few dozen countries in our service region.
What resources will fall under this system?
Is such resource recovery covered by RIPE policies (if so which one)?
This system covers all the resources we are responsible for managing. In section 6.6 of the IPv4 policy it states: "All assignments are valid as long as the original criteria on which the assignment was based are still valid and the assignment is properly registered in the RIPE Database." In section 4.1 of the IPv6 policy it states: "The policies in this document are based upon the understanding that globally unique IPv6 unicast address space is licensed for use rather than owned. Specifically, IP addresses will be allocated and assigned on a license basis, with licenses subject to renewal on a periodic basis. The granting of a license is subject to specific conditions applied at the start or renewal of the license. RIRs will generally renew licenses automatically, provided requesting organisations are making a “good faith” effort at meeting the criteria under which they qualified for or were granted an allocation or assignment. However, in those cases where a requesting organisation is not using the address space as intended, or is showing bad faith in following through on the associated obligation, RIRs reserve the right to not renew the license." In section 1.8 of the AS Number policy it states: "If an organisation has an AS Number that is no longer in use, it can be returned to the public pool of AS Numbers by sending a message to <hostmaster@ripe.net>. It can then be reassigned to another Autonomous System by the RIPE NCC." I hope this is helpful. Regards, -- leo vegoda "Good enough is not good enough" RIPE NCC Axel Pawlik Registration Services Manager 3 June 2005