Dear colleagues, Following the discussion on cleaning up the RIPE-NONAUTH database last year: https://mailman.ripe.net/archives/list/db-wg@ripe.net/thread/SFN4AKUI2G3XCZB... and also following the discussion at the DB-WG session at the RIPE 91 and RIPE 92 meetings, here is a problem statement to reduce the size of the RIPE-NONAUTH database. Introduction ------------ The objects in the RIPE-NONAUTH database are not authoritative, and were created anonymously with a well-known password as out-of-region data in the RIPE IRR database. We don’t know who created this data or whether it is still valid. There are very few (< 100) updates per year, which suggests the data is not being maintained. The RIPE-NONAUTH database now contains about 44,526 objects (about the same since RIPE 92). The existing cleanup jobs and maintainers are not deleting much data. I propose to implement additional cleanups to further reduce the size of the NONAUTH database. Scope ----- I propose to implement two additional cleanups of objects in the RIPE-NONAUTH database, as previously discussed. (1) Delete NONAUTH objects with a matching VALID ROA. This will affect approximately 16,497 objects. (2) Delete NONAUTH objects with a matching object in another RIR database. This will affect approximately 27,449 objects. The implementation should initially reduce the size of the NONAUTH database by about 60%, and will continue to reduce over time. Out of Scope ------------ * I do not propose to delete the NONAUTH database completely, only to implement these additional cleanups. * RIPE-NONAUTH database objects will continue to be returned in queries. * Any objects created under IANA or ICANN action will be excluded. See https://mailman.ripe.net/archives/list/db-wg@ripe.net/message/D7242C4PRTXOPF... * Mirroring the NONAUTH database using NRTM will still be supported. Conclusion ---------- I’d like to propose creating a new Numbered Work Item for this problem statement. If the WG agrees with the problem statement, I will follow up with a more detailed Solution Definition, including: * Defining how to match candidate objects in the RIPE-NONAUTH database * Notifying maintainer(s) of affected objects in advance * Allowing maintainer(s) to opt-out (so their object is not deleted) * Documenting the cleanups on the website Regards Ed Shryane RIPE NCC
Edward Shryane wrote on 09/10/2026 15:56:
If the WG agrees with the problem statement, I will follow up with a more detailed Solution Definition, including: * Defining how to match candidate objects in the RIPE-NONAUTH database * Notifying maintainer(s) of affected objects in advance * Allowing maintainer(s) to opt-out (so their object is not deleted) * Documenting the cleanups on the website
this seems like a reasonable way of draining obsolete nonauth objects. Thumbs up from here at least. Nick
participants (2)
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Edward Shryane -
Nick Hilliard