Mohammed,

Unfortunately while the minimum block size for BGP advertisements is /24, the minimum block for end-user IP assignments is a /22. This thoroughly knocks us out of consideration for a direct delegate from ARIN/RIPE, etc...

It certainly looks like we'll remain single -homed until we can get a larger router like a 4500 or 6500, I was just hoping there was a solution that I didn't know about.

Thanks for your assistance,

--jesse

Hi Jesse,

I think that the minimum block of /22 is in the case of LIRs not for end-users, kindly check it out.

BR,

Mohammed Mahmoud.

Mohammed,

Here ya go, I checked it before I came to the site to ask questions today. ;)

http://www.arin.net/policy/nrpm.html#four3

4.3.2.2 Multihomed Connection

For end-users who demonstrate an intent to announce the requested space in a multihomed fashion, the minimum block of IP address space assigned is a /22. If assignments smaller than a /22 are needed, multihomed end-users should contact their upstream providers. When prefixes are assigned which are longer than /20, they will be from a block reserved for that purpose.

Micro-allotments of /24 are available in certain circumstances, but only if you provide a critical internet service.

thanks,

--jesse

Jesse,

We have a customer that is undergoing this scenario (only a /24 address space allocation with redundancy through us and another provider), i'll try to check it out for you.

BR,

Mohammed Mahmoud.

That would be great, I'd be very interested in seeing how they are handling it.

--jesse

Jesse,

Apply to ARIN for a /22. That is the best solution to your problem. We were able to get a /22 with much less hassle than I expected. We do have two sites, but don't come near the specified address requirement. It is at least worth a try -- no guts, no glory I always say.

Do you use a load balancer like a CSS? That would let you set up multiple virtual IPs NAT'd to the same backend services.

Please rate helpful posts.

Dave

Dave,

How much of that /22 is utilized in the justification? based on how you phrased that it sounds like you didn't meet the 25% immediate utilization requirement, did they authorize the assignment without that? This will be our second co-location, third direct-internet access point, and by the end of the year our original DC will be multi-homed as well, so this might be an option.

I'd like nothing more than to handle this without BGP until we achieved a size where it was more justified. Unfortunately I haven't seen a load-balancer within my budget that will pass the traffic levels I need to be ready for through NAT. I would even be fine implementing a direct-route LB through NATs on the router, but I believe the lowest level router that will support that is a 4500, which is another few months out.

--jesse

You can also 'pad' your Arin allocation request by stating that you have 50 hosts now, will have 76 within a year, then assign two class C networks as being broken out as used for private vendor/customer communication to prevent RFC1918 network space overlap. Then assign some more as being assigned for VPN user IPs or whatever.

Thank you, very helpful. I hadn't been taking several of those uses into account. Taking the whole organization into account changes the picture significantly with no padding at all.

Thank you much,

--jesse

--jesse