Provider Independent Address Space
Encyclopedia
A provider-independent address space is a block of IP address
es assigned by a regional Internet registry
(RIR) directly to an end-user organization. The user must contract with an Internet service provider
to obtain routing of the address block within the Internet
.
Provider-independent addresses offer end-users the opportunity to change service providers without renumbering of their networks and to use multiple access providers in a multi-homed configuration. However, provider-independent blocks may increase the burden on global routers, as the opportunity for efficient route aggregation through Classless Inter-Domain Routing
(CIDR) may not exist.
accepted a policy proposal of January 2006 to assign IPv6 provider-independent IPv6
prefixes. Assignments are taken from the address range 2001:678::/29 and have a minimum size of a /48 prefix.
IP address
An Internet Protocol address is a numerical label assigned to each device participating in a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. An IP address serves two principal functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing...
es assigned by a regional Internet registry
Regional Internet registry
A regional Internet registry is an organization that manages the allocation and registration of Internet number resources within a particular region of the world...
(RIR) directly to an end-user organization. The user must contract with an Internet service provider
Internet service provider
An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...
to obtain routing of the address block within the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
.
Provider-independent addresses offer end-users the opportunity to change service providers without renumbering of their networks and to use multiple access providers in a multi-homed configuration. However, provider-independent blocks may increase the burden on global routers, as the opportunity for efficient route aggregation through Classless Inter-Domain Routing
Classless Inter-Domain Routing
Classless Inter-Domain Routing is a method for allocating IP addresses and routing Internet Protocol packets. The Internet Engineering Task Force introduced CIDR in 1993 to replace the previous addressing architecture of classful network design in the Internet...
(CIDR) may not exist.
IPv6 assignments
In April 2009 RIPERIPE
Réseaux IP Européens is a forum open to all parties with an interest in the technical development of the Internet. The RIPE community’s objective is to ensure that the administrative and technical coordination necessary to maintain and develop the Internet continues...
accepted a policy proposal of January 2006 to assign IPv6 provider-independent IPv6
IPv6
Internet Protocol version 6 is a version of the Internet Protocol . It is designed to succeed the Internet Protocol version 4...
prefixes. Assignments are taken from the address range 2001:678::/29 and have a minimum size of a /48 prefix.