Internet Registry System

Names are registered by a Network Information Centre (NIC). A Network Information Centre is responsible for administering every domain name record registered under its particular top-level domain. Each top-level domain has its own NIC.More than one top-level domain can be administered by the same NIC. For example, the .com, .org and .net top-level domains are run by InterNIC. Each NIC is responsible for setting the fees for registering a name under their top-level domain.

The Internet Registry system consists of hierarchically organized Internet Registries (IRs). Address space is typically assigned to end users by Local IRs. The address space assigned is taken from that allocated to the Local IR by the Regional IR. End users are those organizations operating networks in which the address space is used. The address space may, however, be requested by a consultant (requester) acting on behalf of the end user. Local IRs are typically operated by Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Local IRs hold allocations of address space for assignment to end users. Assigned address space is actually used to operate networks, whereas allocated address space is held by IRs for future assignments to end users. To achieve both the conservation and aggregation goals, only IRs can hold allocations of address space.

IANA

The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority has authority over all number spaces used in the Internet. This includes IP address space. IANA allocates public Internet address space to Regional IRs according to their established needs.

Regional IRs

Regional IRs operate in large geopolitical regions such as continents. To date, three Regional IRs have been established, namely the ARIN serving North America, the APNIC serving the Asian Pacific region, and the RIPE NCC serving Europe and surrounding areas. Since these do not cover all geographical areas, regional IRs also serve areas around their core service areas. The number of Regional IRs is expected to remain small. Regional IRs are established under the Authority of IANA. This requires consensus within the Internet community of the region. In particular, the ISPs in the region under consideration should be involved in the process. The duties of a regional IR include the coordination and representation of the Local IRs in its region.

Local IRs

Local IRs are established under the authority of a Regional IR. Local IRs are typically operated by ISPs and serve the customers of those ISPs as well as the customers of smaller ISPs who are connected to the rest of the Internet through the larger ISP. Other organizations such as large international Enterprises can also operate Local IRs. Much of this document is concerned with the responsibility of the Local IR in the assignment process. In some cases, the Local IR assigning the address space is not run by the ISP that will provide connectivity. It is important to note that maintenance of the administrative information regarding the assigned address space is the responsibility of the IR that makes the assignment, and not of the ISP providing the connectivity. Furthermore, only IRs can hold address allocations.

End-Users

Strictly speaking end users are not part of the IR system. They do, however, play an important role with respect to the goals defined above. In order to achieve the goal of conservation of names, for example, end users should plan their networks to use a minimum amount of address space. They must document their addressing and deployment plans to the IR and furnish any additional information required by the IR for making assignment decisions. To achieve the aggregation goal, an end user should choose an appropriate Local IR. End users should be aware that changing ISPs may require replacing addresses in their networks. Finally end users must provide and update registration data for the address space assigned to them.

Requesters

In addition to these key players in the Internet Registry System, there are often consultants who set up and manage networks for end users. The consultants may be the people actually submitting a request for address space to an IR on behalf of an end user. IANA refers to the person making the request for an end user as a requester, whether that person is employed by the organization, or is simply acting on behalf of the organization with respect to the address space request.

The European IR System

For Europe, the Internet Registry System hierarchy consists of the following entities (from the top down): the Internet Assigned Names Authority (iana.org), the RIPE NCC, and Local IRs.