DNS - DNS: Be Cautious When Signing a Contract on IPv4 Addresses

The American Registry for Internet Numbers (News - Alert) (News - Alert) (ARIN (News - Alert)) is the non-profit that manages the distribution of Internet number resources (IPv4 and IPv6 address space and autonomous system numbers) in Canada, the United States and in some limited other regions.

Businesses are changing over to IPv6, though there are issues with IPv4 to consider.

Writing in Computerworld, Attorney Marc Lindsey said that if a company obtained its IP address space before 1997, it probably has been notified by ARIN (News - Alert) to sign a contract to protect the IP address.

The contract is called the Legacy Registration Services Agreement. It grandfathers in certain rights including: “continued use -- at no extra charge, at least for now -- of IP address services like “in-addr” and “whois” listings; reduced annual fees compared with those of ARIN's regular IP address holders; and future fee waivers, in exchange for returning unused IP address space,” says Lindsey.

But he warns to be cautious before signing the contract. He suggests:

Review your information in ARIN’s database, and confirm that “point of contact information records” are accurate.

Find out whether your organization received an offer from ARIN to sign the Legacy RSA (News - Alert) (News - Alert). Get a copy of the letter and offer.

Have network operations and lawyers weigh in on whether to approve or reject ARIN's offer. Another option is to stall -- wait until the deadline passes to see what ARIN will do next, says Lindsey.

Start migrating to IPv6. Eventually, Lindsey says, organizations that use only IPv4 won't be able to reach, or be reached by, the end users or the organizations that use IPv6.

“For most companies, the accept/reject/stall decision won't be easy,” Lindsey said. “It's key for organizations to evaluate their options fully under current market and policy conditions, and then plan a strategy that protects their interests in, and maximizes the utility of, their valuable -- and scarce -- IPv4 number resources.”

TMCnet reports that IPv4 addresses are running out. IPv6 requires companies that use and distribute IP addresses to adapt their networks and systems to use IPv6.