Fixed IP / IP ranges

["mark_harrison_uk2" <mph@xxxxxxx>]

It's worth mentioning in all this "IP range frenzy", that IANA,
which
has overall responsibility for IP address allocation, and RIPE, which
manages such things for IANA in Europe, _can_ take back IP addresses.

If you need a static IP address, please do ask your ISP for one.

If you ask for, say, a block of 8, then it's fairly easy to put
forward a case for this, and easy to demonstrate that you need them.

If you ask for MORE than 8, then it's possible that you will, at some
point, be asked to demonstrate the need. If you can't demonstrate a
technical need, then they may be taken away, even if you have paid
money for them.

The RIPE form isn't complex, but it is long, and requires you to
provide current, and estimated requirements for clients and servers.
If you are asking for a disproportionate number of IP addresses, you
may be asked to demonstrate why NAT is not an option.

For a block of 8, you are unlikely to be asked to fill in a RIPE
form, but may be asked by your ISP to show the need. In case it
helps, here was my justification for a block of 8, which does
demonstrate that I use DHCP and NAT where possible:

- Router (IP required)
- Web Server (SSL required)
- Email Server (MX records required)
- Database Server (SSL required for remote admin)
- 3 * Workstations (DHCP with NAT)
- 3 * laptops (DHCP)
- 1 * Videoconferencing workstation (static IP required)
- 6 Network MP3 players (DHCP - no internet access required)

Regards,

Mark