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RFC 5396

Textual Representation of Autonomous System (AS) Numbers

Pages: 3
Proposed Standard

Top   ToC   RFC5396 - Page 1
Network Working Group                                          G. Huston
Request for Comments: 5396                                 G. Michaelson
Category: Standards Track                                          APNIC
                                                           December 2008


        Textual Representation of Autonomous System (AS) Numbers

Status of This Memo

   This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
   Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
   improvements.  Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
   Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
   and status of this protocol.  Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (c) 2008 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the
   document authors.  All rights reserved.

   This document is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal
   Provisions Relating to IETF Documents (http://trustee.ietf.org/
   license-info) in effect on the date of publication of this document.
   Please review these documents carefully, as they describe your rights
   and restrictions with respect to this document.

Abstract

A textual representation for Autonomous System (AS) numbers is defined as the decimal value of the AS number. This textual representation is to be used by all documents, systems, and user interfaces referring to AS numbers.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2. Taxonomy of Representation Formats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3. Representation of AS Number Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4. IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 5. Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 6. Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 7. Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Top   ToC   RFC5396 - Page 2

1. Introduction

A textual representation for Autonomous System (AS) numbers is defined as the decimal value of the AS number. This textual representation is to be used by all documents, systems, and user interfaces referring to AS numbers. This document notes a number of potential representation formats and proposes the adoption of a decimal value notation for AS numbers, or "asplain" according to the representation taxonomy described here.

2. Taxonomy of Representation Formats

A taxonomy of representation for AS numbers is as follows: asplain refers to a syntax scheme of representing all AS numbers using decimal integer notation. Using asplain notation, an AS number of value 65526 would be represented as the string "65526" and an AS number of value 65546 would be represented as the string "65546". asdot+ refers to a syntax scheme of representing all AS numbers using a notation of two integer values joined by a period character: <high order 16-bit value in decimal>.<low order 16-bit value in decimal>. Using asdot+ notation, an AS number of value 65526 would be represented as the string "0.65526" and an AS number of value 65546 would be represented as the string "1.10". asdot refers to a syntax scheme of representing AS number values less than 65536 using asplain notation and representing AS number values equal to or greater than 65536 using asdot+ notation. Using asdot notation, an AS number of value 65526 would be represented as the string "65526" and an AS number of value 65546 would be represented as the string "1.10".

3. Representation of AS Number Values

To avoid confusion, a single textual notation is useful for documentation, configuration systems, reports, and external tools and information repositories. The decimal value representation, or "asplain" is proposed as the textual notation to use for AS numbers. The "asplain" representation represents the number as its decimal value, without any field delimiter, corresponding to the lack of any internal structure required by the use of AS numbers in the inter- domain routing context.
Top   ToC   RFC5396 - Page 3

4. IANA Considerations

IANA Registries should use decimal representation ("asplain") for AS numbers.

5. Security Considerations

This document does not refer to matters associated with security of routing systems.

6. Acknowledgments

The terminology of "asplain", "asdot", and "asdot+" was originally devised and described by Juergen Kammer in January 2007 [KAMMER2007].

7. Informative References

[KAMMER2007] Kammer, J., "AS Number Formats", Jan 2007, <http://quagga.ncc.eurodata.de/asnumformat.html>.

Authors' Addresses

Geoff Huston Asia Pacific Network Information Centre EMail: gih@apnic.net George Michaelson Asia Pacific Network Information Centre EMail: ggm@apnic.net