Glossary

An AS-SET object groups multiple Autonomous Systems (AS) under a single name. Commonly used to represent a collection of AS numbers, such as a customer set or peer set.

Example format:

The process of recursively resolving all AS numbers included in an AS-SET. Used in BGP route filtering to ensure that all AS members are correctly referenced.

A BGP attribute that lists the AS numbers that a route has traversed.

• Used to prevent routing loops and as a factor in route selection.

• Longer AS-PATHs are generally considered less preferable.

A 32-bit number assigned to an AS for use in BGP routing. Typically formatted as ASXXXX or ASXXXXX. Used to identify and route traffic between different autonomous systems.

A collection of IP networks and routers under the control of a single organization that presents a common routing policy to the Internet. Each AS is identified by a unique AS number (ASN). Used to facilitate BGP routing on the global Internet.

BGP is the protocol used to exchange routing information between autonomous systems (ASes) on the Internet. IRRs like RADb store information used to validate BGP announcements.

A bogon refers to an IP address or range that is unallocated or reserved by the IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority). Bogons are not routable on the public Internet and are often filtered. Misconfigured or bogon routes in RADb can cause routing issues.

An optional BGP attribute used to group routes and apply routing policies.

• Often formatted as ASN:Value.

• Used for traffic engineering and route filtering.

The Internet Routing Registry (IRR) is a global, distributed database used to store routing information. The IRR helps network operators debug, configure, and manage Internet routing and addressing. It provides a way to validate BGP announcements and map an origin AS number to a list of networks. The IRR was established in 1995, around the time when the NSFNET Backbone Service ended, marking the start of the commercial Internet. RADb is one of many IRRs, similar to RIPE and LEVEL3.

The practice of copying data from one IRR database to another for redundancy and availability. RADb mirrors other IRRs to maintain a comprehensive routing information database.

IRRd is the database software that powers the RADb (Routing Assets Database). It facilitates the storage and retrieval of routing data from RADb.

A maintainer is an account in RADb that holds routing information. It acts as the owner and administrator of specific routing objects. Maintainers are responsible for updating, deleting, and maintaining their objects.

A Maintainer ID acts as the unique identifier for a maintainer account. Typically formatted as MAINT-ASXXXX, where ASXXXX is the organization's AS number. Some maintainers have a custom or vanity ID, like MAINT-CISCO or MAINT-IBM.

An object in the IRR that defines the maintainer responsible for managing other objects. Contains authentication methods and contact information. Used to control who can create, modify, or delete related routing objects.

A situation where an organization registers route objects on behalf of another entity. Often performed by upstream providers or hosting companies. Proxy-registered objects might be marked as 'stale' if not maintained.

RADb is a public registry that stores routing information. It is one of several IRRs and allows network operators to publish their routing policies and route objects. RADb is widely used to support route filtering and improve routing security.

A Regional Internet Registry (RIR) manages the allocation and registration of Internet number resources within a specific geographical region. These resources include IP addresses and Autonomous System (AS) numbers.

There are five RIRs worldwide:

• AFRINIC - Africa

• APNIC - Asia-Pacific

• ARIN - North America

• LACNIC - Latin America and the Caribbean

• RIPE NCC - Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Central Asia

A ROA is a digital object that specifies which AS is authorized to originate a particular IP prefix. Part of the RPKI (Resource Public Key Infrastructure) framework. Used to improve BGP security by preventing route hijacking.

A malicious or accidental takeover of IP address space by announcing incorrect BGP routes. Can be mitigated by using ROAs and RPKI validation.

The unintentional announcement of BGP routes outside their intended scope. Typically caused by misconfigurations or routing policy violations. Can lead to traffic misrouting and network disruptions.

A Route Object represents a prefix and its originating AS number. It defines how IP prefixes are announced to the global Internet. Used by ISPs and network operators to document and verify routing announcements. Registered within an IRR, such as RADb, to enable route filtering and validation.

A framework designed to secure BGP routing. Uses cryptographic certificates to validate that an AS is authorized to originate a specific prefix. Helps mitigate route hijacking and BGP leaks.

Routing Policy Specification Language (RPSL) is a language used to describe routing policies within IRRs. It allows network operators to define routing rules and policies at various levels within the Internet hierarchy. RADb and other IRRs use RPSL as their primary policy specification language.