Guide to Establishing Your Online Identity: A Journey Through ASN Acquisition (Part-1)

Embarking on the journey to create your own identity on the internet can be both exciting and complex. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the essential steps for hobbyists and newcomers to acquire an Autonomous System Number (ASN) and the necessary resources, including IPv4 and IPv6 addresses.

Understanding the Basics

To establish your presence on the internet, you’ll need several vital resources:

• ASN (Autonomous System Number)
• IPv4 Addresses
• IPv6 Addresses

These resources are critical for creating your unique identity on the internet. However, obtaining them involves fulfilling specific prerequisites.

Step 1: Acquiring an ASN

To obtain an ASN, you typically need an active organizational identity, as Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) require justification for your request. The specific requirements and processes vary by RIR; I will delve into those details later. Some RIRs allow individuals to acquire ASNs through Local Internet Registries (LIRs) or under particular circumstances.

Justification Process: RIRs will ask for detailed documentation to justify your need for an ASN. This usually includes:

• Organizational or personal identification documents
• Information about your network setup and infrastructure
• Any other necessary details that demonstrate your need for an ASN

Once the RIR satisfies your justification, they will grant you an ASN. Obtaining an ASN involves an initial fee and an annual renewal fee, so budgeting for these expenses is essential.

Step 2: Obtaining IPv4 and IPv6 Addresses

With your ASN secured, the next step is to acquire IP addresses.

IPv4 Addresses: IPv4 addresses are a scarce resource. Most RIRs have exhausted their IPv4 allocations, and you may encounter waiting lists or need to seek reallocation of returned or unused IPv4 addresses. As of writing, APNIC and AFRINIC have some IPv4 addresses available, while other RIRs operate on a waiting list system.

To justify your need for IPv4 addresses, you will need to provide:

• A clear explanation of why you need IPv4 addresses
• Supporting documents such as infrastructure details, invoices for IT resources, and agreements with your ISP

IPv6 Addresses: In contrast, obtaining IPv6 addresses is generally easier. RIRs are more lenient and often do not require extensive documentation or justification for small IPv6 blocks (e.g., /48, /40). This makes IPv6 a more accessible option for most newcomers.

Step 3: Establishing Connectivity

Once you have your ASN and IP addresses, the final step is to establish connectivity. This involves setting up an internet connection or forming agreements with ISPs to connect your ASN and IP prefixes to the internet. This process is typically known as securing an upstream or IP transit provider.

With connectivity in place, you are ready to move on to the technical setup and configuration, which we will cover in the next part of this guide.

By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to creating your own internet identity and potentially even running your own ISP. Stay tuned for more detailed instructions on configuration and setup in the upcoming sections.