The IP addresses and AS Number distribution of Internet is done in a series of levels. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN for short) is an organization in charge of numbering IP addresses all over the world on Internet (before, that was IANA in charge of it).
According to its regulations, ICANN distribute some IP addresses to Regional Internet Registries (RIR for short), then, these RIR are responsible for the registration work in their regions. Now, there are three RIR in the world, which are ARIN, RIPE and APNIC.
ARIN is mainly in charge of businesses in Northern America, RIPE is mainly in charge of businesses in Europe, and APNIC administrate the IP addresses and AS Number distribution work in countries of Asia and Pacific Ocean Region.
Under RIR, there can be some IR, such as National Internet Registries (NIR for short), and Lower Regional Internet Registries (LIR for short). All these IR can get Internet addresses and Number from APNIC,and they can distribute them to their subsidiaries as the following figure illustrated.
There are three methods as following by which can ISP and consumers in China get IP addresses and AS number:
The First Method
Those units want to get IP addresses and AS codes can directly apply to be members of APNIC, then they can directly get IP addresses and AS codes from APNIC.
The Second Method
Apply by the connecting to ISP of some units who have been members of APNIC. At the same time these units provide Internet connecting service.
The Third Method
Join in CNNIC to apply IP addresses and AS Number.
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As a national NIC, CNNIC applied to become a NIR member of APNIC in January 1997. According to related regulation of APNIC (APNIC-051), members of CNNIC can get IP addresses and AS Number, and CNNIC must report the situation of IP addresses and AS Number distribution to APNIC.
