Yes, you can. NovoServe actively encourages larger customers to "Bring Your Own IP" (BYOIP) and announce their own IP blocks via a BGP session on our network. If you are part of the NovoServe Reseller Program, utilizing your own Autonomous System Number (ASN) and IP space is a mandatory requirement.
This knowledge base article outlines the technical prerequisites and the configuration process for announcing your own IP prefixes on the NovoServe backbone. If you are looking for the commercial benefits of BYOIP and why you should do it, read our blog on BYOIP Bare Metal Hosting.
RIPE IPv4 exhaustion
In November 2019, RIPE (the Regional Internet Registry for Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Central Asia) allocated its final /22 IPv4 block. This global exhaustion of standard IPv4 addresses triggered strict assignment restrictions across all data centers, including NovoServe.
To ensure routing flexibility and network isolation, larger deployments must lease or purchase independent IP blocks through authorized IP brokers or Local Internet Registries (LIRs). Utilizing your own ASN keeps your network completely logically separated from our standard transit pool.
What is an AS number?
“An Autonomous System (AS) is a group of IP networks run by one or more network operators with a single, clearly defined routing policy. When exchanging exterior routing information, each AS is identified by a unique number: the Autonomous System Number (ASN). [...] Current RIPE Policy requires a network to be multi-homed, and have a unique routing policy for an ASN to be assigned.”
Source: https://www.ripe.net/manage-ips-and-asns/as-numbers
How BYOIP routing works on NovoServe?
Using your own ASN, our network team configures a virtual router instance to announce your IP blocks directly under your ASN. NovoServe provides the physical transit through our massive backbone, while you retain total control over your routing policies.
Because this IP space belongs to you and operates independently of our network pool, you are strictly responsible for managing your own network abuse policy. You must also manage your own DNS infrastructure, which is required to set up reverse PTR records for your announced IP addresses.
How to get my own ASN and IP block and announce them?
Internet resources (ASNs and IP blocks) must be obtained through an official sponsoring LIR or by becoming a member of the RIPE NCC. Current RIPE policy mandates that a network must be multi-homed and possess a unique routing policy to receive an ASN assignment.
For more background, you can review the Autonomous System (AS) Number Assignment Policies from RIPE.
To apply for and announce your resources with NovoServe, follow these steps:
- Find a sponsoring LIR or broker. You can find the official list of RIPE members here: https://www.ripe.net/participate/member-support/list-of-members.
- Provide all requested documentation and information to the LIR to validate your request.
- Ask the NovoServe networking team for information regarding the multi-homed requirement from RIPE. We will provide you with two of our ASNs to include in your application.
- Set your ASN import and export rules to import from AS24875 and export your ASN to AS24875. You can look at AS215224 as an example.
- After successful allocation from RIPE, get an IP block for your ASN.
- Either you yourself, or the broker of the IP block must create route objects and ROAs. Both are mandatory.
- A Route Object is an entry in a IRR database, documenting that an IP block is to be announced by a particular AS
- A ROA (Route Origin Authorization) is a record used for RPKI security to prove your ASN is authorized to announce your IP block.
- Contact NovoServe to arrange our BGP session. Provide us with your ASN and the IP block you wish to announce (a /24 or larger is required).
- For your IP block to be announced quickly by our automated systems, please ensure a ROA has been created with your ASN.
- If your broker does not support RPKI/ROAs, you must provide us with a LoA (Letter of Authorization) instead. For ASNs, an LoA is always required.
- Our network team will set up a virtual router instance and configure the BGP session. It is not possible to setup your own BGP session.
- Your IP ranges will start to work under your ASN. It may take some time for the new routes to be fully propagated across the internet. After that, you can use your IP addresses with our dedicated servers.