Local Internet Registries (LIRs) are organizations that have been allocated a block of IP addresses by a Regional Internet Registry (RIR) and are responsible for distributing most parts of this block to their own customers. These customers can include Internet service providers, enterprises, academic institutions, or end users. LIRs play a crucial role in the management and distribution of IP addresses, ensuring that these resources are allocated efficiently and according to the policies set by the RIRs.
To become an LIR, an organization must first become a member of an RIR. There are five RIRs globally, each serving a specific geographical region. These RIRs are responsible for the allocation and registration of Internet number resources, including IP addresses (both IPv4 and IPv6) and Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs), within their respective regions. The RIRs operate under the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) and follow policies developed through a bottom-up, community-driven process. The RIRs include:
- African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC) serving Africa
- American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) serving Antarctica, Canada, parts of the Caribbean, and the United States
- Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) serving East Asia, Oceania, South Asia, and Southeast Asia
- Latin America and Caribbean Network Information Centre (LACNIC) serving most of the Caribbean and all of Latin America
- Réseaux IP Européens Network Coordination Centre (RIPE NCC) serving Europe, Central Asia, Russia, and parts of West Asia
LIRs are integral to the Internet Registry (IR) System, participating in the allocation of IP addresses to end users and/or using them within their own infrastructure. They also interact with the RIPE Database, querying and maintaining their data, and requesting Internet number resources from their respective RIR. The secure web interface, known as the LIR Portal, enables RIPE NCC members (LIRs) to view and maintain their data and request Internet number resources from the RIPE NCC.
In summary, LIRs are essential entities within the global Internet number resource allocation system, facilitating the distribution of IP addresses to end users and ensuring the efficient and policy-compliant management of these resources.