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How to create route(6) object in AFRINIC IRR
You can specify which Autonomous System(AS) originates your IP prefixes in the AFRINIC Routing Registry by creating objects called route for IPv4 prefixes or route6 for IPv6 prefixes. When referring to both route and route6 objects, we use the term route(6).
Before a route(6) object can be created in the AFRINIC Routing Registry, you need to ensure that;
1) The following objects exist in the AFRINIC whois database;
- The inetnum/inet6num object for the IP range for which you are creating the object
- The aut-num which will originate the IP prefix
If the aut-num does not exist in the AFRINIC whois database, you will have to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for assistance.
2) The mnt-lower in the inetnum/inet6num and the mnt-routes in the aut-num are the same. If either the mnt-lower or mnt-routes are not the same, please refer to the Dual Authentication section. If either the mnt-lower or mnt-routes is AFRINIC-HM-MNT, you will have to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
3) Get the route object template and fill in all the mandatory attributes. You need to make sure that the route object has a mnt-routes and that it is the same maintainer that is used as mnt-lower and mnt-routes in the inetnum/inet6num and aut-num respectively. All maintainer objects have a password and you will have to provide the plaintext password for the ‘mnt-routes’ or ‘mnt-lower’ in order to allow the creation of the route object.
4) Create the route object. There are two ways in which you may create the route object;
- The AFRINIC web whois interface (http://whois.afrinic.net)
- Using email updates
Examples using IPv4/ASN as origin or IPv6/ASN as origin
IPv4
Route object for 196.192.48.0/20 with AS327800 as the origin.
Step 1) Check the maintainer used for the mnt-lower in the inetnum and the mnt-routes in the aut-num objects are the same.
The parent inetnum object: |
The aut-num object: |
inetnum: 196.192.48.0 - 196.192.63.255netname: Example-netdescr: Example provider inetnumcountry: MUorg: ORG-BTL1-AFRINICadmin-c: EC16-AFRINICtech-c: EC16-AFRINICstatus: ASSIGNED PInotify: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.mnt-by: AFRINIC-HM-MNTmnt-lower: EXAMPLE-1-MNTchanged: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 20180709source: AFRINICparent: 196.0.0.0 - 196.255.255.255 |
aut-num: AS327800as-name: example-ASdescr: Example Provider aut-numstatus: ASSIGNEDorg: ORG-BTL1-AFRINICadmin-c: ec16-afrinictech-c: ec16-afrinicnotify: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.mnt-routes: EXAMPLE-1-MNTmnt-by: AFRINIC-HM-MNTchanged: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 20180709source: AFRINIC |
If the mnt-lower and the mnt-routes are not the same or is missing in the inetnum/inet6num or aut-num, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to have it updated.
You may use the whois web interface(http://whois.afrinic.net) to view the inetnum/inet6num and aut-num. An example to search for 196.192.48.0/20 is shown below;
The search result will look like the following;
Step 2) Get the route object template and fill in the mandatory attributes
route: 196.192.48.0/20descr: Example Route objectorigin: AS327800mnt-by: EXAMPLE-1-MNTchanged: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.source: AFRINIC
Note: To get the route object template, go to the AFRINIC web whois interface (http://whois.afrinic.net), click on Create Object, select ‘route’ and click on Load;
The route object template with all the mandatory attributes will be shown;
Mandatory attributes of a route object;
- Route: The IPv4 prefix which will be announced
- Descr: A brief description of the route object
- Origin: The Autonomous System Number which will originate the IPv4 prefix
- Mnt-by: The maintainer referenced as the “mnt-lower” in the inetnum object and “mnt-routes” in the aut-num object
- Changed: The email address of the person managing the route objects
- Source: The only possible value is “AFRINIC”, which specifies the registry where the object is registered.
Step 3) Create the object
1) Using the whois web interface:
a. Fill in all the mandatory attributes in the template;
b. Enter the password for the maintainer in the password field and click on Create;In case you forgot the password, please consult our FAQ for more info on how to proceed.
Upon successful creation of the object, you will get the following message;
2. Using the email update method:
Simply email the route object with the password of the mnt-by maintainer to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
route: 196.192.48.0/20descr: Example Route objectorigin: AS327800mnt-by: EXAMPLE-1-MNTchanged: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.source: AFRINICpassword: {password of the mnt-by maintainer EXAMPLE-1-MNT}
Note that the email must be sent in plain text format and not in HTML.
