Update Statistics for the RIPE Database

Introduction

We were asked to look at the number of updates received for RIPE Database objects and analyse how and where they come from. We separated the incoming updates into three categories:

• Email updates
• Syncupdates
• Other (internal processes)

For the purpose of this analysis we do not differentiate between Webupdates, Syncupdates or the RESTful API. At the back end, these all use the Syncupdates process and are grouped together in that category.

To determine where the updates were coming from, we chose to identify them in relation to MNTNER objects rather than by IP or email address. For each update message, we identified which MNTNER object(s) authorised the updates of the objects within that message. These were then grouped by the number of updates authorised by each MNTNER object found in each of the two categories.

For ease of reading we summarised the number of updates into ranges. The raw data is added at the end.

Two groups of data are provided covering 1 January - 20 February 2012 and the whole of 2011.

Summaries of data analysed

2012 RIPE Database updates (up to 20 February)

In the first section we show update statistics collected between 1 January and 20 February 2012.

In Table 1, you can see the number of updates received sorted by update method and update type. The total number of objects submitted between 1 January - 20 February 2012 was 2,675,721.

Table 1: Update methods and update types in 2012

Figure 1: Update methods used between 1 January 2012 - 20 February 2012

Figure 2: Number of MNTNERs doing a set number of Sync updates in 2012

In Figure 2 the number of MNTNER objects are grouped by number of updates. For example, 79% of the MNTNER objects that authorised changes in sync update messages submitted between 1 and 10 sync updates to the RIPE Database in this period. Only 2% of the MNTNER objects submitted between 101 and 1,000 sync updates.

Figure 3: Number of MNTNERs doing a set number of Mail updates in 2012

In Figure 3 the number of MNTNER objects are grouped by number of updates. For example, 73% of the MNTNER objects that authorised changes in mail update messages submitted between 1 and 10 mail updates to the RIPE Database in this period. Only 1% of the MNTNER objects submitted between 1,001 and 10,000 mail updates.

Tables 2 and 3 show the actual numbers for how many (ranges of) updates are done by how many maintainers. The first one shows sync updates, and the second one shows mail updates.

Table 2: Number of Sync updates done by number of maintainers

Table 3: Number of Mail updates done by number of maintainers

2011 RIPE Database updates

In the next section we show update statistics collected between 1 January and 31 December 2011. In Table 4, you can see the number of updates received sorted by update method and update type. The total number of objects submitted in 2011 was 5,033,598

Table 4: Updates methods and update types seen in 2011

Figure 4: Update methods used in 2011

Figure 5: Number of MNTNERs doing a set number of Sync updates in 2011

In Figure 5 the number of MNTNER objects are grouped by number of updates. For example, 71% of the MNTNER objects that authorised changes in sync update messages submitted between 1 and 10 sync updates to the RIPE Database in this period. Only 3% of the MNTNER objects submitted between 101 and 1000 sync updates.

Figure 6: Number of MNTNERs doing a set number of Mail updates in 2011

In Figure 6 the number of MNTNER objects are grouped by number of updates. For example, 74% of the MNTNER objects that authorised changes in mail update messages submitted between 1 and 10 mail updates to the RIPE Database in this period. Only 19% of the MNTNER objects submitted between 11 and 100 mail updates.

Tables 5 and 6 show the actual numbers for how many (ranges of) updates are done by how many maintainers. The first one shows sync updates, and the second one shows mail updates.

Table 5: Number of sync updates done by number of maintainers in 2011

Table 6: Number of Mail updates done by number of maintainers in 2011

Raw data

The raw data for 2011 and 2012 is available on request. This data expands on Tables 2, 3, 5 and 6. So for example in Table 6 we see that 4,235 MNTNERs submitted 1-10 mail updates. The raw data includes the actual numbers, for example 1,680 MNTNERs submitted 1 update, 972 MNTNERs submitted 2 updates, etc. If you want this data please contact ripe-dbm@ripe.net .