What's the difference between an assigned and allocated IP range? I'm parsing RIR Statistics Exchange files (e.g. see http://www.apnic.net/publications/media-library/documents/resource-guidelines/rir-statistics-exchange-format) and they define "assigned" and "allocated" IP address blocks.
Are assigned blocks being actively used, and allocated are not used by reserved? In other words, no machine in the world will use an allocated IP address until it becomes and assigned IP address? That is to say, an allocated IP address is reserved for use but is not in use?
Best Answer
That's basically correct. An allocated address belongs to a pool from which it may be assigned but it hasn't yet been marked as in use. Pools are managed by various organizations like ISPs, Webhosting services, and Universities.
Keep in mind that the files you're parsing are going to be outdated the moment they're published, and that any given address may have been assigned for quite a while before it gets reported back.
Edit: It looks like the comment is correct. IP Addresses marked as assigned are managed by a sub-organization, but they may or may not actually be in use. Ranges marked as allocated should not be in use, except for where there is a lag in updating these reports. Keep in mind this comment about that data:
http://ftp.apnic.net/stats/apnic/