[PDB Tech] PeeringDB API throttling status and schedule

[Chris Caputo]

Per the below plan, this change was just implemented:

---
On August 1st, adjust and watch for feedback from the community:

  - anonymous queries limited to 30/minute per IP address
  - authenticated queries limited to 80/minute per user/org
---

Please advise if you run into any issues.

Thank you,
Chris

On Tue, 31 May 2022, Chris Caputo wrote:
> After the initial introduction of PeeringDB API throttling, some software 
> both open source and private, has been identified and updated. (open 
> source details are below; please upgrade and encourage others to do so)
> 
> This API throttling is being implemented to control costs by encouraging 
> efficient software design while making sure the PeeringDB resource is 
> shared well. The use of API keys is being encouraged so that admins can 
> reach out to users/orgs with runaway or inefficient software, and because 
> it is more secure than user/pass. In addition, org API keys ease employee 
> transitions.
> 
> Some tips for coders is below.
> 
> API throttling in place today:
> 
>   - repeated anonymous identical requests with a response size above 100k 
>     are being limited to 1/hour
>   - repeated anonymous identical requests of any size are being limited to 
>     2/minute
>   - anonymous queries are being limited to 400/minute per IP address
>   - authenticated queries are being limited to 500/minute per user/org
> 
> Here is the current schedule of throttling changes. The schedule may 
> adjust as needed as new packages that need update are discovered, so as to 
> minimize disruption to the community...
> 
> On June 27th, adjust and watch for feedback from the community:
> 
>   - anonymous queries limited to 300/minute per IP address
>   - authenticated queries limited to 400/minute per user/org
> 
> On July 11th, adjust and watch for feedback from the community:
> 
>   - anonymous queries limited to 200/minute per IP address
>   - authenticated queries limited to 300/minute per user/org
> 
> On July 18th, adjust and watch for feedback from the community:
> 
>   - anonymous queries limited to 100/minute per IP address
>   - authenticated queries limited to 200/minute per user/org
> 
> On July 25th, adjust and watch for feedback from the community:
> 
>   - anonymous queries limited to 50/minute per IP address
>   - authenticated queries limited to 100/minute per user/org
> 
> On August 1st, adjust and watch for feedback from the community:
> 
>   - anonymous queries limited to 30/minute per IP address
>   - authenticated queries limited to 80/minute per user/org
> 
> On August 8th, adjust and watch for feedback from the community:
> 
>   - anonymous queries limited to 20/minute per IP address
>   - authenticated queries limited to 60/minute per user/org
> 
> On August 15th, adjust and watch for feedback from the community:
> 
>   - anonymous queries limited to 10/minute per IP address
>   - authenticated queries limited to 40/minute per user/org
> 
> Feedback/questions/concerns welcome.
> 
> Thanks,
> Chris
> 
> Software:
> 
> - arouteserver v1.16.0: has many updates including API key support along 
>   with more efficient querying.
> 
> - PeerFinder: API key & efficient querying patches at 
>   https://github.com/rucarrol/PeerFinder/pull/17 will hopefully be 
>   integrated.
> 
> Coding tips:
> 
> - Begin using a PeeringDB API key for all requests:
> 
>     https://docs.peeringdb.com/howto/api_keys/
> 
> - Begin performing actual caching, such as by using peeringdb-py.
> 
>     http://peeringdb.github.io/peeringdb-py/
> 
> - If unable to use a caching agent such as peeringdb-py:
> 
>    - Use an API key.
> 
>    - Set a User-Agent: header.
> 
>    - Use bulk queries (asn__in=$list_of_ASN_separated_by_comma) by 
>      querying 30 to 150 ASNs at a time (tune as appropriate).
> 
>    - Add a delay in between queries that is randomly between 2 and 2.5 
>      seconds, to reduce thundering herd.