DHCPv6 is the version of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) for Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) networks.

In addition to stateless address autoconfiguration in IPv6, DHCPv6 provides an alternate solution to assign addresses, nameservers and other configuration information in a manner similar to DHCP for IPv4. A notable case is Domain Name System servers used on a network, although other mechanisms exist for this in the Neighbor Discovery Protocol.^[1]

Operation[link]

Port numbers[link]

DHCPv6 uses UDP port number 546 for clients and port number 547 for servers.

DHCP Unique Identifier[link]

The DHCP Unique Identifier (DUID) is used by a client to get an IP address from a DHCPv6 server. It has a minimum length of 12 bytes (96 bits) and a maximum length of 20 bytes (160 bits). Its actual length depends on its type. The server compares the DUID with its database and delivers configuration data (address, lease times, DNS servers, etc.) to the client. The first 16 bits of a DUID contain the DUID type, of which there are three types. The meaning of the remaining 96 bits depend on the DUID type.

Example[link]

In this example, the server's link-local address is fe80::0011:22ff:fe33:5566/64 and the client's link-local address is fe80::aabb:ccff:fedd:eeff/64.

• DHCPv6 client sends a Solicit from [fe80::aabb:ccff:fedd:eeff]:546 for [ff02::1:2]:547.
• DHCPv6 server replies with an Advertise from [fe80::0011:22ff:fe33:5566]:547 for [fe80::aabb:ccff:fedd:eeff]:546.
• DHCPv6 client replies with a Request from [fe80::aabb:ccff:fedd:eeff]:546 for [ff02::1:2]:547.
• DHCPv6 server finishes with a Reply from [fe80::0011:22ff:fe33:5566]:547 for [fe80::aabb:ccff:fedd:eeff]:546.

Implementations[link]

• Dibbler, a portable DHCPv6 implementation for Linux and Windows
• Dnsmasq, lightweight server for Unix-like operating systems targeted at home networks.
• ISC DHCP, version 4.1.0 and later, for Solaris, Linux and BSD
• Jagornet DHCPv6, an IPv6 Phase II Ready Certified DHCPv6 Server implemented in Java
• Linux DHCPv6 no new development, obsoleted by ISC DHCP
• Microsoft Windows Vista and later, built in Microsoft Windows (client only). Windows Server 2008 and later versions of Windows Server have a DHCPv6 role.
• WIDE-DHCPv6, a DHCPv6 implementation for BSD and Linux

IETF standards[link]

• RFC 3315, "Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for IPv6 (DHCPv6)"
• RFC 3319, "Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCPv6) Options for Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Servers"
• RFC 3633, "IPv6 Prefix Options for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) version 6"
• RFC 3646, "DNS Configuration options for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for IPv6 (DHCPv6)"
• RFC 3736, "Stateless Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Service for IPv6"
• RFC 5007, "DHCPv6 Leasequery"
• RFC 6221, "Lightweight DHCPv6 Relay Agent"

References[link]

External links[link]

• IPv6 Intelligence: DHCPv6, comparison of DHCPv6 packages and implementations

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