RFC 3736 (rfc3736) - Page 1 of 9

Stateless Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Service for IPv6

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Network Working Group                                           R. Droms
Request for Comments: 3736                                 Cisco Systems
Category: Standards Track                                     April 2004


 Stateless Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Service for IPv6

Status of this Memo

   This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
   Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
   improvements.  Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
   Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
   and status of this protocol.  Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2004).  All Rights Reserved.

Abstract

   Stateless Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol service for IPv6
   (DHCPv6) is used by nodes to obtain configuration information, such
   as the addresses of DNS recursive name servers, that does not require
   the maintenance of any dynamic state for individual clients.  A node
   that uses stateless DHCP must have obtained its IPv6 addresses
   through some other mechanism, typically stateless address
   autoconfiguration.  This document explains which parts of RFC 3315
   must be implemented in each of the different kinds of DHCP agents so
   that agent can support stateless DHCP.

1.  Introduction

   Nodes that have obtained IPv6 addresses through some other mechanism,
   such as stateless address autoconfiguration [6] or manual
   configuration, can use stateless DHCP to obtain other configuration
   information such as a list of DNS recursive name servers or SIP
   servers.  A stateless DHCP server provides only configuration
   information to nodes and does not perform any address assignment.
   Such a server is called "stateless" because it need not maintain any
   dynamic state for individual clients.

   While the DHCP specification [1] defines more than 10 protocol
   messages and 20 options, only a subset of those messages and options
   are required for stateless DHCP service.  This document explains
   which messages and options defined in RFC 3315 are required for
   stateless DHCP service.  The intended use of the document is to guide




Droms                       Standards Track
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