Which statement describes IPv6 SLAAC and how it differs from DHCPv6?

Which statement describes IPv6 SLAAC and how it differs from DHCPv6?

• A. SLAAC uses a centralized server to assign IPv6 addresses.
• B. SLAAC uses router advertisements for automatic address configuration and is stateless.
• C. DHCPv6 assigns addresses without any configuration state.
• D. DHCPv6 relies on manual configuration only.

Answer: (B)

IPv6 automatic address configuration can happen with SLAAC or DHCPv6. SLAAC uses router advertisements to provide the network prefix, and the host combines that prefix with its own interface identifier to form an address. Because there’s no central server tracking each address lease, this method is stateless—the network doesn’t maintain per-host address state. DHCPv6, by contrast, uses a DHCP server to assign addresses and provide other configuration data, which is a stateful process with lease tracking. In some setups DHCPv6 can operate in stateless mode (server provides extra info while addresses are still configured via SLAAC), but the typical and straightforward description of SLAAC is that it relies on router advertisements and is stateless. That’s why this option best describes SLAAC and how it differs from DHCPv6.

IPv6 automatic address configuration can happen with SLAAC or DHCPv6. SLAAC uses router advertisements to provide the network prefix, and the host combines that prefix with its own interface identifier to form an address. Because there’s no central server tracking each address lease, this method is stateless—the network doesn’t maintain per-host address state. DHCPv6, by contrast, uses a DHCP server to assign addresses and provide other configuration data, which is a stateful process with lease tracking. In some setups DHCPv6 can operate in stateless mode (server provides extra info while addresses are still configured via SLAAC), but the typical and straightforward description of SLAAC is that it relies on router advertisements and is stateless. That’s why this option best describes SLAAC and how it differs from DHCPv6.