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Configuring the DHCPv6 relay agent
About DHCPv6 relay agent
Typical application
A DHCPv6 client usually uses a multicast address to contact the DHCPv6 server on the local link to
obtain an IPv6 address and other configuration parameters. As shown in
, if the DHCPv6
server resides on another subnet, the DHCPv6 clients need a DHCPv6 relay agent to contact the
server. The relay agent feature avoids deploying a DHCPv6 server on each subnet.
Figure 62 Typical DHCPv6 relay agent application
DHCPv6 relay agent operating process
As shown in
, a DHCPv6 client obtains an IPv6 address and other network configuration
parameters from a DHCPv6 server through a DHCPv6 relay agent. The following example uses
rapid assignment to describe the process:
•
The DHCPv6 client sends a Solicit message containing the Rapid Commit option to the
multicast address FF02::1:2 of all the DHCPv6 servers and relay agents.
•
After receiving the Solicit message, the DHCPv6 relay agent encapsulates the message into
the Relay Message option of a Relay-forward message, and sends the message to the
DHCPv6 server.
•
After obtaining the Solicit message from the Relay-forward message, the DHCPv6 server
performs the following tasks:
{
Selects an IPv6 address and other required parameters.
{
Adds them to a reply that is encapsulated within the Relay Message option of a Relay-reply
message.
{
Sends the Relay-reply message to the DHCPv6 relay agent.
•
The DHCPv6 relay agent obtains the reply from the Relay-reply message and sends the reply
to the DHCPv6 client.
•
The DHCPv6 client uses the IPv6 address and other network parameters assigned by the
DHCPv6 server to complete network configuration.
IPv6 network
DHCPv6 server
DHCPv6 relay agent
DHCPv6 client
DHCPv6 client
DHCPv6 client
DHCPv6 client