IPv6 link-local addresses can be generated through stateless autoconfiguration.

Question

Options

• ATRUE
• BFALSE

• A
  15% (6)
• B
  85% (33)

Explanation

Before explaining, I need to flag a potential issue with this question's answer key.

The marked answer (B - FALSE) appears to be incorrect.

IPv6 link-local addresses (fe80::/10) are generated through stateless autoconfiguration. When an IPv6-capable interface initializes, it automatically constructs a link-local address by combining the fe80::/10 prefix with an interface identifier - typically derived from the MAC address via EUI-64 or a randomly generated value (RFC 7217). This process requires no DHCP server and no Router Advertisements, which is precisely what "stateless autoconfiguration" means. RFC 4862, which defines IPv6 Stateless Address Autoconfiguration (SLAAC), explicitly covers link-local address configuration in Section 5.3.

The correct answer should be A (TRUE).

A common point of confusion: some curricula distinguish between link-local auto-generation and global SLAAC (which requires Router Advertisements). If your exam source is using a narrow definition of SLAAC that applies only to global unicast addresses obtained via RA, that would explain the B answer - but this is a non-standard interpretation.

Recommendation: Cross-check this question against RFC 4862 or your course's official textbook. If the source defines SLAAC strictly as the RA-based global address process, then B would be the expected answer in that context. Otherwise, this is a bad exam question.

Memory tip: Link-local = always automatic, no server needed = stateless by definition.

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