Configuring DHCP for IPv6

Problem

You want to use the DHCP services built into IOS for distributing IPv6 address information.

Solution

Just as you can configure a router to act as a DHCP server for IPv4 addresses, Cisco’s IOS also includes an IPv6 DHCP server function:

Router1#configure terminal 
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
Router1(config)#ipv6 dhcp database flash:/DHCPv6-db
Router1(config)#ipv6 local pool VLAN10-pool AAAA:1::/48 64
Router1(config)#ipv6 local pool VLAN11-pool AAAA:11::/48 64
Router1(config)#ipv6 dhcp pool DHCPv6POOL
Router1(config-dhcp)#prefix-delegation AAAA:1::23F6:33BA/64 00030001000E84244E70
Router1(config-dhcp)#prefix-delegation pool VLAN10-pool
Router1(config-dhcp)#dns-server AAAA:1::19
Router1(config-dhcp)#domain-name oreilly.com
Router1(config-dhcp)#exit
Router1(config)#interface FastEthernet0/0
Router1(config-if)#ipv6 address AAAA:1::1/64
Router1(config-if)#ipv6 address FE80::1 link-local
Router1(config-if)#ipv6 nd managed-config-flag
Router1(config-if)#ipv6 nd other-config-flag
Router1(config-if)#ipv6 dhcp server DHCPv6POOL rapid-commit preference 1 allow-hint
Router1(config-if)#exit
Router1(config)#end
Router1#

Discussion

DHCP is currently available only on certain higher end routers. The rationale is probably that DHCP for IPv6 will be used primarily for WAN or wireless links in service provider networks, and that customers will continue to use IPv4 internally. However, experience with IPv4 shows that most large networks prefer ...

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