raAddresses

RA addresses, also known as Router Advertisement addresses, are a fundamental component of stateless address autoconfiguration (SLAAC) in IPv6 networks. When a device joins an IPv6 network, it can automatically configure its own IP address without the need for a DHCP server. This process relies on Router Advertisements sent by routers on the network.

These advertisements contain crucial information, including the network prefix that devices should use for their IP addresses. Devices listen for these RA messages and then combine the advertised prefix with their own unique interface identifier (often derived from the MAC address) to create a global unicast IPv6 address. This allows for plug-and-play connectivity in IPv6 environments.

Router Advertisements can also carry other important parameters such as the default router address, link MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit), and hop limit. They play a vital role in network discovery and configuration, enabling efficient and decentralized IP address management. The absence of a DHCP server requirement for basic address assignment is a key advantage of SLAAC and RA addresses in IPv6.