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Chapter 33 DHCPv6 option37, 38 
33.1 Introduction to DHCPv6 option37, 38 
DHCPv6 (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for IPv6) is designed for IPv6 address scheme 
and is used for assigning IPv6 prefixes, IPv6 addresses and other configuration parameters to 
hosts. 
When DHCPv6 client wants to request address and configure parameter of DHCPv6 server 
from different link, it needs to communicate with server through DHCPv6 relay agent. DHCPv6 
message received by relay agent node is reencapsulated to be relay-forward packets and they 
are forwarded to the server which sends the relay-reply packets to DHCPv6 relay agent node 
in different link, after that, relay agent node restores DHCPv6 message to DHCPv6 client to 
finish communication between client and server. 
There are some problems when using DHCPv6 relay agent, for  example: How to assign IP 
address in the fixed range to the specifiec users? How to avoid illegal DHCPv6 client to forge 
IP address exhaust attack triggered by MAC address fields of DHCPv6 packets? How to avoid 
illegal DHCPv6 client to trigger deny service attack through using MAC address of other legal 
clients?  Therefore,  IETF  set  rfc4649  and  rfc4580,  i.e.  DHCPv6  option  37  and  option  38  to 
solve these problems. 
DHCPv6 option 37 and option 38 is similar to DHCP option 82. When DHCPv6 client sends 
request packets to DHCPv6 server though DHCPv6 relay agent, if DHCPv6 relay agent 
supports  option  37  and  option  38,  they  will  be  added  to  request  packets.  For  the  respond 
packets of server, option 37 and option 38 are meaningless and are peeled from the respond 
packets. Therefore, the application of option 37 and option 38 is transparent for client. 
DHCPv6  server  can  authenticate  identity  of  DHCPv6  client  and  DHCPv6  relay  device  by 
option  37  and  option  38,  assign  and  manage  client  address  neatly  through  configuring  the 
assign policy, prevent DHCPv6 attack availably according to the inclusive client  information, 
such as forging MAC address fields of DHCPv6 packets to trigger IP address exhaust attack. 
Since server can identify multiple request packets from the same access port, it can assign the 
address number through policy limit to avoid address exhaust. However, rfc4649 and rfc4580 
do  not set  how to  use opton 37  and option  38 for  DHCPv6  server,  users  can  use it  neatly 
according to their own demand. 
33.2 DHCPv6 option37, 38 Configuration Task List 
1.  Dhcpv6 snooping option basic functions configuration 
2.  Dhcpv6 relay option basic functions configuration 










