1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,900 In this lesson, 2 00:00:00,900 --> 00:00:04,170 we'll cover Stateless Address Autoconfiguration. 3 00:00:04,170 --> 00:00:07,290 Stateless Address Autoconfiguration, also known as SLAAC, 4 00:00:07,290 --> 00:00:10,950 is an integral component of the IPv6 network protocol. 5 00:00:10,950 --> 00:00:13,920 SLAAC is used to simplify the network configuration process 6 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:15,840 and make assigning IP addresses seamless 7 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:17,370 and easy to complete. 8 00:00:17,370 --> 00:00:19,500 The Stateless Address Autoconfiguration 9 00:00:19,500 --> 00:00:22,740 is essentially a mechanism within the IPv6 protocol suite 10 00:00:22,740 --> 00:00:25,170 that permits devices on an IPv6 network 11 00:00:25,170 --> 00:00:28,530 to configure their own IP addresses autonomously. 12 00:00:28,530 --> 00:00:30,060 SLAAC allows your network devices 13 00:00:30,060 --> 00:00:31,800 to establish their own unique identity 14 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:33,810 in the vast world of internet protocol 15 00:00:33,810 --> 00:00:35,910 without requiring us to use a centralized authority 16 00:00:35,910 --> 00:00:37,830 like a DHCP server. 17 00:00:37,830 --> 00:00:39,840 So why was SLAAC created? 18 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:41,640 Well, the answer lies in the efficiency 19 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:43,350 and autonomy of SLAAC. 20 00:00:43,350 --> 00:00:44,910 In the early days of the internet, 21 00:00:44,910 --> 00:00:47,490 network administrators had a very time consuming task 22 00:00:47,490 --> 00:00:49,920 that required them to manually assign the IP addresses 23 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:51,720 to each of their network devices, 24 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:53,400 or, they could go through the hassle 25 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:55,200 of setting up a DHDP server 26 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:58,440 to do this job in a more automated fashion on their behalf. 27 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:01,050 But, as our networks grew and became more complex, 28 00:01:01,050 --> 00:01:03,360 the need for more autonomous self-managing system 29 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:05,250 became clear to network engineers. 30 00:01:05,250 --> 00:01:07,140 And this is why SLAAC was created, 31 00:01:07,140 --> 00:01:08,640 to foster self-sufficiency 32 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:10,440 and reduce the administrative overhead 33 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:12,270 of statically assigning IP addresses, 34 00:01:12,270 --> 00:01:14,070 or even using a DHCP server 35 00:01:14,070 --> 00:01:16,440 to dynamically assign these addresses. 36 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:17,550 By using SLAAC, 37 00:01:17,550 --> 00:01:19,560 we can enhance the efficiency of our networks, 38 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:21,630 eliminate the potential for IP conflicts, 39 00:01:21,630 --> 00:01:22,740 and streamline the process 40 00:01:22,740 --> 00:01:25,350 of integrating new devices into our networks. 41 00:01:25,350 --> 00:01:27,360 So, how does SLAAC work? 42 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:29,160 Well, let's go through a simplified version 43 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:30,750 of the five step process that's used 44 00:01:30,750 --> 00:01:34,920 by the Stateless Address Autoconfiguration inside of IPv6. 45 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:37,380 First, there's device initiation. 46 00:01:37,380 --> 00:01:39,030 As the device connects to the network, 47 00:01:39,030 --> 00:01:40,170 it's going to start by generating 48 00:01:40,170 --> 00:01:42,240 a temporary link local address. 49 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:44,010 Think of this as the device whispering to itself 50 00:01:44,010 --> 00:01:46,650 and saying, "Let's figure out where I am." 51 00:01:46,650 --> 00:01:49,350 Second, we have the router solicitation. 52 00:01:49,350 --> 00:01:51,120 Now the device will then send out a message, 53 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:53,130 much like sending a letter into the unknown 54 00:01:53,130 --> 00:01:56,160 and asking for any local routers to identify themself. 55 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:56,993 Basically, they're saying, 56 00:01:56,993 --> 00:01:59,190 "Hey, is there any routers on this network?" 57 00:01:59,190 --> 00:02:01,530 Third, we have the router advertisement. 58 00:02:01,530 --> 00:02:03,720 Now in response to the router solicitation, 59 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:05,430 the local routers will send back a router 60 00:02:05,430 --> 00:02:06,690 advertisement message. 61 00:02:06,690 --> 00:02:07,687 That is going to be something like saying, 62 00:02:07,687 --> 00:02:09,750 "Hey, here's what I know about the network, 63 00:02:09,750 --> 00:02:10,979 and here's where you fit in, 64 00:02:10,979 --> 00:02:13,890 and this will provide the prefix of your local network." 65 00:02:13,890 --> 00:02:15,480 Then we get to step four, 66 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:17,370 which is the address configuration. 67 00:02:17,370 --> 00:02:19,530 The device itself will combine the network prefix 68 00:02:19,530 --> 00:02:22,200 it got from the router, with its own unique identifier 69 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:23,940 that it derives from its hardware address 70 00:02:23,940 --> 00:02:26,670 to craft a complete and unique IP address. 71 00:02:26,670 --> 00:02:29,400 And then fifth and finally, we have the final check. 72 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:32,160 Before this device will settle down on its IP address, 73 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:34,230 it's going to perform a neighbor solicitation 74 00:02:34,230 --> 00:02:36,510 to ensure that no other device is using the same address 75 00:02:36,510 --> 00:02:38,640 to ensure that it can harmoniously join the network 76 00:02:38,640 --> 00:02:41,430 without causing any kind of conflicts or issues. 77 00:02:41,430 --> 00:02:43,200 Now to wrap your head around SLAAC, 78 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:45,420 let's consider a real world example. 79 00:02:45,420 --> 00:02:47,130 Imagine you just moved into a smart home 80 00:02:47,130 --> 00:02:48,870 equipped with the latest gadgets. 81 00:02:48,870 --> 00:02:51,840 Each gadget being powered on, will then announce itself 82 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:53,730 and autonomously find its unique identifier 83 00:02:53,730 --> 00:02:55,170 within your home network. 84 00:02:55,170 --> 00:02:57,060 Your smart fridge, your security cameras, 85 00:02:57,060 --> 00:02:58,740 and even your ambient lighting systems 86 00:02:58,740 --> 00:03:00,480 can find their place in your network 87 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:02,190 and make themselves ready to serve you 88 00:03:02,190 --> 00:03:05,010 without you having to assign each one a manual address. 89 00:03:05,010 --> 00:03:06,690 This is SLAAC in action. 90 00:03:06,690 --> 00:03:09,540 Because it allows this variety of different IPv6 devices 91 00:03:09,540 --> 00:03:12,330 to all work together to find their own place in your network 92 00:03:12,330 --> 00:03:14,070 while ensuring seamless communication 93 00:03:14,070 --> 00:03:15,240 and network operations. 94 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:18,219 So remember, Stateless Address Autoconfiguration, 95 00:03:18,219 --> 00:03:19,620 or SLAAC, is used to simplify 96 00:03:19,620 --> 00:03:21,300 the network configuration process 97 00:03:21,300 --> 00:03:23,220 and make assigning IP addresses seamless 98 00:03:23,220 --> 00:03:25,080 and easy for us to complete. 99 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:27,330 SLAAC is not just a technical process though, 100 00:03:27,330 --> 00:03:30,000 it's a process of self-discovery within the vast network 101 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:31,980 of networks that we operate today. 102 00:03:31,980 --> 00:03:34,620 As our networks continue to grow in size and complexity, 103 00:03:34,620 --> 00:03:37,200 the benefits of migrating into a SLAAC based configuration 104 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:38,430 cannot be overstated 105 00:03:38,430 --> 00:03:40,020 if you want to continue to have seamless 106 00:03:40,020 --> 00:03:42,870 and interconnected networking experiences moving forward.