There are two ways in which an IPv6 node can configure its address in a stateless fashion:

1. Using automatic address configuration with prefix discovery
2. Using stateless DHCPv6

Automatic address configuration utilising prefix discovery is specified in [RFC2462]. If the‘autonomous’ flag of a Prefix Information Option contained in a router advertisement is set, the IPv6 host may automatically generate its global IPv6 address by appending its 64-bit interface identifier to the prefix contained in the router advertisement. There are different ways in which the host may choose how to generate its interface identifier (e.g. based on MAC address, random or cryptographically generated).

Stateless DHCPv6 is not mentioned as an option given in router advertisements [RFC2461]. However, recent discussions in the IPv6 w.g. have suggested signalling the usage of stateless DHCPv6 via the ‘O’ flag in router advertisements. At the time of writing the exact way of signalling that hosts should use stateless DHCPv6 is not clear. However, since there are few available implementations, this is not a major concern.