CCNP Infrastructure Practice Question
A network engineer is deploying a new branch office and needs to assign IPv6 addresses to hosts on the LAN segment. The engineer wants hosts to automatically configure their own addresses using the MAC address and the network prefix, without relying on a DHCPv6 server. Which IPv6 address assignment method should be configured on the router interface?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse SLAAC with DHCPv6, assuming that any automatic address assignment requires a server.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
SLAAC
SLAAC enables hosts to automatically generate IPv6 addresses using the prefix from Router Advertisements and their interface identifier, without needing a DHCPv6 server. This matches the requirement for self-configuration. Stateful DHCPv6 requires a server, static addressing is manual, and prefix delegation is for router-to-router prefix assignment, not host addressing.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Static IPv6 addressing
Why it's wrong here
Static addressing requires manual configuration on each host, which does not align with the goal of automatic address assignment. The scenario asks for hosts to configure their own addresses without a server, but static addressing is labor-intensive and not scalable for a branch office with multiple hosts. It also does not leverage the network prefix advertised by the router, making it unsuitable for dynamic environments.
- ✓
SLAAC
Why this is correct
SLAAC allows hosts to automatically generate their own IPv6 addresses using the network prefix from Router Advertisement messages and their interface identifier (often derived from the MAC address via EUI-64). No DHCPv6 server is needed, satisfying the requirement. The router sends RA messages with the A flag set to 1, instructing hosts to use stateless autoconfiguration. This method is ideal for simple deployments where centralized address management is not required.
- ✗
DHCPv6 prefix delegation
Why it's wrong here
DHCPv6 prefix delegation is used to assign a prefix to a downstream router, not to assign addresses to individual hosts on a LAN segment. It is typically used between an ISP and a customer edge router to delegate a block of addresses. This does not provide automatic host address configuration and is unrelated to the requirement of hosts self-configuring without a server.
- ✗
Stateful DHCPv6
Why it's wrong here
Stateful DHCPv6 requires a DHCPv6 server to assign addresses and maintain a database of leases. This does not meet the requirement for hosts to self-configure addresses without a server. The scenario explicitly states no DHCPv6 server should be relied upon, so stateful DHCPv6 is inappropriate. Additionally, stateful DHCPv6 typically uses the A flag set to 0 and M flag set to 1 in Router Advertisement messages, which forces hosts to request addresses from the server.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
About these practice questions
This 350-401 question is part of Courseiva's 1,923-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
This 350-401 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 350-401 exam.