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APIPA (Automatic Private IP Addressing)

APIPA (Automatic Private IP Addressing) is a feature that enables computers to automatically self-configure an IP address and subnet mask from the range of 169.254.0.1 to 169.254.255.254 when their DHCP server is unavailable. It allows hosts to communicate on the local network segment when no DHCP server is detected. The APIPA service checks for the presence of a DHCP server every few minutes, replacing APIPA addresses with dynamically assigned ones if a server is found.

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437 views

APIPA (Automatic Private IP Addressing)

APIPA (Automatic Private IP Addressing) is a feature that enables computers to automatically self-configure an IP address and subnet mask from the range of 169.254.0.1 to 169.254.255.254 when their DHCP server is unavailable. It allows hosts to communicate on the local network segment when no DHCP server is detected. The APIPA service checks for the presence of a DHCP server every few minutes, replacing APIPA addresses with dynamically assigned ones if a server is found.

Uploaded by

Giri Raj
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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APIPA (Automatic Private IP Addressing)

Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) is a feature in operating systems (such as Windows) that
enables computers to automatically self-configure an IP address and subnet mask when their DHCP
server isn’t reachable. The IP address range for APIPA is 169.254.0.1-169.254.255.254, with the
subnet mask of 255.255.0.0.

When a DHCP client boots up, it looks for a DHCP server in order to obtain network parameters. If
the client can’t communicate with the DHCP server, it uses APIPA to configure itself with an IP
address from the APIPA range. This way, the host will still be able to communicate with other hosts
on the local network segment that are also configured for APIPA.

Consider the following example:

The host on the left is configured as DHCP client. The host boots up and looks for DHCP servers on
the network. However, the DHCP server is down and can’t respond to the host. After some time (from
a couple of seconds to a couple of minutes, depending on the operating system) the client auto-
configures itself with an address from the APIPA range (e.g. 169.254.154.22).

NOTE
If your host is using an IP address from the APIPA range, there is usually a problem on the network.
Check the network connectivity of your host and the status of the DHCP server.
 

The APIPA service also checks regularly for the presence of a DHCP server (every three minutes). If
it detects a DHCP server on the network, the DHCP server replaces the APIPA networking addresses
with dynamically assigned addresses.
What is APIPA (Automatic Private IP Addressing)?
Last Updated: 22-05-2020

APIPA stands for Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA). It is a feature or characteristic in operating


systems (eg. Windows) which enables computers to self-configure an IP address and subnet mask automatically
when their DHCP(Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server isn’t reachable. The IP address range for
APIPA is (169.254.0.1 to 169.254.255.254) having 65, 534 usable IP addresses, with the subnet mask
of 255.255.0.0.

History

Initially, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) has reserved the IPv4 address block 169.254.0.0/16
(169.254.0.0 – 169.254.255.255) for link-local addressing. Due to the simultaneous use of IPv4 addresses of
different scopes, traffic overload becomes high. The link-local addresses are allocated to interface i.e., stateless in
nature such that communication will be established when not getting a response from DHCP Server. After that
Microsoft refers to this address autoconfiguration method as “Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA)”.
Automatic Configuration and Service Checks

It starts with when the user(client) is unable to find the data/information, then uses APIPA to configure the system
with an IP address automatically(ipconfig). The APIPA provides the configuration to check for the presence of a
DHCP server(in every five minutes, stated by Microsoft). If APIPA detects a DHCP server on the network
configuration area, it stops, and let run the DHCP server that replaces APIPA with dynamically allocated
addresses.

Note: To Know the given IP address is provided by which addressing, just run the following command:
ipconfig/all
Characteristics

 Communication can be established properly if not getting response from DHCP Server.
 APIPA regulates the service, by which always checking response and status of the main DHCP server in a
specific period of time.

Advantages

 It can be used as a backup of DHCP because when DHCP stops working then APIPA has the ability to assign IP
to the networking hosts.
 It stops unwanted broadcasting.
 It uses ARP(Address Resolution Protocol) to confirm the address isn’t currently in use.

Disadvantages

 APIPA ip addresses can slow you network.


 APIPA doesnot provide network gateway as DHCP does.

Limitations

 APIPA addresses are restricted for use in local area network.


 APIPA configured devices follow the peer to peer communication rule.
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