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Networking Fundamentals · Intermediate

Link-Local Address

An address valid only on the local network segment and never forwarded by routers.

Definition

In IPv4, link-local addresses come from 169.254.0.0/16 and are used when no other configuration is available. In IPv6, every interface automatically has a link-local address in fe80::/10, which is required for Neighbor Discovery and routing protocol adjacencies. Routers never forward packets with link-local source or destination addresses off the link.

Example

Two laptops connected directly with no DHCP server can talk using 169.254.x.x addresses.

Exam tip

IPv4 link-local signals a problem; IPv6 link-local is normal and always present.

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