Automatic Configuration of Ad-Hoc Networks: Establishing unique IP Link-Local Addresses

Abstract

One of the main problems when configuring ad-hoc networks is that with these networks don't have a central server with all the information of the network. If a new user wants to form part of a network must configure his device firstly. On the one hand, in this article we make an analysis of the different proposals for the configuration of ad-hoc networks presented on the bibliography consulted. On the other hand, we propose a distributed protocol to network data configuration based on the use of diffusion tools (multicast/broadcast) and where the user's intervention isn 't necessary. The protocol proposed focus on IPv4 link-local addresses configuration to let the creation of MANETs (Mobile Ad hoc Networks). What's more, this protocol will be able to be also used to make both IPv6 link-local addresses configuration and other needed ad hoc networks parameters configuration.