ipv6 interface tentative state

[schmidtjoe]

during configuring the ipv6 on the router interface I notice the tentative state. Can someone make an explanation what is a tentative state for the ipv6 interface?

Router#show ipv6 inter gigabitEthernet 0/1
GigabitEthernet0/1 is down, line protocol is down
  IPv6 is tentative, link-local address is FE80::EE3:60FF:FEA7:7C01 [TEN]
  No Virtual link-local address(es):
  Global unicast address(es):
    2001:DB8:A:A:EE3:60FF:FEA7:7C01, subnet is 2001:DB8:A:A::/64 [EUI/TEN]
  Joined group address(es):
    FF02::1
  MTU is 1500 bytes
  ICMP error messages limited to one every 100 milliseconds
  ICMP redirects are enabled
  ICMP unreachables are sent
  ND DAD is enabled, number of DAD attempts: 1
  ND reachable time is 30000 milliseconds (using 30000)
  ND NS retransmit interval is 1000 milliseconds

[Harold Ritter]

Hi @schmidtjoe ,

The tentative state is set while the Duplicate Address Detection (DAD) process is run, as stated by RFC4862.

  An address on which the Duplicate Address Detection procedure is
  applied is said to be tentative until the procedure has completed
  successfully.

https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc4862#page-12

Regards,

[David Ruess]

Hello,

In addition to what Harold said and as your diagram points out the interface must be in an up status to complete the check. It will remain tentative as long as the link is down as well.

-David