avahi-autoipd implements IPv4LL, "Dynamic Configuration of IPv4 Link-Local Addresses" (IETF RFC3927), a protocol for automatic IP address configuration from the link-local 169.254.0.0/16 range without the need for a central server. It is primarily intended to be used in ad-hoc networks which lack a DHCP server.
IPv4LL is part of the Zeroconf stack.
avahi-autoipd can be used as stand-alone address allocator or as plugin for a DHCP client such as ISC's dhclient, where it can be used as fallback solution if no DHCP server is found.
To allow communication between hosts that have only an IPv4LL address assigned and hosts that only have a routable IP address assigned you may add the following routes to both network configurations:
route add -net 169.254.0.0 netmask 255.255.0.0 dev eth0 metric 99
Kill an already running avahi-autoipd on the specified network interface. (Equivalent to sending a SIGTERM)
-r | --refresh
Tell an already running avahi-autoipd to reannounce the acquired IP address on the specified network interface. (Equivalent to sending a SIGHUP)
-c | --check
Return 0 as return code if avahi-autoipd is already running for the specified network interface.
-s | --syslog
Log to syslog instead of STDERR. Implied by --daemonize.
--debug
Enable verbose mode.
--no-drop-root
Don't drop root priviliges after startup. We recommend not to use this option.
--no-chroot
Don't chroot(2) the daemon. This option is only available when compiled with chroot() support.
-S | --start=
Try to acquire the specified IP address, which must be from the IPv4LL range 169.254.0.0/16.
-w | --wait
Wait until a IP address has been sucessfully acquired before detaching. Only valid in combination with --daemonize.
--force-bind
Acquire an IPv4LL address, even if a routable address has been configured on the interface.
--no-proc-title
Don't change the process name while running. Unless this option is specified avahi-autoipd will reflect it's current state and the IP address in the process title.
-h | --help
Show help.
-v | --version
Show version information.
FILES
/etc/avahi/avahi-autoipd.action: the script to run when an IP address as been acquired or is lost.
SIGNALS
SIGINT, SIGTERM, SIGQUIT: avahi-autoipd will shutdown. (Same as --kill)
SIGHUP: avahi-autoipd will reannounce the acquired IP address. (Same as --refresh)
AUTHORS
The Avahi Developers <avahi (at) lists (dot) freedesktop (dot) org>; Avahi is available from http://avahi.org/
