why rtsold ?

[Victor Sudakov]

Alan Somers wrote:
> >
> > When running FreeBSD as an IPv6 host im SLAAC mode, is
> > "rtsold_enable=YES" really necessary? I did not enable rtsold and IPv6
> > still works fine only with
> >
> > fconfig_re0=""
> > ifconfig_re0_ipv6="inet6 accept_rtadv"
> >
> > What would be the point of enabling rtsold then?
> 
> The router may send a router advertisement whenever it wants.  That's why
> your machine seems to work even without rtsold.  However, SLAAC addresses
> expire after a certain amount of time.  rtsold will ask the router for a
> new advertisement before your address expires.  You aren't guaranteed to
> have problems if you don't run rtsold, but you aren't guaranteed not to
> have problems if you don't.  Best to let it run.

I see the point but who on earth sent the initial router solicitation
on boot if I never enabled rtsold?

I have not found rtsold in /etc/rc.d/netif or similar startup script.

-- 
Victor Sudakov,  VAS4-RIPE, VAS47-RIPN
2:5005/49 at fidonet http://vas.tomsk.ru/