5. Discuss the significance of the global network prefix in stateless IPv6 configuration. Why is it limited to a length of at most 64 bits, and how does this impact the overall configuration process?
The network prefix is fixed, so the host can broadcast to the network, asking if any other host on the network is using the address. The length is limited to 64 bits as the netmask is /64 or lower and the configuration relies on it.
The global network prefix in stateless IPv6 configuration is crucial for addressing. Its fixed nature allows a host to broadcast within the network, verifying address uniqueness. The prefix is limited to a length of at most 64 bits, aligning with the common netmask of /64 or lower. This limitation ensures consistency in configuration, as many IPv6 features and auto-configuration mechanisms rely on the /64 prefix length as a standard.
