What does DAD stand for?

Duplicate Address Detection is a crucial process in networking, particularly in IPv6 environments. It is designed to prevent the assignment of duplicate IP addresses to devices within the same network. When a device is assigned an IPv6 address, it uses DAD to check whether the address is already in use by another device. If another device responds, it indicates that the address is a duplicate, which prevents configuration conflicts and ensures proper network operation.

In IPv6, this process is often performed as part of the Stateless Address Autoconfiguration (SLAAC) method. Each device sends a Neighbor Solicitation message to determine if the address it intends to use is already taken. If no response is received, the address can be safely claimed by the device.

This mechanism plays a vital role in maintaining network integrity and efficiency, thereby reinforcing the significance of DAD as a standard protocol component in networking.