Cluster-Based and Distributed IPv6 Address Configuration Scheme for a MANET

Abstract

In a Mobile Ad hoc Network (MANET), after a mobile node is configured with a unique IP address it can perform the unicast communications. In order to reduce the address configuration cost and shorten the latency, this paper proposes an IPv6 address configuration scheme for a MANET. In the scheme, the cluster-based architecture is proposed. In the architecture, the clustering mechanism is combined with the address configuration process in order to achieve the low-cost and low-latency address configuration for all nodes in a MANET. Based on the architecture, the distributed address configuration algorithm is proposed. In the algorithm, a cluster member acquires an address from a cluster head within one-hop scope, so the address configuration task is distributed around cluster heads. In this way, the address configuration in different clusters can be performed in parallel, so the address configuration delay is shortened and the network scalability is improved. The address reclamation/maintenance algorithm is also proposed so that the address resources released by failed nodes can be rapidly recovered for reuse. Finally, the merging/splitting algorithm is proposed in order to ensure that no address collision happens in a MANET. This paper analyzes the performance parameters of the proposed scheme, and the data results show that the proposed scheme effectively reduces the address configuration cost and shortens the delay.