windowsregistrylink-local

APIPA (link-local) IP address in Windows Registry


I'm wondering if there is a location in the Windows Registry that will contain the APIPA (link-local) IP address once provided to the interface. I've even searched for 169.254.x.x in the Registry but to no avail.

I know that you can add the DWORD 'IPAutoconfigurationEnabled' to enable/disable APIPA here: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters

I'm wondering if there is another subkey that can be added that the Windows OS will populate with the link-local address (169.254.x.x)? Or is there another method to come up with what the IP address will be using the MAC Address?

I'm aware of using ipconfig and netsh, I was hoping to obtain this IP from the registry and not perform a system call from a C program.


Solution

  • Link local address prefix are RFC specification for auto address assignment. Windows TCP/IP stores these address as volatile & doesn't in registry as these address changes with boot or after adapter is disabled. Windows TCP/IP stack stores the address in registry only for static address assignment. So you need to use iphlpapi to get these volatile addresses.