With APIPA, DHCP clients can AUTOMATICALLY self-configure an IP ADDRESS and subnetmask when a DHCP server is not available. When DHCP client boots up, it first looks for a DHCP server in order to obtain an IP address and subnet mask.A client USES the self-configured IP address until a DHCP server becomes available. The APIPA service also checks regularly for the presence of a DHCP server. If it detects a DHCP server on the network, APIPA stops and the DHCP server replaces the APIPA NETWORKING addresses with dynamically assigned addresses.

With APIPA, DHCP clients can automatically self-configure an IP address and subnetmask when a DHCP server is not available. When DHCP client boots up, it first looks for a DHCP server in order to obtain an IP address and subnet mask.A client uses the self-configured IP address until a DHCP server becomes available. The APIPA service also checks regularly for the presence of a DHCP server. If it detects a DHCP server on the network, APIPA stops and the DHCP server replaces the APIPA networking addresses with dynamically assigned addresses.