/ 
Net-DHCPv6-0.001
/ Net::DHCPv6::Packet

NAME

Net::DHCPv6::Packet - DHCPv6 packet base class

VERSION

version 0.001

SYNOPSIS

my $pkt = Net::DHCPv6::Packet->new(
    msg_type       => $SOLICIT,
    transaction_id => 123456,
);
$pkt->add_option($clientid);
my $bytes = $pkt->as_bytes;

my $decoded = Net::DHCPv6::Packet->from_bytes($bytes);
print $decoded->msg_type;       # 1
print $decoded->type;           # SOLICIT
print $decoded->transaction_id; # 123456

DESCRIPTION

Base class for DHCPv6 packets. Holds a message type, 24-bit transaction ID, and an Net::DHCPv6::OptionList. Concrete message subclasses (e.g. Net::DHCPv6::Message::Solicit) set the msg_type constant.

ALPHA STATUS

ALPHA SOFTWARE. This is an early release. The interface is experimental and subject to change without notice.

CONSTRUCTOR OVERLOAD

When called with a single scalar argument, Packet->new($bytes) delegates to Net::DHCPv6 decode_or_croak:

my $pkt = Net::DHCPv6::Packet->new($wire_bytes);

With key-value arguments, constructs a new packet:

my $pkt = Net::DHCPv6::Packet->new(
    msg_type       => 1,
    transaction_id => 123456,
);

Zero arguments croaks.

METHODS

msg_type

Returns the numeric message type.

transaction_id

Returns the 24-bit transaction ID as an integer.

options

Returns the internal Net::DHCPv6::OptionList.

add_option($option)

Appends an option to the packet.

get_option($code)

Returns the first option with the given code, or undef.

as_bytes

Serializes to wire format: 1-byte msg_type + 3-byte transaction_id (big-endian) + options TLV chain.

type

Returns the message type name string (e.g. SOLICIT), or undef if unknown.

msg_type_name

Alias for "type". Returns the message type name string.

CLASS METHODS

from_bytes($bytes)

Parses a packet from wire bytes. Dispatches to the appropriate concrete subclass via %MESSAGE_CLASS. Falls back to Net::DHCPv6::Packet for unknown message types. RELAY-FORW and RELAY-REPLY messages are handled by Net::DHCPv6::Packet::Relay.

RELAY MESSAGES

RELAY-FORW (12) and RELAY-REPLY (13) use a different wire format: hop_count(1) + link_address(16) + peer_address(16) + options. They have no transaction_id. See Net::DHCPv6::Packet::Relay.

SEE ALSO

Net::DHCPv6, Net::DHCPv6::Packet::Relay, Net::DHCPv6::Message::Solicit, Net::DHCPv6::Message::Reply, Net::DHCPv6::OptionList

AUTHOR

Dean Hamstead <dean@fragfest.com.au>

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

This software is Copyright (c) 2026 by Dean Hamstead.

This is free software, licensed under:

The MIT (X11) License