DHCPv4 and DHCPv6 client protocols manage network configuration information in different ways. The key difference is that with DHCPv4, the negotiation is for the lease of a single address and some options to go with it. With DHCPv6, the negotiation is over a batch of addresses and a batch of options.
For background information on the interaction between DHCPv4 client and a DHCP server, see About DHCP (Overview).
After the information packet is obtained from a DHCP server, dhcpagent configures the network interface and brings up the interface. The daemon controls the interface for the duration of the lease time for the IP address, and maintains the configuration data in an internal table. The system startup scripts use the dhcpinfo command to extract configuration option values from the internal table. The values are used to configure the system and enable it to communicate on the network.
The dhcpagent daemon waits passively until a period of time elapses, usually half the lease time. The daemon then requests an extension of the lease from a DHCP server. If the system notifies dhcpagent that the interface is down or that the IP address has changed, the daemon does not control the interface until instructed by the ipadm command to do so. If dhcpagent finds that the interface is up and the IP address has not changed, the daemon sends a request to the server for a lease renewal. If the lease cannot be renewed, dhcpagent takes down the interface at the end of the lease time.
Each time dhcpagent performs an action related to the lease, the daemon searches for an executable file called /etc/dhcp/eventhook. If an executable file with this name is found, dhcpagent invokes the executable. See DHCP Client Event Scripts for more information about using the event executable.