Final answer:
An IPv6 address that begins with 'fe80::' is a link-local address, meaning it's automatically assigned and used within a single network segment without involving a DHCPv6 server.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the IPv6 address for an Ethernet connection begins with 'fe80::', it indicates that the address is a link-local address. In IPv6 networking, link-local addresses are used for communication within a single network segment that is not routable externally. This type of address is automatically configured by the operating system of a device using the Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP) and does not require a DHCPv6 server.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is 'b. the address was assigned without involving a DHCPv6 server'. An APIPA address refers to the Automatic Private IP address in IPv4. A global address in IPv6 would typically start with values other than 'fe80::'. A multicast address in IPv6 has a prefix of 'ff', not 'fe80::'.