a wireless client device includes a receiver and a connection module . the receiver is configured to receive , on a wireless medium of a wireless network , a management frame that is periodically transmitted on the wireless medium . the management frame includes an address assignment indication that indicates which address assignment types are employed by the wireless network . the connection module is configured to , in response to the address assignment indication indicating that a dynamic address assignment type is employed by the wireless network , configure a network - layer address for the wireless client device according to a dynamic address assignment protocol . the connection module is configured to , in response to the address assignment indication indicating that the dynamic address assignment type is not employed by the wireless network , configure the network - layer address for the wireless client device according to a link - local address assignment protocol .