Configuring Access Point Retransmission Interval and Retry Count

AP Retransmission Interval and Retry Count

The controller and the APs exchange packets using the CAPWAP reliable transport protocol. For each request, a response is defined. This response is used to acknowledge the receipt of the request message. Response messages are not explicitly acknowledged; therefore, if a response message is not received, the original request message is retransmitted after the retransmit interval. If the request is not acknowledged after a maximum number of retransmissions, the session is closed and the APs reassociate with another controller.

This section contains the following subsections:

Restrictions for Access Point Retransmission Interval and Retry Count

  • You can configure the retransmission intervals and retry count both at a global as well as a specific access point level. A global configuration applies these configuration parameters to all the access points. That is, the retransmission interval and the retry count are uniform for all access points. Alternatively, when you configure the retransmission level and retry count at a specific access point level, the values are applied to that particular access point. The access point specific configuration has a higher precedence than the global configuration.

  • Retransmission intervals and the retry count do not apply for mesh access points.

Configuring the AP Retransmission Interval and Retry Count (GUI)

You can configure the retransmission interval and retry count for all APs globally or a specific AP.

Procedure


Step 1

To configure the controller to set the retransmission interval and retry count globally using the controller GUI, follow these steps:

  1. Choose Wireless > Access Points > Global Configuration.

  2. Choose one of the following options under the AP Transmit Config Parameters section:

    • AP Retransmit Count—Enter the number of times you want the access point to retransmit the request to the controller. This parameter can take values between 3 and 8.

    • AP Retransmit Interval—Enter the time duration between the retransmission of requests. This parameter can take values between 2 and 5.

  3. Click Apply.

Step 2

To configure the controller to set the retransmission interval and retry count for a specific access point, follow these steps:

  1. Choose Wireless > Access Points > All APs.

  2. Click on the AP Name link for the access point on which you want to set the values.

    The All APs > Details page appears.

  3. Click the Advanced Tab to open the advanced parameters page.

  4. Choose one of the following parameters under the AP Transmit Config Parameters section:

    • AP Retransmit Count—Enter the number of times that you want the access point to retransmit the request to the controller. This parameter can take values between 3 and 8.

    • AP Retransmit Interval—Enter the time duration between the retransmission of requests. This parameter can take values between 2 and 5.

  5. Click Apply.


Configuring the Access Point Retransmission Interval and Retry Count (CLI)

You can configure the retransmission interval and retry count for all access points globally or a specific access point.

  • Configure the retransmission interval and retry count for all access points globally by entering the this command:

    config ap retransmit {interval | count} seconds all

    The valid range for the interval parameter is between 2 and 5 seconds. The valid range for the count parameter is between 3 and 8.

  • Configure the retransmission interval and retry count for a specific access point, by entering this command:

    config ap retransmit {interval | count} seconds Cisco_AP

    The valid range for the interval parameter is between 2 and 5 seconds. The valid range for the count parameter is between 3 and 8.

  • See the status of the configured retransmit parameters on all or specific APs by entering this command:

    show ap retransmit all


    Note

    Because retransmit and retry values cannot be set for access points in mesh mode, these values are displayed as N/A (not applicable).


  • See the status of the configured retransmit parameters on a specific access point by entering this command:

    show ap retransmit Cisco_AP