Session Timout on Open WLAN

[dporod]

Hi, we have an open (Layer 2 security=none) wlan used by vistors to our building. We sometimes get complaints about the wifi disconnecting. I notice on the Advanced tab that the session timeout is enabled and set for 1800 seconds. Is the session timeout the time after which a session reauthenticates (in the background?)) Could this cause sessions to disconnect and would there be any reason to to have it enabled on an open wlan? Thanks for any advice.

[George Stefanick]

Yes, you are correct. When a client connects there is a timer in this case by default 1800 seconds (30 minutes). When this timer is up the wlc send a client a deauth frame and makes the guest reauth again.

When security is deployed, this is used to regenerate new PMK keys with the clients. In the case of guest, it kicks idle users off. You can disable this all together or make the timeout greater.

I hope this helps ..