EAP Packet Retransmission

PPP retransmits the EAP request packets to the peer. The RADIUS client retransmits the EAP response packets to the RADIUS Server. The request packets to the peer are governed by nonconfigurable values for retransmission attempts and interval. The configuration of the RADIUS client determines retransmission values for response packets to the RADIUS server. The retransmission values are as follows:

• PPP makes five attempts to retransmit an EAP request before the authentication attempt is terminated. You cannot configure the number of retransmission attempts.
• When an EAP request is transmitted, a timer is started with a nonconfigurable retransmission interval value of 3 seconds. When the timer expires, the EAP request is retransmitted.

In some cases, you might want a longer retransmission interval. For example, you might need to accommodate the additional time required by a user to enter information or scan a fingerprint or retina. RADIUS can instruct the JUNOSe software to wait longer by passing an appropriate Session-Timeout attribute in the RADIUS Access-Challenge packet. This retransmission interval value applies only to the EAP request packet present in the RADIUS Access-Challenge packet.

The Session-Timeout attribute value overrides the default retransmission interval value, up to a maximum of 30 seconds. If RADIUS recommends a greater value, then PPP resets it back to 30 seconds in order to avoid longer or infinite delays.

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