Auto Data Recovery enhances the RAK Gateway’s Packet Forwarder (UDP) mode by preventing uplink data loss during network interruptions. When the gateway loses connection to the LoRaWAN Network Server (LNS), it temporarily buffers uplink packets locally.
Once the connection is restored, these cached packets are automatically forwarded to the LNS, ensuring uninterrupted data flow even during temporary outages.
How It Works
Connection Monitoring
The Packet Forwarder (PF) service periodically verifies connectivity with the LNS using the configured Keepalive Interval.Data Buffering During Outage
When the LNS becomes unreachable, uplink packets are cached on the gateway’s SD card, storing up to 4 hours of data before overwriting the oldest entries.Automatic Restart Attempts
If consecutive keepalive checks fail beyond the Auto-restart Threshold, the PF service restarts automatically and continues retrying the connection while maintaining buffered data.Automatic Forwarding After Recovery
Once connectivity to the LNS is re-established, all cached uplinks are automatically transmitted to the server. After successful forwarding, the buffer is cleared.
Configure Auto Data Recovery
Auto Data Recovery is available only in Packet Forwarder mode. Before enabling, confirm that the gateway is operating in this mode.
Log in to the gateway’s web UI.
Navigate to LoRa > Configuration in the left menu.
In the Protocol field, select Semtech UDP GWMP Protocol.
Under UDP Protocol Parameters, enable Auto Data Recovery.
- Click Save changes to apply the configuration.
Expected Results
When Auto Data Recovery is enabled:
- During an outage, uplink packets are stored locally on the SD card.
- After reconnection, all buffered uplinks are automatically transmitted to the LNS.
Example:
The ChirpStack Events View shows multiple uplinks with consecutive FCnt values appearing almost instantly after reconnection.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Possible Cause | Check / Action |
|---|---|---|
| No historical uplinks are received after reconnection | Auto Data Recovery was not enabled before the outage | In the web UI, go to UDP Protocol Parameters and verify that Auto Data Recovery is enabled. |
| Uplink data is lost despite the feature being enabled. | The outage exceeded the 4-hour buffer limit. | Compare outage duration with buffer capacity. |
FAQs
- What happens if the outage lasts longer than 4 hours?
The oldest packets will be overwritten by new incoming uplinks. - Will enabling Auto Data Recovery affect normal uplink transmission latency?
No, uplinks are still sent in real time when connected; buffering only applies during outages.
Changelog
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Version 1 - How to Enable Auto Data Recovery for Packet Forwarder
Mode
- Date Published: 11/01/2025
Updated