# Access point monitoring with Netdata The `ap` collector visualizes data related to access points. ## Example Netdata charts  ## How it works It does the following: 1. Runs `iw dev` searching for interfaces that have `type AP`. From the same output it collects the SSIDs each AP supports by looking for lines `ssid NAME`. Example: ```sh # iw dev phy#0 Interface wlan0 ifindex 3 wdev 0x1 addr 7c:dd:90:77:34:2a ssid TSAOUSIS type AP channel 7 (2442 MHz), width: 20 MHz, center1: 2442 MHz ``` 2. For each interface found, it runs `iw INTERFACE station dump`. From the output is collects: - rx/tx bytes - rx/tx packets - tx retries - tx failed - signal strength - rx/tx bitrate - expected throughput Example: ```sh # iw wlan0 station dump Station 40:b8:37:5a:ed:5e (on wlan0) inactive time: 910 ms rx bytes: 15588897 rx packets: 127772 tx bytes: 52257763 tx packets: 95802 tx retries: 2162 tx failed: 28 signal: -43 dBm signal avg: -43 dBm tx bitrate: 65.0 MBit/s MCS 7 rx bitrate: 1.0 MBit/s expected throughput: 32.125Mbps authorized: yes authenticated: yes preamble: long WMM/WME: yes MFP: no TDLS peer: no ``` 3. For each interface found, it creates 6 charts: - Number of Connected clients - Bandwidth for all clients - Packets for all clients - Transmit Issues for all clients - Average Signal among all clients - Average Bitrate (including average expected throughput) among all clients ## Configuration Edit the `charts.d/ap.conf` configuration file using `edit-config` from the Netdata [config directory](https://github.com/netdata/netdata/blob/master/docs/configure/nodes.md), which is typically at `/etc/netdata`. ```bash cd /etc/netdata # Replace this path with your Netdata config directory, if different sudo ./edit-config charts.d/ap.conf ``` You can only set `ap_update_every=NUMBER` to change the data collection frequency. ## Auto-detection The plugin is able to auto-detect if you are running access points on your linux box.