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What is the difference between max_repetitions and maxoids?

Why would you lower max_repetitions or maxoids?

You would lower max_repetitions when a device is responding to SNMP, but it cannot reliably handle large SNMP GETBULK requests. Statseeker uses GETBULK during discovery and rewalks to retrieve multiple OIDs in a single request. A higher value is more efficient, but some devices, firewalls, UPSs, wireless controllers, and older network gear struggle with large responses

https://docs.statseeker.com/administration/snmp-config/

You would lower MaxOIDs when a device can be discovered successfully but has trouble keeping up with ongoing polling requests. Statseeker specifically recommends reducing MaxOIDs if a device responds to SNMP walks but reporting is missing, intermittent, or generating SNMP polling issues.

MaxOIDs is the polling equivalent of max_repetitions.

  • max_repetitions controls how many OIDs are requested per SNMP GETBULK during Discovery/Rewalk.
  • MaxOIDs controls how many OIDs are requested per SNMP polling request during normal data collection

Summary

MaxOIDs Max Repetitions
Limits OIDs requested Limits table rows returned
Primarily request size control Primarily response size control
Used heavily in older polling models Used with SNMP GETBULK polling

MaxOIDs controls the maximum number of OIDs included in a single SNMP request.

For example:

  • MaxOIDs = 10
  • Statseeker needs to collect 100 interface counters
  • Statseeker sends approximately 10 requests containing 10 OIDs each

A lower value:

  • Generates more SNMP packets
  • Reduces the amount of data returned per packet
  • Can help with devices that have limited SNMP capabilities

A higher value:

  • Reduces packet count
  • Improves polling efficiency
  • May cause some devices to timeout or truncate responses

 Max Repetitions is an SNMPv2/v3 GETBULK parameter defined by the SNMP protocol itself.

It specifies how many rows of a table the device should return for each requested OID during a GETBULK operation.

For example:

If Statseeker requests:

ifDescr ifInOctets ifOutOctets

and:

max_repetitions = 25

the device may return up to:

25 ifDescr entries 25 ifInOctets entries 25 ifOutOctets entries

in a single response.

A higher value:

  • Fewer SNMP requests
  • Faster discovery and polling
  • Larger response packets
  • Greater risk of timeouts, packet fragmentation, or buggy device behavior

A lower value:

  • More requests required
  • Less efficient polling
  • Often more reliable for firewalls, WAN links, and older devices

For more information on how to modify max_repetitions please see the following article:

Why does my SNMP device not return all data?