SPLIT: Unifi Discussions FROM: Shaw 300 thread

[benyl]

So for those of you who are going from an installed controller to cloud key, this is how I got my APs moved over in about 10 minutes:

https://community.ubnt.com/t5/UniFi-...1622907#M19099

backup the controller and restore to cloud key. Then override the inform address. all APs migrate over no problem.

[Buster]

can someone tell me about the new router they are launching ? is it the HD4 one?

[killramos]

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How does that cloud key work?

Basically it’s a little server that runs the UniFi control software and forms VPN to access it from anywhere.

Otherwise you need to run it on a computer which may not always be on etc.

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can someone tell me about the new router they are launching ? is it the HD4 one?

It’s based on the new XG stuff. They started with the top of the line they are going down market

[The_Rural_Juror]

I have had the edge router x for a year and haven't had issues running 4 APs. Do I really need a cloud key?

[firebane]

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Basically it’s a little server that runs the UniFi control software and forms VPN to access it from anywhere.

Otherwise you need to run it on a computer which may not always be on etc.

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It’s based on the new XG stuff. They started with the top of the line they are going down market

Once your access point is setup the machine you run it on doesn't need to be running at all. The controller software is there if you need to modify or update the AP.

[killramos]

Depends on what features you want to use. While the system itself functions without the controller there are other UniFi features that require the controller to be active to use. It does more than just setup the system.

I found that the system had more hiccups that needed intervention when the controller was not running.

[revelations]

I dont know about you guys with the APs, but I've setup around 6 of them at various locations and I found that after 30 days up they tended to disconnect, or fail to hold connection to devices.

After an AP reboot they seemed to work fine again. Was thinking about setting up a CRON auto-reboot but that feature was not available. Does the cloud key offer this?

[schocker]

Cloud key is awesome imo. Also great that on mobile/tablet, you get all of the features from the web view. Very handy to use.
Currently using a AC-PRO with a second using the wireless uplink (Still need to get my ethernet run.......) and it works pretty good. Need to just make a IOT network though as the nests can be annoying.

[ipeefreely]

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Once your access point is setup the machine you run it on doesn't need to be running at all. The controller software is there if you need to modify or update the AP.

I'd recommend checking it at least once a month for firmware updates and keeping a eye on who's been connected.

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I dont know about you guys with the APs, but I've setup around 6 of them at various locations and I found that after 30 days up they tended to disconnect, or fail to hold connection to devices.

I've never had one disconnect... are they connected to a UPS? Currently at 93 days before doing a firmware upgrade today.

[firebane]

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I'd recommend checking it at least once a month for firmware updates and keeping a eye on who's been connected.

I've never had one disconnect... are they connected to a UPS? Currently at 93 days before doing a firmware upgrade today.

Well yes you'll want to keep an eye on it. I"m also pretty sure you can set it up to email you when firmware updates are out.

[revelations]

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I'd recommend checking it at least once a month for firmware updates and keeping a eye on who's been connected.



I've never had one disconnect... are they connected to a UPS? Currently at 93 days before doing a firmware upgrade today.

Yea they are UPS'd .... is this a known issue? (ie I am overlooking something obvious)

[ipeefreely]

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Yea they are UPS'd .... is this a known issue? (ie I am overlooking something obvious)

Never happened to me so far... maybe other people can post their experience with them!

I'll also note I don't run them too hard. Couple of Win 8.1 phones that like to connect on 2.4 GHZ (it seems) and my old laptop occasionally.

Everything else is hardwired for moving lots of data.

[schocker]

Does anyone have a link/good resource where I could read up on some more advanced features that I have no idea about with networking like vlans etc?

[BokCh0y]

Ok so I need a new setup for sure, what do you guys recommend then?

The ubiquiti usg or the edge router? And what would I need for switches and ap's? I just want to run a small home netowrk, nothing crazy but like the poe options and features. What are you guys running for a ubiquiti setup?

Thanks.

[killramos]

Don’t buy any of the edge stuff, it’s all legacy and they have been on UniFi for a year or 2 now.

USG is a good product, anything more than it is pretty overkill for a home network. The one limitation it has is if you enable the new beta intruder prevention stuff you limit your wan to 80mbps purely as a cpu max out issue as it investigates every packet for malicious intrusion attempts. Kindof neat, I ran it for a month to see if it picked anything up but it didn’t find anything so o turned it back off.

Any of their switches rock, just go for whatever one matches the number of ports you need.

For access points, I find my lites to be a bit weak on range and I wish I went with some of their more powerful Ap’s But I haven’t really done much to optimize placement either.

I personally have a USG, 16 port Poe switch (complete overkill) 2 AC Lite AP’s and a cloud key

[chongkee_]

Networking noob here.
How useful is the cloud key?
Is the USG just a firewall? any other use for it?

[BokCh0y]

Thanks for the info @killramos .

I was at one of the mem expresses today inquring about this, guys there had no clue what they were talking about and basically said they didn't anything about the Ubiquiti products they were selling, very disapointing experience.

What's a good place to order this stuff that isn't ME?

[The_Rural_Juror]

I have ordered from a couple of places online and the experience was disappointing. Orders cancelled without notice, no response regarding faulty units, no refunds or exchanges. Buyer beware.

[killramos]

USG is a router, without one you need some other kind of routing device. However unlike what most people picture with a router it has no built in wireless functionality and no built in switch to attach multiple devices. Just WAN which then goes out to a dedicated switch. Everything UniFi is modular in this way, you even need something else to run the controller software as that is not onboard (cloud key).

Benefit of cloud key is it is a compact, poe powered, always on little server that integrates very wel and with very good reliabiltiy. Anything it does can be replaced with a server on your network to run the controller software, in fact cloud key is really only capable of a certain size of network (though it is very large). An alternative to cloudkey is one of unifi’s canned servers which does the same thing with way more power and onboard disks. One thing cloudkey does is sets up a wedrtc tunnel to access it from anywhere, but you can login with a dynamic DNS service if you want, just saves you some effort. Kindof an idiot proof type of device.

As for where to buy, it’s all good stuff so get to know exactly what gen and sku you want and just hunt for cheapest price.

For example I think I bought my AP’s and USG on ncix, cloud key on newegg, switch on amazon. Just hunt around.

[The_Rural_Juror]

So...what do I gain from switching to USG from Edge?