Ubiquiti Overview

Ubiquiti Overview

Sections: 

Resources: 

Overview: 

  • Ubiquiti Networks is a technology that designs and manufactures networking equipment, software, and services
  • It is best known for offering high-performance networking solutions at affordable prices, primarily targeting small to medium-sized businesses and home users
  • Ubiquiti has gained a reputation for providing advanced networking hardware such as routers, switches, wireless access points, and security cameras, along with the software needed to manage these devices 

UniFi Site Manager 

Multi-Site Management 

  • The UniFi Site Manager is a key feature of Ubiquiti's cloud-based UniFi Network Controller software that allows users to manage multiple UniFi networks (or sites) from a single management interface. This allows administrators to not having to be physically present at the site to make changes to the network, which is useful for admins handling multiple locations  
  • It is designed to help network administrators easily oversee and manage different locations or networks within a larger organization or across multiple client sites 
  • Each physical location or logical group of devices is treated as a separate 'site' in the UniFi Controller. You can create and configure a new site within the Site Manager, allowing you to assign network settings and devices specific to that site 
  • Site Manager enables real-time monitoring of network health, device status, and performance across all sites, providing a centralized view of the entire network 

Device & Network Configuration 

  • Site Manager allows you to configure and push settings to all the devices within a site (or multiple sites at once) from one location. This includes setting up wireless networks, configuring switches, and managing security appliances 
  • Using Site Manager, you can ensure that similar configurations are applied consistently across different sites, making network management more efficient and reducing the potential for configuration errors 

Site Specific Dashboard 

  • Each site in the Site Manager has its own customizable dashboard that shows the status of the devices within that site, such as Wi-Fi health, traffic usage, connected clients, and other performance metrics. Administrators can drill down into specific sites to troubleshoot issues or assess network performance 

Backup & Restore 

  • Site Manager allows you to back up network configurations for each site. This ensures that in case of failure or migration, network settings can easily be restored 
  • If a site needs to be recovered (for example, due to hardware failure or misconfiguration), Site Manager makes it easier to restore settings from a backup 

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

  • The UniFi Site Manager allows administrators to set up role-based access control for different users
  • This means that only authorized users can access or make changes to certain sites, enhancing security and delegation of tasks 

Site Specific Alerts & Notifications 

  • Administrators can set up site-specific alerts and notifications for things like device outages, low battery levels, or other critical network events. These alerts help to ensure prompt attention and quick troubleshooting 
  • Admins can receive alerts via email or push notifications in the UniFi Controller app whenever something requires immediate action 

Unified Reporting 

  • Site Manager allows administrators to generate reports for multiple sites
  • These can include performance reports, client usage, and device health, providing insights into network performance at a high level across all managed sites 

Network Topology Visualization 

  • UniFi Site Manager provides network topology views that allow administrators to see how devices and access points are interconnected across sites
  • This can help with troubleshooting, optimizing network performance, and planning future expansions 

Summary 

  • If you're managing networks for multiple clients or multiple office locations, the UniFi Site Manager makes it easy to monitor and configure all the sites in a unified way without needing to log in separately to each site 
  • For large enterprises with multiple campuses or remote locations, Site Manager provides centralized control for network management, allowing administrators to ensure uniform policies and configurations across sites 
  • With cloud access and real-time monitoring, admins can quickly diagnose and resolve issues without being on site, saving time and effort 
  • The Site Manager is designed to scale as your network grows, allowing for the management of many different sites with varying numbers of devices, which is ideal for both small and large deployments 

UniFi Cloud Gateways 

Remote Cloud Access

  • The UniFi Cloud Gateway allows users to remotely manage their UniFi networks and devices via the UniFI Network Controller
  • It eliminates the need for a local controller or direct network access for network configuration and monitoring 
  • This is particularly useful for businesses with multiple sites or MSPs who need to manage multiple client networks from anywhere 

Seamless Integration with UniFi Devices 

  • The UniFi Cloud Gateway provides cloud connectivity for UniFi devices, such as access points, switches, routers, and security gateways
  • With this, administrators can configure, monitor, and troubleshoot devices without being physically present on-site 

Single Sign-on (SSO) via UniFI Cloud

  • The Cloud Gateway is part of Ubiquiti's UniFi Cloud infrastructure, allowing users to log in with their UniFi account to access and manage their networks
  • This login is typically integrated into a SSO process across Ubiquiti products, making it easier for administrators to manage multiple networks and devices 

Multi-Site Management 

  • With the UniFi Cloud Gateway, network administrators can manage multiple UniFi sites or networks from a centralized location
  • This is useful for organizations with different offices, branch locations, or remote networks, as it allows managing all their UniFi devices under a single account without needing to visit each location physically 

Automatic Device Adoption 

  • The Cloud Gateway supports automatic adoption of UniFi devices into the UniFi Controller, meaning that devices connected to the network can be automatically detected and registered in the cloud management interface
  • This simplifies the deployment and setup process for large installations or remote sites

Security

  • Security is a primary consideration with the UniFi Cloud Gateway
  • All communications between devices and the cloud is typically encrypted, ensuring that management and control over the network is secure, even when accessed remotely 
  • Ubiquiti ensures that device data and configurations are protected from unauthorized access

Easy Setup

  • Setting up the Cloud Gateway is designed to be user-friendly 
  • Once you register your UniFi Network Controller with your Ubiquiti account, you can link it to the UniFi Cloud Gateway, providing access to your network from anywhere with an Internet connection
  • This eliminates the need for complex VPN or local access configurations for remote management 

Real-Time Monitoring & Alerts 

  • With the Cloud Gateway, administrators can receive real-time alerts and notifications related to network performance, device status, or issues with the UniFi devices connected to the cloud-managed network 
  • This feature helps network administrators quickly identify and resolve potential issues, even from a remote location 

Summary 

  • The ability to manage UniFi devices from anywhere is a significant advantage for businesses with multiple locations, remote offices, or clients. Administrators can configure networks, monitor usage, and troubleshoot issues without having to be physically on-site 
  • With automatic device adoption and cloud-based management, deploying new UniFi devices becomes easier. Administrators can set up devices at remote locations, and the devices will automatically connect to the cloud, minimizing the need for complex on-site  configuration
  • For businesses or MSPs managing several client sites or branches, the UniFi Cloud Gateway provides a single pane of glass for overseeing all networks and devices
  • Using the cloud for management eliminates the need for on-site management hardware or dedicated servers, reducing the infrastructure costs for organizations 
  • As your network grows, whether it's adding new devices or expanding to new locations, the UniFi Cloud Gateway can scale to accommodate additional sites without the need for significant changes to the infrastructure 

Hosting UniFi Network Controllers 

What is UniFi Network Controller?

  • The UniFi Network Controller is a software platform used to manage and configure UniFi network devices, such as access points, switches, routers, and security gateways
  • It provides administrators with a centralized interface for monitoring, controlling, and configuring all the devices within a UniFi network 

Hosting Options 

  • Controller is a general term for a device that runs the UniFi Network application to manage the network 
  • With Ubiquiti, ways the controller can be deployed include: 
    • Self-hosted on your own hardware (Local)
    • Cloud Key (Local) 
    • Ubiquiti's Cloud Server (Cloud)
    • UniFi Cloud Gateway (Local or Cloud) 

Local Vs Cloud-Hosted Controller 

  • Local Controller 
    • The UniFI Network Controller can be hosted locally (via a Cloud Key, or on-prem server)
    • Without a UniFI Cloud Gateway, the network can only be managed locally 
  • Cloud-Hosted Controller 
    • The UniFI Network Controller can be hosted in the cloud (via Ubiquiti Cloud) 
    • This method can be deployed without a UniFi Cloud Gateway to manage the network remotely 
  • Cloud Gateway 
    • The Cloud Gateway can optionally connect your local controller to the Ubiquiti cloud, allowing you to remotely access it via your Ubiquiti account
    • The Cloud Gateway can also allow you to remotely access a cloud-hosted controller via your Ubiquiti account 
    • The Cloud Gateway is designed to make remote access seamless and secure, regardless of where your controller is hosted (locally or in the cloud) 
    • The Cloud Gateway acts as a bridge between your UniFI Network Controller and Ubiquiti's cloud infrastructure 

UniFi Switching 

Managed vs. Unmanaged

  • Manage Switches 
    • Managed switches allow for greater control over the network settings, such as VLANs, traffic management, and port security 
  • Unmanaged Switches
    • Unmanaged switches are plug-and-play devices that do not provide the advanced configuration options found in managed switches 

Power over Ethernet (PoE)

  • Many Ubiquiti switches support PoE, delivering power and data to PoE-enabled devices (like UniFi access points, cameras, and phones) through a single Ethernet cable 
  • Certain models of switches support PoE+, an enhanced version of PoE that provides more power enabling the switch to support more power-hungry devices 

High Speed Performance 

  • Ubiquiti switches support high-speed Ethernet connections, including Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet in higher-end models, ensuring fast data transfer speeds for modern networks 

VLAN Support 

  • Ubiquiti switches support VLANS, which allows administrators to segment a network into different logical sub-networks for better traffic management, security, and efficiency 

Advanced Security Features 

  • Features like Port Security, 802.1X Authentication, Access Control Lists (ACLs), and Traffic Encryption are often included on Ubiquiti managed switches, helping to secure the network from unauthorized access and potential threats 

Stacking 

  • Some higher-end Ubiquiti switches allow you to stack multiple switches together, providing a more scalable network solution where switches can be managed as one unified entity 

SFP Ports for Fiber Connectivity 

  • Some Ubiquiti switches include SFP (Small Form-Factor Pluggable) ports, which allow you to use fiber optic cables for high-speed data transfer over longer distances 
  • This is particularly useful in large or enterprise networks where high-bandwidth connections between switches are needed

Summary 

  • Ubiquiti switches offer great performance at competitive prices, especially compared to other networking brands 
  • With the UniFi Network Controller, Ubiquiti switches are easy to manage and configure, even for users without a lot of technical expertise 
  • Ubiquiti's switches are easily scalable, from small home networks to large enterprise networks. The integration with UniFi's ecosystem allows for growth without needing to change your network management tools 
  • Ubiquiti offers many advanced features, like PoE, VLANs, and cloud management, at a price point that's accessible for small businesses, home users, and educational institutions 

UniFi Wireless 

Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Support)

  • Many of Ubiquiti's newer AP models, like the UniFi 6 series, support Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), which offers significant improvements over previous Wi-Fi standards, such as higher speeds, greater capacity, and better performance in high-density environments 
    • Wi-Fi 6 supports OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) and MU-MIMO (Multi-User, Multiple Input, Multiple Output), which helps the AP communicate with multiple devices more efficiently  

      Dual Band Wi-Fi

      • Ubiquiti's APs typically support dual-band operation, meaning they broadcast both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies, This helps ensure better coverage and less interference, as the 5 GHz band is less congested than the 2.4 GHz band 
      • Some newer models, like the UniFI 6 Pro, also support tri-band configurations with an additional 6 GHz band for even faster speeds and more capacity 

      Guest Network & Captive Portal 

      • Guest network features allow you to create isolated networks for visitors or customers, useful in businesses or public spaces 
      • A captive portal can be set up to present users with a login page or terms and conditions page when they connect to the guest Wi-Fi

      PoE (Power over Ethernet)

      • Many Ubiquiti APs support PoE, which means they can receive both data and power over a single Ethernet cable, simplifying installation by eliminating the need for a separate power supply 

      Seamless Roaming 

      • Ubiquiti APs support seamless roaming for devices, meaning users can move freely within the coverage area of the APs without experiencing drops in connectivity 
      • This is particularly useful for environments where users are constantly on the move, like in offices or large campuses 

      Advanced Security Features 

      • Ubiquiti access points come with advanced security protocols like WPA3, which offers stronger encryption and better protection against password guessing attacks compared to WPA2
      • Some models also offer guest isolation, preventing guests from accessing the internal network while connected to the guest Wi-Fi 

      Mesh Networking 

      • Some models, such as the UniFi Mesh series, allow for mesh networking, where multiple access points can be linked wirelessly, expanding coverage across a large area without the need for running additional Ethernet cables  

      High Throughput & Coverage 

      • Ubiquiti APs are designed for high throughput and wide coverage
      • The higher-end models, like the UniFi 6 Pro, support high-speed connections for environments that require a lot of bandwidth (such as for offices, schools, or conference rooms)

      Mounting Flexibility

      • Ubiquiti APs can be easily mounted on walls, ceilings, or poles, providing flexibility in terms of installation
      • This is important for achieving optimal coverage and network performance in various environments 

      Summary 

      • The UniFi Network Controller makes it easy to deploy, manage, and monitor Ubiquiti APs, even for users without a lot of networking experience 
      • Ubiquiti APs can be easily scaled by adding more APs to increase coverage and performance as the network grows
      • Compared to many other enterprise-level wireless solutions, Ubiquiti APs provide great performance at a more affordable price point
      • Ubiquiti APs deliver high-speed Wi-Fi with features like MU-MIMO and OFDMA (in Wi0Fi 6 models) that help improve performance in high-density environments 

      UniFi Security 

      High-Quality Video 

      • Many of the Ubiquiti cameras support HD resolution (1080p or higher), with some models offering 4K video for superior clarity, allowing for better identification of faces, license plates, or other fine details 
        • Wide-angle lenses on many models provide large coverage areas, reducing the need for multiple cameras in a single location 

          Infrared Night Vision 

          • Ubiquiti cameras come with infrared (IR) night vision, allowing for 24/7 surveillance even in complete darkness
          • This makes them highly effective for around the clock monitoring of both indoor and outdoor areas

          Weatherproof Design

          • Most Ubiquiti outdoor cameras are designed with weatherproof housing that allows them to withstand harsh conditions, including rain, snow, and extreme temperatures  

          Remote Access 

          • Ubiquiti's security cameras integrate with the UniFi Protect system, which allows for remote access via the UniFi Protect app on both iOS and Android devices 
          • This enables users to monitor live footage, review recorded video, and receive alerts from anywhere with an Internet connection

          Motion Detection

          • Many Ubiquiti cameras feature motion detection, which triggers the camera to start recording or send an alert when motion is detected within the camera's field of view 
          • This can help reduce storage needs by only recording when motion occurs 

          Two-Way Audio

          • The UniFi Protect Doorbell camera and certain other models come with two-way audio, which allows users to not only hear sounds from the camera's location but also speak through the camera, making it useful for security purposes or communicating with visitors 

          Local Storage with NVR

          • Ubiquiti security cameras typically use a Network Video Recorder (NVR) for local video storage 
          • The UniFi Protect Network Video Recorder (often referred to as the UniFi Protect Cloud Key Gen2 Plus) is commonly used for storing footage from multiple cameras, offering local storage without the need for cloud services 
          • The UniFi Protect NVR can be used to store and organize video footage from multiple cameras, with support for up to 50 cameras depending on the model 

          Easy Setup & Integration

          • The UniFi Protect System integrates seamlessly with other UniFi networking devices (like UniFi Security gateways, UniFi switches, and UniFI access points), providing a unified network and security solution
          • Cameras are easy to deploy, especially if you already have a UniFi ecosystem in place. The cameras can be managed and configured through the UniFi Protect app or a UniFi Controller 

          Flexible Mounting Options 

          • Ubiquiti cameras come with a variety of mounting options to fit different installations
          • You can mount them on walls, ceilings, or poles, providing flexibility depending on your needs 

          Summary 

          • Compared to many other enterprise or consumer-grade camera systems, Ubiquiti offers highly competitive pricing without sacrificing performance, quality, or features 
          • Ubiquiti's camera system is scalable, meaning you can easily expand your surveillance setup by adding more cameras as your needs grow. This is ideal for both small homes and large businesses or campuses
          • With the UniFi Protect Cloud, users can access their camera feeds remotely, manage settings, and review footage from anywhere with Internet access. This provides flexibility in how you manage and store footage 
          • Ubiquiti's cameras come with many advanced features, typically found in more expensive camera systems, including high-definition video, motion detection, night vision, two-way audio, and cloud management
          • For users who already have a UniFi networking setup (such as UniFi switches and routers), adding Ubiquiti cameras to your system makes it easy to manage everything from a single interface, using the UniFi Protect app