Ubiquiti Unifi APs - Do You Need a Controller?
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@flaxking said in Ubiquiti Unifi APs - Do You Need a Controller?:
@wrx7m said in Ubiquiti Unifi APs - Do You Need a Controller?:
@flaxking said in Ubiquiti Unifi APs - Do You Need a Controller?:
@wrx7m said in Ubiquiti Unifi APs - Do You Need a Controller?:
@jaredbusch said in Ubiquiti Unifi APs - Do You Need a Controller?:
@wrx7m said in Ubiquiti Unifi APs - Do You Need a Controller?:
@jaredbusch said in Ubiquiti Unifi APs - Do You Need a Controller?:
But a cloud key.
I hate them, but a home user it is not a bad solution.
Out of curiosity, what is it about them that you hate?
They can barely run the controller and have limited capacity. Just really useless IMO.
Thanks for the insight.
Do you ever use the ios/android app?
I use the app for my outdoor AP, it's pretty simple, can't imagine needing more than that for home use.
Can you go from out-of-the-box to finished config with just the app?
Yep. Connect to it, update the firmware, setup wireless network. I didn't do anything fancy in my config so I don't know what's missing.
Awesome! That should work well enough. Thanks for the info.
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I tried a cloud key for non-home use and it was miserable. I had constant issues with it. Running the controller now in a VM under Hyper-V and have had zero problems. Very fast and easy. I do not recommend the cloud key. They are too under-powered IMO. Why not just install the controller on one of their local machines?
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@brandon220 said in Ubiquiti Unifi APs - Do You Need a Controller?:
I tried a cloud key for non-home use and it was miserable. I had constant issues with it. Running the controller now in a VM under Hyper-V and have had zero problems. Very fast and easy. I do not recommend the cloud key. They are too under-powered IMO. Why not just install the controller on one of their local machines?
Because that is even worse.
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I bet if you ask around you can find someone with an old Core 2 Duo machine lying around somewhere and they will give it to you. Take it, install Debain on it, and then install the controller. Configure the APs. You can then shut down the controller and store the computer away until you need to do something, like add an AP or update the firmware.
Edit: I have a store near me called EPC, and they sell recycle older PCs. I think you can pick up something from them for $25 bucks. You might look for a similar store near you if nothing else.
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@penguinwrangler said in Ubiquiti Unifi APs - Do You Need a Controller?:
I bet if you ask around you can find someone with an old Core 2 Duo machine lying around somewhere and they will give it to you. Take it, install Debain on it, and then install the controller. Configure the APs. You can then shut down the controller and store the computer away until you need to do something, like add an AP or update the firmware.
Never do this. This means no updates and unpatched devices.
@penguinwrangler said in Ubiquiti Unifi APs - Do You Need a Controller?:
Edit: I have a store near me called EPC, and they sell recycle older PCs. I think you can pick up something from them for $25 bucks. You might look for a similar store near you if nothing else.
Crooks IMO.
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Who wants to have to bring out a physical PC every single time they want to do such basic things as add a new AP or push updates? What a ballache just to keep on top of the firmware updates.
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Can't you just setup the APs on the phone app? It looks like there is an option to do so, I just can't do it on mine since my APs are managed by a controller already.
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@bnrstnr said in Ubiquiti Unifi APs - Do You Need a Controller?:
Can't you just setup the APs on the phone app? It looks like there is an option to do so, I just can't do it on mine since my APs are managed by a controller already.
You can.
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I tried the android app on my existing home network. It only detected my ERX and not my AC AP lite. I wonder if it is because I already have the AP setup via a controller.
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the controller runs quite well on a raspberry pi. ideal for small networks.
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@bnrstnr said in Ubiquiti Unifi APs - Do You Need a Controller?:
Well, if I could read on the app, I would have answered my own question. LOL
Thanks
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@jackcpickup said in Ubiquiti Unifi APs - Do You Need a Controller?:
Who wants to have to bring out a physical PC every single time they want to do such basic things as add a new AP or push updates? What a ballache just to keep on top of the firmware updates.
Did I say it was ideal, no.
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@jaredbusch said in Ubiquiti Unifi APs - Do You Need a Controller?:
@penguinwrangler said in Ubiquiti Unifi APs - Do You Need a Controller?:
I bet if you ask around you can find someone with an old Core 2 Duo machine lying around somewhere and they will give it to you. Take it, install Debain on it, and then install the controller. Configure the APs. You can then shut down the controller and store the computer away until you need to do something, like add an AP or update the firmware.
Never do this. This means no updates and unpatched devices.
@penguinwrangler said in Ubiquiti Unifi APs - Do You Need a Controller?:
Edit: I have a store near me called EPC, and they sell recycle older PCs. I think you can pick up something from them for $25 bucks. You might look for a similar store near you if nothing else.
Crooks IMO.
I did indicate that you would turn it on and update the firmware when an update came out.
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Can you run two APs in mesh with just the mobile app setup? I.E. one connected via Ethernet and the other just powered on and uplinked to the other AP?
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@wrx7m said in Ubiquiti Unifi APs - Do You Need a Controller?:
I tried the android app on my existing home network. It only detected my ERX and not my AC AP lite. I wonder if it is because I already have the AP setup via a controller.
Yes, that is why. The application tells you that. ( I see someone point that out
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@wrx7m said in Ubiquiti Unifi APs - Do You Need a Controller?:
Can you run two APs in mesh with just the mobile app setup? I.E. one connected via Ethernet and the other just powered on and uplinked to the other AP?
Not sure, I have only tried through the controller which does work.
