How to install the Ubiquiti UniFi Controller on Debian 9.1
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If you use UniFi hardware, then you need a UniFi controller. I highly recommend that you set one up on a cloud provider using a Debian 9.1 base. Ubiquiti builds on Ubuntu, but screw Ubuntu.
We use Debian because Ubiquiti has a repository for it. You can do it yourself on Fedora/RHEL but you will have to manually update.
Get Debian 9.1 installed however you desire. I have a guide here for setting up a minimal install.
Log into your console and switch to root.
su -Install
dirmngrapt-get install dirmngr -yAdd the apt repo.
cat > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/100-ubnt.list << EOF deb http://www.ubnt.com/downloads/unifi/debian stable ubiquiti EOFAdd the Ubiquiti key (this is why
dirmngrwas needed)apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv 06E85760C0A52C50Update apt
apt-get updateInstall UniFi
apt-get install unifi -ySetup DNS while it is installing, I like to use the
unifiname as a subdomain.Exit from root and then end your SSH session.
exitNavigate to your URL on port 8080 or 8443
http://unifi.domain.com:8080 or https://unifi.domain.com:8443Follow the wizard.
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@jaredbusch What is your Backup Data Retention limit you place normally for the Unifi Controller?
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@dbeato said in How to install the Ubiquiti UniFi Controller on Debian 9.1:
@jaredbusch What is your Backup Data Retention limit you place normally for the Unifi Controller?
I set mine for just a few days as I don't need an entire weeks worth. My residential environment also isn't changing often so downloading a backup, and simply reducing the number on the controller doesn't effect me.
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@dbeato said in How to install the Ubiquiti UniFi Controller on Debian 9.1:
@jaredbusch What is your Backup Data Retention limit you place normally for the Unifi Controller?
That setting is just how much data to save when you manually run a backup by clicking the button right there. that has nothing to do with how much data is stored.
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If you configure the auto backup section, that is where you specify how much goes into backups.
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@jaredbusch you are correct, I confused them both.
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Was just getting ready to do this tonight as I bought a second USG today I am about to install today in my house. The other one is at a business.
Can you just spin Deb9 up on Vultr from the default machines? I am assuming a $5 VM?
For the multi-tenancy are there special steps or do you just setup separate "networks"
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@bigbear said in How to install the Ubiquiti UniFi Controller on Debian 9.1:
Was just getting ready to do this tonight as I bought a second USG today I am about to install today in my house. The other one is at a business.
Can you just spin Deb9 up on Vultr from the default machines? I am assuming a $5 VM?
For the multi-tenancy are there special steps or do you just setup separate "networks"
Yes, Debian 9 is an option on Vultr.
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@scottalanmiller right I just wasnt sure how that compare to @JaredBusch 's minimal install guide. I have several servers running Deb8 and was thinking about adding it to one of those...
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@bigbear said in How to install the Ubiquiti UniFi Controller on Debian 9.1:
@scottalanmiller right I just wasnt sure how that compare to @JaredBusch 's minimal install guide. I have several servers running Deb8 and was thinking about adding it to one of those...
Why run 8.X when 9.1 is current?
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@bigbear said in How to install the Ubiquiti UniFi Controller on Debian 9.1:
Was just getting ready to do this tonight as I bought a second USG today I am about to install today in my house. The other one is at a business.
Can you just spin Deb9 up on Vultr from the default machines? I am assuming a $5 VM?
For the multi-tenancy are there special steps or do you just setup separate "networks"
The Controller itself is designed around multiple separate networks. You add them as sites.
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@JaredBusch seeing that now. Just cant get the thing to adopt to cloud gateway. Maybe really old firmware?
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Trying to update the thing with sudo so and then upgrade - firmwarelink and it says upgrade is an invalid command?
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@bigbear said in How to install the Ubiquiti UniFi Controller on Debian 9.1:
Trying to update the thing with sudo so and then upgrade - firmwarelink and it says upgrade is an invalid command?
You have a USG? It had to be adopted to a controller already. Or is this a new USG? One of the things I hate about the USG is initial adoption sucks balls.
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@jaredbusch said in How to install the Ubiquiti UniFi Controller on Debian 9.1:
@bigbear said in How to install the Ubiquiti UniFi Controller on Debian 9.1:
Trying to update the thing with sudo so and then upgrade - firmwarelink and it says upgrade is an invalid command?
You have a USG? It had to be adopted to a controller already. Or is this a new USG? One of the things I hate about the USG is initial adoption sucks balls.
Got a new USG, the other site I setup I ended up giving up and deploying on a local machine. Setup a cloud Unifi controller, updated the new USG firmware, tried to set inform URL - just not showing up on the remote cloud controller at all. Not showing up in the apps either (chrome and ios app)
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@bigbear said in How to install the Ubiquiti UniFi Controller on Debian 9.1:
@jaredbusch said in How to install the Ubiquiti UniFi Controller on Debian 9.1:
@bigbear said in How to install the Ubiquiti UniFi Controller on Debian 9.1:
Trying to update the thing with sudo so and then upgrade - firmwarelink and it says upgrade is an invalid command?
You have a USG? It had to be adopted to a controller already. Or is this a new USG? One of the things I hate about the USG is initial adoption sucks balls.
Got a new USG, the other site I setup I ended up giving up and deploying on a local machine. Setup a cloud Unifi controller, updated the new USG firmware, tried to set inform URL - just not showing up on the remote cloud controller at all. Not showing up in the apps either (chrome and ios app)
Weird, you did all the right things. Never had a problem with set-inform. Just feel it is a pain in the ass.
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@jaredbusch said in How to install the Ubiquiti UniFi Controller on Debian 9.1:
@bigbear said in How to install the Ubiquiti UniFi Controller on Debian 9.1:
@jaredbusch said in How to install the Ubiquiti UniFi Controller on Debian 9.1:
@bigbear said in How to install the Ubiquiti UniFi Controller on Debian 9.1:
Trying to update the thing with sudo so and then upgrade - firmwarelink and it says upgrade is an invalid command?
You have a USG? It had to be adopted to a controller already. Or is this a new USG? One of the things I hate about the USG is initial adoption sucks balls.
Got a new USG, the other site I setup I ended up giving up and deploying on a local machine. Setup a cloud Unifi controller, updated the new USG firmware, tried to set inform URL - just not showing up on the remote cloud controller at all. Not showing up in the apps either (chrome and ios app)
Weird, you did all the right things. Never had a problem with set-inform. Just feel it is a pain in the ass.
Ironically what just worked, in an instant was setting the inform-url for SSH. Showed up instantly...
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well, At least its "adopting".. fingers crossed
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In SSH, I went back and did a set-inform again (as the first time it gave this feedback below) then in about 10 seconds it started provisioning...
So maybe that is the best way to hard set it?
Adoption request sent to 'http://x.x.x.x:8080/inform'.
- please adopt it on the controller
- issue the set-inform command again
- <inform_url> will be saved after device is successfully managed
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@bigbear said in How to install the Ubiquiti UniFi Controller on Debian 9.1:
In SSH, I went back and did a set-inform again (as the first time it gave this feedback below) then in about 10 seconds it started provisioning...
So maybe that is the best way to hard set it?
Adoption request sent to 'http://x.x.x.x:8080/inform'.
- please adopt it on the controller
- issue the set-inform command again
- <inform_url> will be saved after device is successfully managed
This is always how I do it with any UniFi device that needs manually pointed to the controller.
