Question UniFi: What if connection to controller is lost?

[oguruma]

I'm interested in learning about different hardware options out there, specifically WiFi hardware. Ubiquiti seems to be popular. As I understand it, UniFi APs require a controller, either installed on their Cloudkey, a router that has it integrated, or installed on a server somewhere.

My questions are:

1. What happens if the connection to that controller fails? Do the APs lose their entire configuration and stop working? Or do they just keep using their existing configuration?
2. Assuming a user uses a UniFi controller "in the cloud," what data actually leaves their network? Is it network stats?

 

[kanewolf]

I'm interested in learning about different hardware options out there, specifically WiFi hardware. Ubiquiti seems to be popular. As I understand it, UniFi APs require a controller, either installed on their Cloudkey, a router that has it integrated, or installed on a server somewhere.

My questions are:

1. What happens if the connection to that controller fails? Do the APs lose their entire configuration and stop working? Or do they just keep using their existing configuration?
2. Assuming a user uses a UniFi controller "in the cloud," what data actually leaves their network? Is it network stats?

A 24/7 controller isn't required. It is recommended because it collects data about your network. You use a controller to make configuration changes. I started just running the controller on a laptop ONLY when I wanted to change something or update firmware.
Currently I run the controller software on a PI4B with PiHole for DNS.

The controller "going away" doesn't impact the UniFI hardware that has a configuration.

 

[oguruma]

A 24/7 controller isn't required. It is recommended because it collects data about your network. You use a controller to make configuration changes. I started just running the controller on a laptop ONLY when I wanted to change something or update firmware.
Currently I run the controller software on a PI4B with PiHole for DNS.

The controller "going away" doesn't impact the UniFI hardware that has a configuration.

Is it possible to configure them via web GUI and skip the controller altogether?

 

[kanewolf]

Is it possible to configure them via web GUI and skip the controller altogether?

No. You can use an android or IOS app. The hardware does not have a web GUI. You have to use some form of UniFI software as the gateway for configuration. If you use the android or IOS app the settings available are not as complete as using the full controller software.

 

[gggplaya]

Is it possible to configure them via web GUI and skip the controller altogether?

There is no web UI for the devices. You install the Unifi Software on your computer, make all the changes to your network, then hit deploy. The changes will upload to the access points with the proper ssid's and passwords, bands etc.... That's how commercial access points operate normally. It's managed by a central software, which then deploys to the hardware.

To answer your first question, you do not need to run the unifi software all the time. Only when you need to make changes or update firmware.

My friend's wife wanted to get rid of the clutter in their entertainment area. So that meant hanging the tv on the wall and mounting the playstation behind the tv. But they didn't know what to do with the router. So I moved the router to the basement and had them buy two Unifi Access points which mounted on the wall. I configured them with my laptop, deployed the configuration then walked away with my laptop. They don't have any kind of unifi server or cloud software running. The access points have been working reliably since the beginning of the pandemic. Their 4 kids were all able to school from home for a while.