Setting up Unifi Cloud Key Gen 2 Plus

[TMBS]

Hi

We currently have an old Unifi Cloud Key controller which keeps crashing so have bought the newer model as we need to add more APs too.

I've set up as per instructions but wanted to know if there are any other settings that need applying? We're a school running Windows Server 2019 and have a flat network (no VPNs), Chromebooks and 35 Unifi AC Pros.

We had issues with our old controller dropping the ACs, missed heartbeat which seemed to roll through all the APs, which we never resolved. Other forums mentioned DNS issues - does the controller need setting up in DNS? I've just reserved an IP in DHCP.

Just wanted to get it set up and running correctly, so any help/advice appreciated!

 

Thanks

 

[Michael]

I've setup loads of UCK-G2's, but not the UCK-G2-Plus's, but the procedure should be the same.

 

Plug the controller in to a PoE switch and navigate to it via IP and migrate settings accordingly. Optionally connect it to the cloud and manage remotely is very useful!

[Aprice]

Hi,

 

You can set a DNS record to point it to the cloud key, but if your APs are adopting already then this is unlikely to help resolve any issues.

 

Some of these problems may be down to your network, might be time to start looking at VLANs to segregate your traffic. We've had issues on noisy networks with Unifi dropping heartbeats and some other oddities. A management VLAN for the AP generally gets around a lot of this. You would of course need switches managed switches that support this.

 

Do you have a guest network broadcast from them as well? If so it is probably worth sorting VLANs out as you really want to keep that traffic away from the secure networks with your devices on.

 

 

Thanks,

 

Alex

[jthompson]

I don't know if this would necessarily explains the problems you've described, but the original Cloud Key was a 32-bit device, so would run into problems with larger deployments as the database would become too big (>2GB, iirc). In my experience that meant statistics were being dropped and not showing in the Controller, but it might explain general performance issues with the Controller, too. Newer generations are 64-bit I believe, so will cope much better with larger databases.

[Michael]

The other difference are that Gen 2's have a built in battery, whereas Gen 1 didn't, so would just switch off if power to the switch was lost.

[Davit2005]

The other difference are that Gen 2's have a built in battery, whereas Gen 1 didn't, so would just switch off if power to the switch was lost.

 

Yes the Gen2 plus will shutdown gracefully if the power is lost to the device i.e. PoE cable disconnected or PoE switch rebooted/power issue. It also has a display.

 

If you do go for cloud management (if you really have to) make sure to use MFA on the UI account. Personally I would use a VPN to get access remotely.

Edited October 1, 2021 by Davit2005

[TMBS]

Hi,

Some of these problems may be down to your network, might be time to start looking at VLANs to segregate your traffic. We've had issues on noisy networks with Unifi dropping heartbeats and some other oddities. A management VLAN for the AP generally gets around a lot of this. You would of course need switches managed switches that support this.

Do you have a guest network broadcast from them as well? If so it is probably worth sorting VLANs out as you really want to keep that traffic away from the secure networks with your devices on.

Alex

 

Hi Alex

 

I think you're right in saying that VLANs are the way forward, we were supposed to have them set up a couple of years ago but the company then did a runner... We don't have a guest network at least! As with all things it comes down to money, replacing the controller is the cheapest quick fix. We'll have to look at VLANs after that.

 

Thanks