[UniFi] Network Controller ver. 6 | Basic Setup

This is an update version to original article that was written during Network Controller version 5.13.30.

Unlike consumer mesh network system, UniFi system provides many options to user.  Great power comes great responsibility. If you consult online forum experts, you will receive many great advice. You may be excited to see so many cool sounding features within UniFi controller and start turning each on.

My advise is do not change these blindly because they may actually bite you. As a recent UniFi system convert, I had been through this exact beginner’s mistake. If one is not careful or do not realize what they have done wrong, this may falsely give a sense of UniFi is unstable, slow system. After all, it may be you who made the system such.

This article is specifically written to tell how straight forward or basic setup can give you satisfying performance to most of general consumer users. Let’s take a look at what you should be doing step by step. I will warn you, there really isn’t much unlike advise you may hear online. Again, this is a minimum setup change guide for new UniFi user and certainly not meant for those who have advanced network knowledge and aiming for the very best optimal setup.

The general motto of my approach is “keep it simple” and “do no harm.” First, let’s get a stable good performance system running. If interested, further optimization can be carried out after. Unstable system is simply not useful or fun for anyone.

List of topics covered in this article:

• Classic vs. New Setting Interface
• WLAN/SSID Setting
• Channel Width
• Channel Selection
• Smart Queue Management
• Automatic Firmware Update
• Auto Backup

System Setup

As of the time of this writing, here are system I have, which has vastly expanded since the original set up I had.

• UniFi Dream Machine Pro (Firmware 1.8.5.2964)
• UniFi Network Controller Version 6.0.43
• USW Aggregation (5.43.18.12487)
• USW-Pro 24 Gen 2 (5.43.18.12487)
• USW-Flex Mini x 3 (1.7.5.636)
• Access Points
  • UAP-IW-HD x 1 (5.43.19.12493)
  • UAP-HD x 1 (4.3.24.11355)
  • UAP-SHD x 2 (4.3.24.11355)
  • UAP-nanoHD x 1 (5.43.19.12493)

The initial setup

Recommend following initial setup instruction by Ubiquiti.

• Classic vs. New Setting Interface
• UniFi – Dream Machine Getting Started

ISP Modem Setting

Think as modem a device translates your home network language into what’s spoken across the world i.e. internet. UDM(Pro) do not have modem function. So you still need it, but if you have had existing running home network, you have either had modem/router combined unit, most likely from your internet service provider (ISP) or own modem unit separate from router unit.

UDM (Pro) will replace the router part. This means you will need to do a setting change on modem. This step differ based on which ISP you have.

Cable Modem

Before plugging in a new UDM device ensure that the modem has been powered off, powered back on, and is fully initialized. In most scenarios, the default internet settings on the UDM will be enough for these types of ISPs. 

If you have leased a modem and/or router from your ISP, a bridge mode configuration is best practice. If it is desired to set the leased device to bridge mode, please consult with your ISP support. 

Verizon/Frontier FiOS

Verizon/Frontier FiOS is known to lock internet access to the first device that is connected. It is generally best to call their support and ask them to release the MAC address that is bound to your account

https://help.ui.com/hc/en-us/articles/360047745313-UniFi-Dream-Machine-Getting-Started

Adopt Access Points

Plug Access Point (AP) into one of UDM (Pro) port or alternatively the port that’s connected to UDM (Pro) via switch. Log into controller and go to device section. For detail instruction, please follow here.

Classic vs. New Setting Interface

New Settings interface, still labeled as beta, is inline with “keep it simple” approach. So the rest of article uses this interface.

If your interface is in classic mode, you can change it to New settings interface by going to “Setting” and simply click on “Try New Settings”.

WLAN/SSID Setting

Create Basic Wi-Fi Network

For creating new/first WiFi network (WLAN/SSID), I’d use basic Wi-Fi Network setting. You can change anything afterward even the advanced features, but general motto here again is keep it simple, do no harm.

Setting > WiFi > Add New WiFi Network

Name: Specify the name of your WiFi network. This is what you will see as SSID.

Password: Password used to connect to the SSID.

Network: This is where you can specify which type of LAN/VLAN you would use for this WiFi Network. At first, you should only have LAN i.e. default network.

Recommendation: Create new Wi-Fi network using Basic Wi-Fi Network Setting.

Separate SSID vs. Smart SSID

Common question encountered here is whether to create separate SSID for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Both have their own pros and cons and one can find reason for each. I personally use single SSID (default setting) but this is totally up to one’s choice.

If you would like to make dedicated WiFi network/SSID for each bands, expand advanced setting and create SSID for each band.

At this point, I would not create any more than one or two SSID. This is because SSID has its own overhead and too many can result in theoretical slow down the system (ref). Once you have completed the setup following this entire guide to the end, you can test your speed and confirm you get peak performance. Then if you’d like to add more SSIDs, you can do so and if speed/performance declines, you know what is causing it.

WPA Enterprise

In the current version 6 of UniFi network controller, WiFi authentication can only be configured by going to original/classic controller interface. This is set to WPA Personal by default. For initial setup, I’d suggest to just keep this setting.

One key thing about this step is the default setting has almost all advanced features off including:

• Fast roaming
• Band steering (Optimize for High Performance Devices)
• Data Rate Control

These features sound great but may potentially create a problem such as some client not connecting at all.

Channel Width

Devices > Access point > Config > Radio

If you are looking for the highest throughput from a single client device, change 5GHz networks channel width to VHT80.

This is one parameter most people do not realize default setting of 40 MHz is halve of consumer mesh network setting theirs. This discrepancy directly translates into the half the throughput.

In enterprise setup, there are many APs and even 5 GHz channel may overlap with other AP’s channel if VHT80 is used. So in order avoid the overlap, VHT40 may be preferred; hence, VHT40 is the default setting on UniFi APs. In most of the home network, we do not have any issue using VHT80. In fact, most consumer stand alone router units as well as mesh network systems are using VHT80.

If using a small number of APs, switch 5GHz channel width on APs to 80 MHz for greater peak throughput. In larger environments, note that 40 or 20 MHz channel width is recommended for performance but can limit peak throughput.

https://help.ui.com/hc/en-us/articles/360012947634-UniFi-Troubleshooting-Slow-Wi-Fi-Speeds-

Recommendation: Change 5 GHz band channel width to VHT80 from VHT40 for twice the throughput.

Channel Selection

Wi-Fi signal can interfere each other. The interference can result in performance degradation; therefore, selection of proper channel and transmission power is considered one of the most important setting. Configuring these are called radio resource management (RRM).

RRM is a sophisticated, complex task especially given Wi-Fi traffic is a dynamic. Venders often hide the detail how their detail logic of RRM works as it pertains to proprietary, intellectual property. In UniFi, this is now called “UniFi AI.”

WiFi AI

Settings > System Settings > UniFi AI > Wi-Fi AI

Set WiFi AI “on”.

As of right now, Wi-Fi AI counterintuitively do not change transmission power (ref). Therefore, this tools only changes/select channel. You can try to manually perform RF scan and find the least congested channel for each AP and set such channel. However, based on the belief of “keep it simple”, I’d first suggest you to just try Wi-Fi AI by turning it on and scan now and let it choose. You can then turn it off.

My personal setup is having WiFi AI running daily at 3AM ever since I got UniFi system i.e. over 9 months.

Recommendation: Run Wi-Fi AI immediately after initial setup of all APs.

Smart Queue Management

Settings>Internet>WAN Networks>WAN>Common Settings>Enable Smart Queues

Conceptually, Smart Queue Management (SQM) is a technology that tries to prioritize type of data flowing through the network in a smart fashion so optimally share the given bandwidth within the network. SQM is not built for maximum throughput for the single device but rather tries to share bandwidth as much as possible. The exact implementation of this feature varies by manufacture. Since most of us are looking for the highest/peak throughput of a single device as in home setting we have essentially control over exactly which device is being used at a given instant, it is actually of our interest to have this feature turned off for the purpose of the highest throughput.

According to the UBNT,

As of UDM firmware 1.2.0 (and later) Smart Queues are default enabled for existing and new installs when the WAN speed is <=300Mbps. If you’re experiencing unexpected slowness then please double check the configured speeds or disable Smart Queues under Settings>Networks>WAN>Common Settings>Smart Queues in Classic Mode or Settings>Internet>WAN Networks>WAN>Common Settings>Enable Smart Queues in New Settings

https://community.ui.com/releases/UniFi-Dream-Machine-Firmware-1-8-0/deabc255-a081-49ba-8f51-131f3a13000a

Recommendation: Turn off Smart Queue

UDM Pro Automatic Firmware Updates

This setting is under controller device i.e. UDM Pro itself rather than on the Network controller.

From Network controller, you can click right upper corner icon (red circle) then click wheel icon (red arrow).

Under UDM Pro Setting (not network controller) > Advanced 

Automatic Firmware Updates: I have it daily at 3 AM.

Release Channel: Official.

Unlike some other manufactures, UniFi makes beta testing easier, which can be a pros and cons. For the stable system, I would make firmware updates only for official release stable version. If you do not want to have any unpredictable risk, you can disable automatic firmware update by clicking “daily” and select “disable”.

Recommendation: Turn on automatic firmware update with release channel “official”

Auto Backup

In case something goes wrong (which I had couple times up on upgrading system), it is nice to have system back up.

Classic View

For this, we need go under classic view.

This can be done by two ways.

When you go to Network Controller Setting, if you haven’t disabled you will see “Go to classic setting” on top. Clicking on it will take you to classic setting view.

Alternatively, you can go to Setting > System Setting > New Settings and disable it.

Autoback up

Settings > Backup

I have mine set weekly.

*The reason why I have only one backups is because recently I had to rebuild my entire system.

You never know what changes you make in the future results in losing your stable system. UniFi provides ability to create scheduled back of the system settings.

Because this back up system currently is only a local (UDM Pro backup), you need to download the backup file every once and awhile, which is what I failed to do myself.

Recommendation: Turn on auto backup

Test

That’s all for basic setting. If you have properly placed AP, proper model of AP and capable client, one should be able to get decent efficiency Wi-Fi throughput.

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Above is local Iperf speed test between iPhone 12 Pro placed directly under the each APs and server running on local network NAS. Given 2×2 MIMO link here is 866 Mbps, we expect 433-606 Mbps (50-70% efficiency) as theoretical max (ref). So above is pretty good number.

If you are having specific issues, this is where you can start asking help from expert community such as Official Ubiquiti community, reddit UniFi community or reddit Ubiquiti community.

To the next level

If all is working fine, you can stop here and call it done.

The key here is once you have solid working system, any change you make from this point on is at your own risk. Two tips are make one or two changes at a time and keep the record of what you have changed. This will allow reverting back to stable functioning system and tells you what has created an issue. Network is complex. You never know what piece of change result in what new issue. The hard part is that it may not be immediately obvious.

Recommendation: make one or two changes at a time and keep the record of what you have changed.

For example, I turned on 5G band steering because it sounds exactly what I wanted. It was functioning great until 3 days later when I tried to use my B&W Formation speakers, they were no longer connecting. Another example is I had turned on fast roaming, which sounded good as well. One point, I noticed my event WiFi Metrics anomalies start showing long association message multiple times a day. I started turn off one option at a time and found out fast roaming was the source of the problem.