How to access Ubiquiti Switch and AP without controller?

[rdb001]

How does one access a Ubiquiti switch and Access Point without the controller software? I inherited a network that does not have the controller for the switch and AP. When attempting to login via their IP addresses nothing happens. Are there any work arounds for this? Thanks!

[nickrezac2 (Zyymos)]

I am assuming both are of the “Unifi” line? In that case you will have to download the Unifi software from Ubiquiti’s website and install it on a PC (its free). That will be your controller to be able to configure those devices. Hopefully you know all the settings because you will probably have to factory reset both devices to get them to adopt. Once adopted you will be able to set them back up from scratch.

[molan]

You don’t.

If you don’t have the controller any more you will need to setup a new controller. Then factory reset all equipment and start over.

[molan]

The only exception is if you can find a backup file from the old controller… If you can find the backup the you can create a new controller and restore the backup from the existing controller to the new controller to regain management control

Unifi backup files end in *.unf

[rdb001]

I was afraid of that. Hopefully, I can locate a backup somewhere. Thanks guys!

[chadmockensturm4537 (Sneakycyber)]

If you load the backup, you are going to need the login information.

[chadmockensturm4537 (Sneakycyber)]

Couldn’t edit my post.

If you know the login you can SSH into the devices and manage them. However command line on Ubiquiti is not easy unless you know vyos.

[tulioarends]

Unifi equipment does not have a web interface. They do have SSH command line access , but it has to be configured from the controller.

If the devices have never been adopted, some of them (mostly the APs if I remember right) can be accessed with a default username & password of “ubnt”. This is used to facilitate Layer 3 adoption when you cant use the preferred DHCP/DNS methods.

[tulioarends]

@rdb001 ​, just so you know the controller does not have to be on premises:

• Some VARs and MSPs will adopt client devices into their in-house controllers.
• Ubiquiti now offers a Cloud Controller subscription service.
• There are 3rd party offerings like Hostifi and Hubox .

Just because you cant find a CloudKey or the machine where the Unifi software is installed does not mean you are out of options. I would try to trace the traffic from those devices and see who they are trying to talk to.

[da-schmoo]

I suspect you have the controller software installed somewhere - maybe on the previous person’s PC? It only needs to be running when making configuration changes unless you use certain features like the captive guest portal.

If you can’t find it and can SSH into the devices, you can adopt them to a new controller install. (default SSH credentials might still be set?)

[molan]

@da-schmoo

I suspect you have the controller software installed somewhere - maybe on the previous person’s PC? It only needs to be running when making configuration changes unless you use certain features like the captive guest portal.

If you can’t find it and can SSH into the devices, you can adopt them to a new controller install. (default SSH credentials might still be set?)

SSH Credentials are overwritten and set by the controller the second they are adopted…

The note about a possible cloud hosted or offsite controller is valid… Check if the is an A record for Unifi setup in your internal DNS. this would tell you where the Unifi devices are looking for the controller (existing or not)

[CharlesHTN]

If the controller was setup on a Windows box, note that it annoyingly installs under the account of the user who installed it. You might check on a couple machines for the folder “C:\Users\predecessorsaccount\Ubiquiti UniFi”. If you find it on a machine, and can log in with your predecessors account, you might get lucky and find that they saved the password in the browser.