UniFi by Ubiquiti is an integrated networking, surveillance, VoIP and access control device ecosystem geared towards enterprise users.
The UniFi Network devices are managed by the UniFi Network Controller and include:
- UniFi Dream Machine line offers all-in-one network management devices
- UniFi Switching is a diverse line of switches
- UniFi Access Points provide high-performance Wi-Fi
- UniFi Security Gateways provide security features for your network
- UniFi Cloud Keys are devices that host the UniFi Network Controller
UniFi Protect includes a diverse line of cameras and surveillance software.
UniFi Access is a complete door access control system.
- UniFi vs Operator
- Common UniFi Topologies
- Feature Matrix
- UniFi Network Controller
- UniFi Dream Machines
- UniFi Access Points
- UniFi Switches
- UniFi Security Gateways
- UniFi Cloud Keys
- UniFi Protect
- UniFi Access
UniFi vs Operator
Besides UniFi, Ubiquiti offers the Operator (ISP) product lines, such as airFiber, airMAX, EdgeMAX and UFiber.
Those are geared towards more advanced users and managed by the UNMS software suite.
The airMAX and airFiber devices provide solutions for long and short range links to create Ethernet bridges connecting multiple buildings or locations.
EdgeMAX is a routing and switching line similar to UniFi Network, but aimed at more IT-oriented administrators and relying more heavily on command line configurations.
UFiber GPON is our fiber line, including terminals and optical network units.
Common UniFi Network Topologies
You can mix UniFi and third party networking devices, but a full UniFi topology managed by the UniFi Network Controller gets you centralized network management with all of the advanced UniFi features.
A common topology including a UniFi Security Gateway, Switch, Access Point and Cloud Key will look like this:
Using the integrated UniFi Dream Machine, a similar topology (covering gateway, switch and access point) would look something like this diagram:
A UniFi Dream Machine Pro system, with both UniFi Network and UniFi Protect controllers, might look like this if you want to power your cameras and access points via PoE:
- WiFi
- Traffic & Client Statistics
- Client Rate Limiting
- MAC Filtering
- RADIUS MAC Authentication
- Captive Portal (the UniFi Network Controller must be running)
- Guest Access Control
- VLAN
- RADIUS Assigned VLAN (802.1X)
- airTime (only UAP-SHD / UAP-XG / UWB-XG)
- SNMP v1/2c/3
- Multicast-Enhancement
- 802.3ad LAG (supported only by UAPs with two ethernet ports, see device Quick Start Guide for hardware specs)
- 802.1x Fallback VLAN (Guest VLAN) – Only UAP-IW-HD
- QoS
UniFi Switches
- Traffic & Client Statistics
- MAC Filtering (per port MAC Filter – Whitelisting)
- RADIUS MAC Authentication
- VLAN
- RADIUS Assigned VLAN (802.1X)
- SNMP v1/2c/3
- IGMP Snooping
- DHCP Snooping / Guarding
- 802.3ad LAG
- Port Egress Rate Limiting
- LLDP-MED
- Storm Control
- 802.1x MAC-Auth Bypass
- 802.1x Fallback VLAN (Guest VLAN)
- Port Isolation
UniFi Data Center Switches
USG
- Traffic & Client Statistics
- Captive Portal (the UniFi Network Controller must be running)
- Guest Access Control
- VLAN
- Intrusion Detection and Prevention System
- SNMP v1/2c/3
- Smart Queues QoS
- Deep Packet Inspection
- DHCP Server
- PPPoE / DHCP / Static IP on WAN.
- IPv6 Router Capabilities
- DNS Forwarding
- Dynamic DNS
- GeoIP Filtering
- Internet Speed Test
- Internet Latency Monitoring
- mDNS Reflection
- Port Forwarding
- uPNP
- L2TP VPN Server
- PPTP VPN Server (supported, but since it is a deprecated protocol is not supported in newer products (such as the UDM line)
- PPTP Client VPN
- Auto IPsec Site-to-Site VPN between UniFi Sites
- Site-to-Site VPN (Manual IPsec and OpenVPN)
- RADIUS Server
- Firewall
UXG-Pro (Coming soon)
- Traffic & Client Statistics
- Captive Portal (the UniFi Network Controller must be running)
- Guest Access Control
- VLAN
- Intrusion Detection and Prevention System
- Smart Queues QoS
- Deep Packet Inspection
- Device Fingerprinting
- DHCP Server
- PPPoE / DHCP / Static IP on WAN.
- IPv6 Router Capabilities
- DNS Forwarding
- DNS Filters
- Dynamic DNS
- Endpoint Scanner
- GeoIP Filtering
- Internal Honeypot
- Internet Speed Test
- Internet Latency Monitoring
- mDNS Reflection
- Port Forwarding
- uPNP
- L2TP VPN Server
- Site-to-Site VPN (Manual IPsec and OpenVPN)
- RADIUS Server
- Firewall
- Cloud Key Gen1 and Gen2 (UC-CK and UCK-G2): Host the UniFi Network Controller, eliminating the need of a dedicated server or computer for this.
- Cloud Key Gen2 Plus (UCK-G2-PLUS): Hosts both the UniFi Network Controller and UniFi Protect Controller, eliminating the need of a dedicated server, NVR, or computer.
UniFi Dream Machine
- Hosts the UniFi Network Controller, eliminating the need for a dedicated server or computer.
- WiFi
- Client Rate Limiting
- MAC Filtering
- RADIUS MAC Authentication (Wi-Fi only)
- Traffic & Client Statistics
- Captive Portal (the UniFi Network Controller must be running)
- Guest Access Control
- VLAN
- Intrusion Detection and Prevention System
- Smart Queues QoS
- Deep Packet Inspection
- Device Fingerprinting
- DHCP server
- PPPoE / DHCP / Static IP on WAN
- IPv6 Router Capabilities
- DNS Forwarding
- DNS Filters
- Dynamic DNS
- Endpoint Scanner
- GeoIP Scanner
- Internal Honeypot
- Internet Speed Test
- Internet Latency Monitoring
- mDNS Reflection
- Port Forwarding
- uPNP
- L2TP VPN
- Site-to-site VPN (Manual IPsec and OpenVPN)
- RADIUS Server
- Firewall
UniFi Dream Machine Pro
- Hosts the UniFi Network Controller and the UniFi Protect Controller, eliminating the need for a dedicated server or computer.
- Traffic & Client Statistics
- Captive Portal (the UniFi Network Controller must be running)
- Guest Access Control
- VLAN
- Intrusion Detection and Prevention System
- Smart Queues QoS
- Deep Packet Inspection
- Device Fingerprinting
- DHCP server
- PPPoE / DHCP / Static IP on WAN
- IPv6 Router Capabilities
- DNS Forwarding
- DNS Filters
- Dynamic DNS
- Endpoint Scanner
- GeoIP Scanner
- Internal Honeypot
- Internet Speed Test
- Internet Latency Monitoring
- mDNS Reflection
- Port Forwarding
- uPNP
- L2TP VPN
- Site-to-Site VPN (Manual IPsec and OpenVPN)
- RADIUS Server
- Firewall
UniFi Network Controller
The UniFi Network Controller is a free software suite that allows you to set up, configure, manage and analyze your UniFi network in a centralized manner.
The controller can be hosted on:
- a UniFi hosting device such as a UniFi Dream Machine or UniFi Cloud Key
- a local or remote computer or server running Linux, macOS or Microsoft Windows
You can access the controller remotely via UniFi Cloud and manage your network on the go using the UniFi Network mobile app.
For more information about setting up the UniFi Network Controller, see UniFi – How to Set Up a UniFi Network Controller.
UniFi Dream Machines
The UniFi Dream Machine is an all-in-one enterprise-grade router and security gateway that includes the UniFI Network Controller.
There are two Dream Machine models: the UDM and the UDM-Pro.
The UDM provides an integrated Wi-Fi access point, while the UDM-Pro can host the UniFi Protect controller and manage your UniFi surveillance network.
For a more detailed overview of the Dream Machine device line, see Ubiquiti website.
UniFi Access Points
The UniFi AP family is a line of high performance wireless access points designed for both regular and high-density environments.
In addition to the basic functionality, UniFi APs offer features like guest portals, access control, multi-hop and others.
When picking the AP model, keep in mind that different APs have different radio rates, number of ports and concurrent clients and other differences.
You can also conduct a wireless site survey to get a true idea of the different areas of signal strength in the building.
For more information about the UniFi AP features, see:
- model overview and comparison on the Ubiquiti website
- UniFi – Access Point Comparison Charts Help Center article
- device datasheets and specification on Ubiquiti Downloads
UniFi Switches
UniFi Switching is a diverse line of switches for fully managed high-performance switching.
Switching products offer PoE and SFP support, indoor and outdoor options as well as L2 traffic and access control and L3 routing and DHCP.
For more information about UniFi switches, see:
- model overview and comparison on the Ubiquiti website
- UniFi – Access Point Comparison Charts Help Center article
- device datasheets and specification on Ubiquiti Downloads