5 ms·

* A 3B+ running the UniFi controller for my home network. What's the unifi controller?

by boromi 7y ago

mburns 7y ago
Essentially, the thing that runs a local web UI to configure/manage other UniFi devices.
jki275 7y ago
Just the software that runs Ubiquiti equipment. You can run it on anything, the "cloud key" device Ubiquiti has is probably the most popular, I just run it on a Windows server in my network. Some people run it on a rpi, though I've never understood why.
- archon810 7y ago
  Probably because it's cheaper than the Cloud Key.
  - jki275 7y ago
    It is, but in my experience the reliability factor is pretty ugly for the rpis. I'd rather either pay directly for the device designed for it, or just run the software on a machine already on the network. Obviously that doesn't work for everyone.
    - kawfey 7y ago
      In my experience, anything other than the Cloud Key is quite unreliable. I have been running it on my Win10 desktop without many issues besides the annoyingly restarting after updating.
      - jki275 7y ago
        I run it on Server 2016, it's bulletproof there.
      - chrisdhal 7y ago
        I run it as a Docker container on my unRaid server and it's been super stable.
    - fpgaminer 7y ago
      RasPi reliability is tricky, for sure. The recipe that's working for me now is brand name power supplies (RasPi foundations, CanaKit, or Adafruit) and brand name SD cards. Don't trust SD cards that come in RasPi bundles or kits, even from Adafruit; I've had those fail horribly. So far all my Samsung cards are working great. I've also been using A1 grade SanDisks, no issues so far (only been a few months) as well as using cheap SSDs for one RasPi. I highly doubt the SSD is going to run into any issues, and it works seamlessly on the new Pis with a nice boost in performance. The RasPi itself is so cheap I think a lot of people cheap out on the power supply and such, which ends up giving them lots of problems. Anyway, given the poor reviews I've seen on the Cloud Key regarding hardware failures, especially on the newer versions, I just went with a Pi. But yeah, if someone has a machine on their network already, that's a great option too. I just wish Ubiquiti would release an official Docker image. EDIT: I'm not necessarily arguing that people use RasPis for UniFi controllers, or that you personally should. I just thought your comment was a good opportunity to discuss RasPi reliability, because I know a lot of people have trouble with that.
      - HeWhoLurksLate 7y ago
        For power supplies, my go-to is Apple iPad chargers (the older ones) because they're built to last. Long-term, my plan is to mod some flavor of computer PSU and get properly regulated 5V out of it. Also, I'm one of those people who runs a UniFi controller on a Pi. I used Docker, it's been totally fine for my uses.
        jki275 7y ago
        I’m using a drok buck converter off of a 12vdc battery to run a jetson nano. Solid so far.

* A 3B+ running the UniFi controller for my home network. What's the unifi controller?

by boromi 7y ago

* A 3B+ running the UniFi controller for my home network. What's the unifi controller?

mburns 7y ago

Essentially, the thing that runs a local web UI to configure/manage other UniFi devices.

jki275 7y ago

Just the software that runs Ubiquiti equipment. You can run it on anything, the "cloud key" device Ubiquiti has is probably the most popular, I just run it on a Windows server in my network. Some people run it on a rpi, though I've never understood why.

archon810 7y ago
Probably because it's cheaper than the Cloud Key.
- jki275 7y ago
  It is, but in my experience the reliability factor is pretty ugly for the rpis. I'd rather either pay directly for the device designed for it, or just run the software on a machine already on the network. Obviously that doesn't work for everyone.
  - kawfey 7y ago
    In my experience, anything other than the Cloud Key is quite unreliable. I have been running it on my Win10 desktop without many issues besides the annoyingly restarting after updating.
    - jki275 7y ago
      I run it on Server 2016, it's bulletproof there.
    - chrisdhal 7y ago
      I run it as a Docker container on my unRaid server and it's been super stable.
  - fpgaminer 7y ago
    RasPi reliability is tricky, for sure. The recipe that's working for me now is brand name power supplies (RasPi foundations, CanaKit, or Adafruit) and brand name SD cards. Don't trust SD cards that come in RasPi bundles or kits, even from Adafruit; I've had those fail horribly. So far all my Samsung cards are working great. I've also been using A1 grade SanDisks, no issues so far (only been a few months) as well as using cheap SSDs for one RasPi. I highly doubt the SSD is going to run into any issues, and it works seamlessly on the new Pis with a nice boost in performance. The RasPi itself is so cheap I think a lot of people cheap out on the power supply and such, which ends up giving them lots of problems. Anyway, given the poor reviews I've seen on the Cloud Key regarding hardware failures, especially on the newer versions, I just went with a Pi. But yeah, if someone has a machine on their network already, that's a great option too. I just wish Ubiquiti would release an official Docker image. EDIT: I'm not necessarily arguing that people use RasPis for UniFi controllers, or that you personally should. I just thought your comment was a good opportunity to discuss RasPi reliability, because I know a lot of people have trouble with that.
    - HeWhoLurksLate 7y ago
      For power supplies, my go-to is Apple iPad chargers (the older ones) because they're built to last. Long-term, my plan is to mod some flavor of computer PSU and get properly regulated 5V out of it. Also, I'm one of those people who runs a UniFi controller on a Pi. I used Docker, it's been totally fine for my uses.
      - jki275 7y ago
        I’m using a drok buck converter off of a 12vdc battery to run a jetson nano. Solid so far.