great video man. on my second cloudkey gen2. had nothing but trouble this go around with the rackmount unit. did a factory reset in recovery mode. Your video did keep me patient. I have had Unifi now for 6 years, running without a controller the past 4 years :)
@@maziarzarea2540 thank you! The rack threw me the first time I set one up. You’re not alone! Glad that it sounds to be working and you’re on the UCK as a controller. For the price, it’s the way to go!
@@TCD_TheComputerDad don’t you think one of the new express gateway ultra devices would be a better buy for $200? Or do they not have a cloud key built in?
@@maziarzarea2540 they may be - they run the UniFi OS and would serve as an edge device on the network. It doesn’t offer the protect feature as it lacks the NVR component with a drive. Unless you need an edge device for more granular control, I think the UCK is the better buy. I also have been reading bad QC reports on the routers. That said, I’ve also had a bunch of drive failure on the UCK. Easier to change the disk than RMA an entire unit.
mine worked great for years but once they started screwing with the software its been nothing but problems and the worst convoluted POS ive ever seen as far as software goes , my cams been down all summer because they wouldnt adopt no matter how many times i stood on the ladder with the paper clip to reset them , it's working now magically , made sure i shut off all updates because i just know they will screw it up again
Thanks for the tutorial. You said I need to factory reset my UniFi hardware and add them to UCK Gen2 Plus if I want to use them. Can I adapt UCK Gen2 Plus to my current network? Everything is ready there, so why can't I bring it to my existing network environment?
Yes, correct! The devices are typically managed by a software controller sans a UniFi OS device like a UCK or UDM. The UCK is the controller so you wouldn't adopt the UCK. You would adopt devices into the UCK. It is the controller and the only one you would want if using it on your network. To do this, make sure it has an IP on the same network as your existing gear then reset your other UniFi equipment. You would reset them on the physical device with the reset button or SSH in via a terminal emulator like PuTTY to adopt onto the UCK. The devices pop right up when ready for adoption. Rebuild your network, SSID, PSK to match what is there today and you're golden!
Hey Michael, Great video! I have a question, would this allow me to use a non-Unifi switch as host switch to manage a fleet of 15 unifi APs across a network with different switches?
Yes, I deploy these often with non-Ubiquiti switches in the production environment. If using VLANs, make sure to know how the switch handles 802.1q tagging. I trunk the port up to the AP and set the network/VLAN ID in the Network settings. The network is assigned to an SSID and off you go.
Superb tutorial, thank you. I’m switching my Cisco aps to Unifi U6 pluses. Is it better to have the cloud key gen device or better without? What would you recommend please? I will only have the unifi access points. To manage these, would it be better to have the cloud key rather than just managing on a laptop, I guess needing to run the software all the time?
I appreciate that feedback, thank you! I have one of the U6+ units and can highly recommend! Using a cloud key makes life easier in my opinion. You allow that device to manage the UniFi OS instead of it being tied to a laptop or PC. Further, it allows you to access the console remotely without having to leave a laptop or PC online all the time/set it up as a service so the software stays running. I recommend the Ubiquiti Cloud Key Gen2 Plus since its a $20 difference from the non-Plus model without the HDD. The Plus provides the ability to use the protect application with the built-in HDD. Ubiquiti has WiFi cameras that are reasonably priced and range from 1080p to 2k. They're very easy to setup and to adopt APs!
@@TCD_TheComputerDad Hi, one more question please. So Ive configured all the Unifi devices on my network using the online software, still waiting for the cloudkey to arrive before moving everything to there. When the cloudkey comes, how do I transfer everything please? Currently does the online platform do backups? If so where are they stored? I guess I need to reset all devices and rejoin them on the Cloudkey, I hope I can restore from backup as Ive renamed devices and they are connected to the respective APs which I want them to be connected to.
@@ShadowDragon1180 Here is a resource link for backups using the software controller and for when the UCK is in place: help.ui.com/hc/en-us/articles/360008976393-UniFi-Backups-and-Migration Honestly, I have done over 50 of these UCK deployments taking over for a central controller so we could reduce VPN traffic between sites. It is not hard to rebuild. Some recommendations: - Document your AP naming conventions and IP addresses (if static) - Document your AP Groups (if applicable) - Document your SSIDs and PSKs (or other auth method) If you recreate the SSID 1:1, everything will reconnect just fine. It's when you change up the SSID or PSK that you have to play the fun game of run around and reconfigure all the wireless IoT devices :)
Can you tell me how to connect a cloudkey+ to the unifi 48 poe swtich, I really dont want to use the udmse to fill a rack space i want to use that space for something else. I keep hearing about sfp+ backbone using the udmpro. I want to be able to use the cloudkey+ as the main controller for all the applications because its small, i will buy the nvr 4 bay to do all my video needs, but I also want to be able to use the 10gig ports on the switch I also want to bring in the aggregation 8 port 10 gig switch. is this even possible without the udm-pro?
Hey there! This all depends on how you want your infrastructure to look. For 10Gbps, you will need at least the Pro 48 PoE switch with the 10G SFP+ ports up to a gateway like the UDM Pro or Pro SE with a single 10Gbps LAN SFP+ port. The UDM Pro could be your network controller, gateway, and NVR for the Protect application all-in-one. If not using the UDM Pro or Pro SE and wanting to use the Cloud Key Gen 2 Plus, you are looking at a single 1Gbps NIC that requires PoE from the switch. I am not sure how running the UNVR would behave as that also runs the Protect Application from the UniFi OS. Again, it depends on what you want/need. If wanting a 10Gbps LAN side backbone, you would need the UDM Pro and the Pro 48 PoE. That would be my recommendation. If you need a ton more storage with RAID and other redundancies for video recording, then the UNVR would be an option to add as well. All three of those appliances support 10Gbps SFP+ interfaces. In my opinion, an aggregation switch would be overkill as you have only one 10Gbps uplink on the UDM Pro, one on the UNVR, and four on the Pro 48 PoE. The aggregation switch is Layer 2 only and typically used if you have multiple switches spread out over fiber runs for additional 10Gbps uplinks to an MDF from an IDF for example. Hope this helps!
@@TCD_TheComputerDad I definitely will, building this slowly but im getting there. I wanted to ask about the software GUI such as settings and firewall and vpn do they look the same like for the udm and all the rest of the UI hardware im going to add a uxg pro or the gateway max im a little concerned about how it will look. As for the gateway such as the uxg's only the hardware will be doing the job and the software will run the same way? im not expecting a new option for the uxg gateway to pop up on the same side for this device.
@@Photoshopuzr It is all the same UniFi OS. Keep in mind each console - UDM, UXG, UCK, etc - all have their own feature set that would be unique. From an aesthetic and user interface perspective, it’s all the same OS shell.
Can you please tell me where to order the correct replacement HD for this unit. I ordered the one on their site and it was too large. I just want to replace the original HD. Thank you in advance
You can order a 2.5” drive right from Amazon. Here is the link from Ubiquiti about incompatible drives to stay away from: help.ui.com/hc/en-us/articles/360037340954-UniFi-Storage-Requirements-and-Compatibility This is a drive we used to test the swap procedure to SSD with a spare UCK: a.co/d/d9cOWAO Keep in mind SSDs are reported to not be the best for NVR applications. Review and research before deciding, but any drive outside of the incompatible list should do you well. The premature drive failures appear to be related to heat. The units NIC gets hot and the unit bakes a little. I have seen heat sinks installed on the chassis that help reduce the ambient operating temp and may improve drive longevity. Let me know if you need any further help!
@@TCD_TheComputerDad excellent video... my ck plus is on it sway and yes i am thinking on replacing the drive with an ssd so it is a simple swap right?
@@alvarohiguero yes! It’s plug and play as long as the drive is supported. Check the link above for compatible drives. To be safe, take backups of your console and network configuration. If using Protect now, make sure to back up any videos you want. There’s no simple export import for recordings. Good luck!
Mike, is it possible to run the UCKG2 as a router in the following configuration for UniFi Network? UCK-G2+ for Network and Protect (Console) UniFi Switch Lite 16 PoE (PoE to UCK-G2+) ISP modem connected to USW-Lite16PoE
@@misterkush7 Hey there! Negative - the UCK is not an edge device like a router or firewall. It is simply a controller appliance running the UniFi suite of apps. You could have the ISP as the edge providing DHCP and other features, but the UCK remains the controller. The network would still point to a third-party gateway in this case being your ISP equipment. If you wanted to setup a full network, I’d recommend using the Ubiquiti Dream Machine. I have a few videos in my playlist about that platform and what it can do. It sits between your ISP and local network allowing more control than what typical ISP routers permit.
I plan on getting back into new content soon. I'll have a short video out on making VLANs! To use a Ubiquiti device as a gateway, you need the UDM Pro or Ubiquiti Gateway appliance that are both controllers and edge devices. If using just a UCK, you can define the VLANs in the network configuration, but your switching and edge appliance also need to know about those VLANs to tag traffic properly. More to come!
I do not yet, but I am finishing a series on upgrading the UCK to the UDM Pro. I'll spin off a video on drive replacement on the UCK - very simple process that I have done for work but not yet for my homelab! Stay tuned!
@@mary6090 It’s not a difficult process. If you have backups, it makes it even quicker. If not, it’s not terribly challenging to rebuild from scratch. The OS and important stuff isn’t on the spinning drive. It’s running on the 32 GB eMMC storage. You can swap the HDD and boot right up. Happy to answer any questions as you get it back online!
UniFi OS is a central management console that runs on the UCK and other UniFi devices like the Dream Machine Pro. The software allows administrators to control UniFi’s various applications like Network, Protect, Access, and others.
A cloud key is a Ubiquiti controller device that is designed to support several of their applications such as Network and Protect. It has a built in SSD (new release as they used to be 1TB HDDs). It is great for SoHo (small office/home office) deployments where you may not need something as robust as a Ubiquiti Dream Machine (which also does Network, Protect, etc.).
Hi Michael, I hope you are doing well. I wanted to ask you a question about my network. I have the same UCK connected to a switch and that to a Forticlient Firewall. The problem is that once I configure all the IPs, it does not show me the created WIFI or let me configure the network. An error message appears saying "Third-Party Gateway" and I don't have internet access. However, I have an AP outside the UCK and everything works perfectly. Could you help me understand what is happening? Thank you very much for your time and attention. Best regards.
"IP addresses and DHCP must be configured on your third-party gateway. - For a full-featured experience, consider using a UniFi OS Console that comes with integrated gateway functionality."
When you have a UCK, the UniFi Access Point will need to be adopted by the UCK. This acts as a controller for the AP and enables you to use the Network application in the UniFi OS to configure SSIDs, the wireless networks, as well as any non-default VLAN networks. Check out my latest video which goes deeper into the network setup in the UCK. It might offer some insight!
where are the detection alert settings ? mine have vanished, nowhere to be found. Where alerts used to be under PROTECT>>>SETTINGS is now replaced with STORAGE MANAGER which has nothing to do with alerts . Zero help from ubiquiti and i really hate that they keep doing this hiding settings and not telling anyone where they are .
Excellent presentation , it will referenced for sure many times for my remote setup switching from pc controller to gen2 cloud key
Awesome - glad it was helpful!
and the install went well yesterday, next UXG-lite @@TCD_TheComputerDad
great video man. on my second cloudkey gen2. had nothing but trouble this go around with the rackmount unit. did a factory reset in recovery mode. Your video did keep me patient. I have had Unifi now for 6 years, running without a controller the past 4 years :)
@@maziarzarea2540 thank you! The rack threw me the first time I set one up. You’re not alone!
Glad that it sounds to be working and you’re on the UCK as a controller. For the price, it’s the way to go!
@@TCD_TheComputerDad don’t you think one of the new express gateway ultra devices would be a better buy for $200? Or do they not have a cloud key built in?
@@maziarzarea2540 they may be - they run the UniFi OS and would serve as an edge device on the network.
It doesn’t offer the protect feature as it lacks the NVR component with a drive.
Unless you need an edge device for more granular control, I think the UCK is the better buy.
I also have been reading bad QC reports on the routers. That said, I’ve also had a bunch of drive failure on the UCK. Easier to change the disk than RMA an entire unit.
mine worked great for years but once they started screwing with the software its been nothing but problems and the worst convoluted POS ive ever seen as far as software goes , my cams been down all summer because they wouldnt adopt no matter how many times i stood on the ladder with the paper clip to reset them , it's working now magically , made sure i shut off all updates because i just know they will screw it up again
Thanks for sharing. I finally found the latest information about this machine.
Absolutely! Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the tutorial. You said I need to factory reset my UniFi hardware and add them to UCK Gen2 Plus if I want to use them. Can I adapt UCK Gen2 Plus to my current network? Everything is ready there, so why can't I bring it to my existing network environment?
Yes, correct! The devices are typically managed by a software controller sans a UniFi OS device like a UCK or UDM. The UCK is the controller so you wouldn't adopt the UCK. You would adopt devices into the UCK. It is the controller and the only one you would want if using it on your network. To do this, make sure it has an IP on the same network as your existing gear then reset your other UniFi equipment. You would reset them on the physical device with the reset button or SSH in via a terminal emulator like PuTTY to adopt onto the UCK. The devices pop right up when ready for adoption. Rebuild your network, SSID, PSK to match what is there today and you're golden!
Hey Michael,
Great video! I have a question, would this allow me to use a non-Unifi switch as host switch to manage a fleet of 15 unifi APs across a network with different switches?
Yes, I deploy these often with non-Ubiquiti switches in the production environment. If using VLANs, make sure to know how the switch handles 802.1q tagging.
I trunk the port up to the AP and set the network/VLAN ID in the Network settings. The network is assigned to an SSID and off you go.
Superb tutorial, thank you. I’m switching my Cisco aps to Unifi U6 pluses.
Is it better to have the cloud key gen device or better without? What would you recommend please?
I will only have the unifi access points. To manage these, would it be better to have the cloud key rather than just managing on a laptop, I guess needing to run the software all the time?
I appreciate that feedback, thank you! I have one of the U6+ units and can highly recommend!
Using a cloud key makes life easier in my opinion. You allow that device to manage the UniFi OS instead of it being tied to a laptop or PC. Further, it allows you to access the console remotely without having to leave a laptop or PC online all the time/set it up as a service so the software stays running.
I recommend the Ubiquiti Cloud Key Gen2 Plus since its a $20 difference from the non-Plus model without the HDD. The Plus provides the ability to use the protect application with the built-in HDD. Ubiquiti has WiFi cameras that are reasonably priced and range from 1080p to 2k.
They're very easy to setup and to adopt APs!
@@TCD_TheComputerDad Thank you so much for the detailed feedback, I’m going to go for it!
@@ShadowDragon1180 Awesome! Let me know if you have any issues! Have fun!
@@TCD_TheComputerDad Hi, one more question please. So Ive configured all the Unifi devices on my network using the online software, still waiting for the cloudkey to arrive before moving everything to there. When the cloudkey comes, how do I transfer everything please? Currently does the online platform do backups? If so where are they stored? I guess I need to reset all devices and rejoin them on the Cloudkey, I hope I can restore from backup as Ive renamed devices and they are connected to the respective APs which I want them to be connected to.
@@ShadowDragon1180 Here is a resource link for backups using the software controller and for when the UCK is in place: help.ui.com/hc/en-us/articles/360008976393-UniFi-Backups-and-Migration
Honestly, I have done over 50 of these UCK deployments taking over for a central controller so we could reduce VPN traffic between sites. It is not hard to rebuild.
Some recommendations:
- Document your AP naming conventions and IP addresses (if static)
- Document your AP Groups (if applicable)
- Document your SSIDs and PSKs (or other auth method)
If you recreate the SSID 1:1, everything will reconnect just fine. It's when you change up the SSID or PSK that you have to play the fun game of run around and reconfigure all the wireless IoT devices :)
Can you tell me how to connect a cloudkey+ to the unifi 48 poe swtich, I really dont want to use the udmse to fill a rack space i want to use that space for something else. I keep hearing about sfp+ backbone using the udmpro. I want to be able to use the cloudkey+ as the main controller for all the applications because its small, i will buy the nvr 4 bay to do all my video needs, but I also want to be able to use the 10gig ports on the switch I also want to bring in the aggregation 8 port 10 gig switch. is this even possible without the udm-pro?
Hey there! This all depends on how you want your infrastructure to look. For 10Gbps, you will need at least the Pro 48 PoE switch with the 10G SFP+ ports up to a gateway like the UDM Pro or Pro SE with a single 10Gbps LAN SFP+ port. The UDM Pro could be your network controller, gateway, and NVR for the Protect application all-in-one.
If not using the UDM Pro or Pro SE and wanting to use the Cloud Key Gen 2 Plus, you are looking at a single 1Gbps NIC that requires PoE from the switch. I am not sure how running the UNVR would behave as that also runs the Protect Application from the UniFi OS. Again, it depends on what you want/need.
If wanting a 10Gbps LAN side backbone, you would need the UDM Pro and the Pro 48 PoE. That would be my recommendation. If you need a ton more storage with RAID and other redundancies for video recording, then the UNVR would be an option to add as well. All three of those appliances support 10Gbps SFP+ interfaces.
In my opinion, an aggregation switch would be overkill as you have only one 10Gbps uplink on the UDM Pro, one on the UNVR, and four on the Pro 48 PoE. The aggregation switch is Layer 2 only and typically used if you have multiple switches spread out over fiber runs for additional 10Gbps uplinks to an MDF from an IDF for example.
Hope this helps!
@@TCD_TheComputerDad Thanks yeah, copy that. Will make a few changes in the setup. Appreciate your time.
@@Photoshopuzr My pleasure! Keep me posted on how you make out!
@@TCD_TheComputerDad I definitely will, building this slowly but im getting there. I wanted to ask about the software GUI such as settings and firewall and vpn do they look the same like for the udm and all the rest of the UI hardware im going to add a uxg pro or the gateway max im a little concerned about how it will look. As for the gateway such as the uxg's only the hardware will be doing the job and the software will run the same way? im not expecting a new option for the uxg gateway to pop up on the same side for this device.
@@Photoshopuzr It is all the same UniFi OS. Keep in mind each console - UDM, UXG, UCK, etc - all have their own feature set that would be unique.
From an aesthetic and user interface perspective, it’s all the same OS shell.
Can you please tell me where to order the correct replacement HD for this unit. I ordered the one on their site and it was too large. I just want to replace the original HD. Thank you in advance
You can order a 2.5” drive right from Amazon. Here is the link from Ubiquiti about incompatible drives to stay away from: help.ui.com/hc/en-us/articles/360037340954-UniFi-Storage-Requirements-and-Compatibility
This is a drive we used to test the swap procedure to SSD with a spare UCK: a.co/d/d9cOWAO
Keep in mind SSDs are reported to not be the best for NVR applications. Review and research before deciding, but any drive outside of the incompatible list should do you well.
The premature drive failures appear to be related to heat. The units NIC gets hot and the unit bakes a little. I have seen heat sinks installed on the chassis that help reduce the ambient operating temp and may improve drive longevity.
Let me know if you need any further help!
@@TCD_TheComputerDad excellent video... my ck plus is on it sway and yes i am thinking on replacing the drive with an ssd so it is a simple swap right?
@@alvarohiguero yes! It’s plug and play as long as the drive is supported. Check the link above for compatible drives.
To be safe, take backups of your console and network configuration. If using Protect now, make sure to back up any videos you want. There’s no simple export import for recordings.
Good luck!
Mike, is it possible to run the UCKG2 as a router in the following configuration for UniFi Network?
UCK-G2+ for Network and Protect (Console)
UniFi Switch Lite 16 PoE (PoE to UCK-G2+)
ISP modem connected to USW-Lite16PoE
@@misterkush7 Hey there! Negative - the UCK is not an edge device like a router or firewall. It is simply a controller appliance running the UniFi suite of apps.
You could have the ISP as the edge providing DHCP and other features, but the UCK remains the controller. The network would still point to a third-party gateway in this case being your ISP equipment.
If you wanted to setup a full network, I’d recommend using the Ubiquiti Dream Machine. I have a few videos in my playlist about that platform and what it can do. It sits between your ISP and local network allowing more control than what typical ISP routers permit.
can you explain how to setup Unifi controller as the default network and setup vlans
I plan on getting back into new content soon. I'll have a short video out on making VLANs! To use a Ubiquiti device as a gateway, you need the UDM Pro or Ubiquiti Gateway appliance that are both controllers and edge devices.
If using just a UCK, you can define the VLANs in the network configuration, but your switching and edge appliance also need to know about those VLANs to tag traffic properly.
More to come!
Very thorough and informative!
Thank you, Bryan!
Do you have a video on replacing the hard drive? Tya
I do not yet, but I am finishing a series on upgrading the UCK to the UDM Pro. I'll spin off a video on drive replacement on the UCK - very simple process that I have done for work but not yet for my homelab! Stay tuned!
Thank you, I ordered a replacement but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to get things back on line
@@mary6090 It’s not a difficult process. If you have backups, it makes it even quicker. If not, it’s not terribly challenging to rebuild from scratch.
The OS and important stuff isn’t on the spinning drive. It’s running on the 32 GB eMMC storage.
You can swap the HDD and boot right up.
Happy to answer any questions as you get it back online!
Thank you, I’m going to try .
Hello Michael, could you more elaborate out what is that Unified OS inside of this appliance pls.?
UniFi OS is a central management console that runs on the UCK and other UniFi devices like the Dream Machine Pro. The software allows administrators to control UniFi’s various applications like Network, Protect, Access, and others.
can someone help me understand what a "cloud key" is, its purpose and benefits?
A cloud key is a Ubiquiti controller device that is designed to support several of their applications such as Network and Protect. It has a built in SSD (new release as they used to be 1TB HDDs).
It is great for SoHo (small office/home office) deployments where you may not need something as robust as a Ubiquiti Dream Machine (which also does Network, Protect, etc.).
@@TCD_TheComputerDad Thank you👍
@@TheRTM Of course!
Hi Michael,
I hope you are doing well. I wanted to ask you a question about my network. I have the same UCK connected to a switch and that to a Forticlient Firewall. The problem is that once I configure all the IPs, it does not show me the created WIFI or let me configure the network. An error message appears saying "Third-Party Gateway" and I don't have internet access. However, I have an AP outside the UCK and everything works perfectly.
Could you help me understand what is happening? Thank you very much for your time and attention.
Best regards.
"IP addresses and DHCP must be configured on your third-party gateway. - For a full-featured experience, consider using a UniFi OS Console that comes with integrated gateway functionality."
When you have a UCK, the UniFi Access Point will need to be adopted by the UCK. This acts as a controller for the AP and enables you to use the Network application in the UniFi OS to configure SSIDs, the wireless networks, as well as any non-default VLAN networks.
Check out my latest video which goes deeper into the network setup in the UCK. It might offer some insight!
can you make voucher on UCK2 plus for guess??
thank you
Yes, this feature is available using hotspot authentication to require vouchers.
where are the detection alert settings ? mine have vanished, nowhere to be found. Where alerts used to be under PROTECT>>>SETTINGS is now replaced with STORAGE MANAGER which has nothing to do with alerts . Zero help from ubiquiti and i really hate that they keep doing this hiding settings and not telling anyone where they are .
Volume is way low, fyi.
Ah, good to know. Thank you for watching!
Your voice should be LOUDER, difficult to listen.....
Got it - appreciate the feedback! Will work on fixing voice volume!