Adopting Unifi Devices

To adopt your unifi devices in to your controller, you might need to follow a few different steps. These are outlined below to get you started.

Please note that UXG-Pro and Flex Mini Unifi devices require different adoption procedures.

Remote Adoption (Layer 3)

Layer 3 adoption involves connecting a UniFi device to your remote UniFi Network Application. This method is recommended for advanced users or those adopting devices while utilizing official Illumii hosting

Please Note: If you're unsure whether you need remote adoption, refer to the Device Adoption section.

Requirements: Both the UniFi device and the UniFi Network Application must have unrestricted connectivity via TCP Port 8080.

Methods:

Mobile App (Existing Networks):

If your network is already broadcasting WiFi on the same VLAN as the unadopted UniFi device, the UniFi Mobile App (available for iOS / Android) can simplify the adoption process.

Ensure the device's LED is solid white, indicating it's in a factory default state. Connect your mobile device to the WiFi associated with the same VLAN as the unadopted device. If this isn't feasible, refer to the SSH method below. Open the UniFi Network Mobile App and connect to the site where you want to adopt your device. Your device should appear in the device list for adoption.

SSH (New Networks):

If WiFi isn't available, follow these steps:

Ensure the device is in a factory default state. Connect a laptop directly to the network using a wired connection.

SSH into the device (username/password = ubnt/ubnt)

Issue the following command:

set-inform http://<your-sub-domain>.illumii.io:8080/inform

Give it a few seconds and visit the UniFi Site Manager or UniFi Mobile App where you should see an option to click on the device labeled as "ready to adopt." Please Note: If you're using Official UniFi Hosting, you can visit your UniFi Network dashboard and click Copy Inform URL to paste it into the command above.

Other (Advanced)

Utilizing DHCP Option 43

This feature utilizes your DHCP server to inform your UniFi device about the location of the machine hosting the Network Application remotely. For those with a UniFi Gateway, this can be easily achieved by inputting the IP address of the remote Network Application into the Option 43 Application Host Address field located in the Network Settings.

If you're using a third-party gateway or DHCP server, we suggest referring to your manufacturer's documentation for further guidance.

DNS Configuration

You'll need to configure your DNS server to resolve "unifi" to your remote UniFi Network Application.

There are two methods for specifying the machine hosting the Network Application:

IP Address: http://ip-address:8080/inform Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN): http://FQDN:8080/inform Troubleshooting If you encounter difficulties, it's likely that your UniFi device and UniFi Network application are unable to communicate over TCP Port 8080. This issue must be addressed differently depending on the location of your UniFi Network Application:

If the UniFi application and unadopted device are on separate VLANs behind the same local gateway, ensure that inter-VLAN routing is enabled and that TCP Port 8080 is not blocked on the firewall. If you are using Official UniFi Hosting or your UniFi Console has a public IP address, ensure that your local firewall/gateway allows your unadopted UniFi device to communicate with it over TCP Port 8080. If the UniFi Network Application (often running on a Cloud Key) is behind a remote gateway with a public IP address, then you must Port Forward TCP 8080 from the gateway to the IP address associated with the Cloud Key. If the UniFi Network Application (often running on a Cloud Key) is behind a remote gateway but the gateway has a private IP address (double NAT'd), this method will not work. Contact your ISP for assistance.