Introduction
Moving the UniFi controller to another computer can be a simple process if done correctly. This article will guide you through the necessary steps to successfully transfer your UniFi controller to a new computer.
Step 1: Back Up Your UniFi Controller
The first step in moving your UniFi controller to another computer is to back up your current controller settings. This ensures that you have a copy of your configuration, which can be restored on the new computer. To back up your UniFi controller, follow these steps:
1. Open the UniFi controller software on your current computer.
2. Navigate to the “Settings” tab.
3. Click on “Backup” in the left-hand menu.
4. Choose a backup location and click “Backup Now”.
5. Wait for the backup process to complete.
6. Once the backup is finished, you can close the UniFi controller software on your current computer.
Step 2: Install UniFi Controller on the New Computer
After backing up your UniFi controller, the next step is to install the UniFi controller software on the new computer. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Download the UniFi controller software from the official Ubiquiti Networks website.
2. Run the installer file and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
3. Once the installation is finished, launch the UniFi controller on the new computer.
Step 3: Restore Your UniFi Controller Backup
Now that you have the UniFi controller installed on the new computer, you can proceed to restore your backup. Here’s how:
1. Open the UniFi controller software on the new computer.
2. Navigate to the “Settings” tab.
3. Click on “Maintenance” in the left-hand menu.
4. Click on “Restore” and select the backup file you created in Step 1.
5. Click “Restore” and wait for the process to complete.
6. Once the restore is finished, you should see all your previous UniFi controller settings and configurations on the new computer.
Step 4: Update UniFi Controller Settings
After restoring your UniFi controller backup, it is essential to update certain settings to match the new computer’s network configuration. Follow these steps to update your UniFi controller settings:
1. Navigate to the “Settings” tab in the UniFi controller software.
2. Click on “Controller” in the left-hand menu.
3. Update the “Controller Hostname/IP” field to reflect the new computer’s IP address or hostname.
4. Save the changes and close the UniFi controller software.
Step 5: Adopt UniFi Devices
The final step is to adopt your UniFi devices onto the new controller. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Connect your UniFi devices to the same network as the new computer running the UniFi controller.
2. Open the UniFi controller software on the new computer.
3. Navigate to the “Devices” tab.
4. Click on “Pending Devices”.
5. Select the devices you want to adopt and click “Adopt”.
6. Wait for the adoption process to complete for each device.
7. Once all devices are adopted, they will appear under the “Devices” tab in the UniFi controller software.
Conclusion
Moving the UniFi controller to another computer may seem like a daunting task, but by following these steps, you can easily transfer your controller settings and configurations to a new computer. Remember to back up your controller, install it on the new computer, restore the backup, update the controller settings, and adopt your UniFi devices. With these steps, you can seamlessly transition your UniFi controller without losing any data or settings.
Step 1: Backing Up UniFi Controller Configuration
Before moving the UniFi controller, it is essential to back up the configuration to ensure a smooth transfer.
Step 2: Installing UniFi Controller on the New Computer
Once you have prepared your new computer to receive the UniFi controller, it’s time to install the software. Follow these steps to successfully complete the installation process:
1. Download the UniFi controller software from the official Ubiquiti Networks website. Make sure to select the appropriate version for your operating system. The software is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
2. Once the download is complete, locate the installation file and double-click on it to begin the installation process. You may need to grant permission to run the installer, depending on your computer’s security settings.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed with the installation. You will typically be asked to agree to the terms and conditions before the installation begins. Make sure to read through the terms and conditions carefully before accepting them.
4. Choose the installation location for the UniFi controller software. By default, it will be installed in the “Program Files” or “Applications” folder, depending on your operating system. You can either keep the default location or choose a different one based on your preferences or organizational requirements.
5. Once you have selected the installation location, click on the “Install” button to start the installation process. The software will now be installed on your new computer.
6. Wait for the installation to complete. The time required for the installation may vary depending on your computer’s hardware specifications.
7. Once the installation is finished, you will see a confirmation message. Click on the “Finish” button to exit the installation wizard.
8. Launch the UniFi controller software. You can usually find it in your computer’s list of installed programs or applications. Double-click on the UniFi controller icon to open the software.
9. Configure the UniFi controller settings. When you first launch the software, you will be prompted to complete the initial setup. Follow the on-screen instructions to connect the UniFi controller to your network, create a new administrator account, and customize any additional settings based on your requirements.
10. Once you have completed the initial setup, the UniFi controller will be ready for use on your new computer. You can now proceed to the next step to transfer the UniFi controller settings and devices from the old computer to the new one.
Installing the UniFi controller software on your new computer is a crucial step in the process of moving the controller. By following these instructions, you can ensure a seamless installation and preparation for the next steps. Take your time and carefully go through each step to experience the full benefits of the UniFi controller system on your new computer.
Step 3: Importing the Previous Configuration
Once the Unifi controller is successfully installed on the new computer, the next important step is to import the previously backed up configuration. This will allow you to retain all the settings, configurations, and data from the previous setup.
Importing the previous configuration ensures a seamless transition to the new computer without the need to reconfigure everything from scratch. Here’s how you can import your previous Unifi controller configuration:
- Launch the Unifi controller software on your new computer.
- Click on the gear icon located at the bottom left corner to access the settings.
- From the settings menu, click on the “Controller” tab on the left-hand side.
- Under the “Backup and Restore” section, click on the “Choose File” button to browse and select the previously exported configuration backup file.
- Once you have selected the backup file, click on the “Restore” button.
- Wait for the restore process to complete. This may take a few minutes depending on the size of your configuration file.
- After the restore is completed, you will be prompted to log in to the Unifi controller with your username and password.
- Upon successful login, you will find that all your previous settings, configurations, and data have been imported to the new computer.
It is essential to ensure that the backup file you are importing is compatible with the version of the Unifi controller software installed on the new computer. Using an incompatible backup file may cause compatibility issues and unexpected behavior.
By importing the previous configuration, you can seamlessly continue managing your Unifi network from the new computer without the need for manual reconfiguration. Additionally, it helps safeguard your network settings and saves you time by eliminating the need to set up everything from scratch.
In conclusion, moving the Unifi controller to another computer is made easier by following these steps. From ensuring a proper backup to exporting and importing the configuration, each step plays a crucial role in the successful migration. By meticulously following these guidelines, you can effortlessly transfer your Unifi controller to a new computer while retaining all the necessary settings and data.
Step 4: Informing Access Points about the New Controller
Once you have successfully migrated the UniFi Controller to the new computer, it is crucial to inform the access points about the change in controller location. This step ensures that the access points connect to the new controller seamlessly.
Informing the access points about the new controller involves updating the inform URL on each access point to point to the new UniFi Controller’s IP address or hostname. This process can be done using the UniFi Controller interface or the command line.
To update the inform URL through the UniFi Controller interface, follow these steps:
- Open your web browser and enter the IP address or hostname of the new UniFi Controller.
- Login to the UniFi Controller using your administrator credentials.
- Navigate to the “Devices” tab in the UniFi Controller interface.
- Select the access point or access points that need to be informed about the new controller.
- Click on the “Set Inform URL” button in the toolbar.
- In the pop-up window, enter the new inform URL, which should be in the format “http://[new_controller_ip]:8080/inform”. Replace “[new_controller_ip]” with the IP address or hostname of the new UniFi Controller. Make sure to include the port number and “/inform” at the end.
- Click “Apply” to save the changes.
If you prefer updating the inform URL through the command line, you can use the following steps:
- SSH into the access point using an SSH client like PuTTY or Terminal.
- Enter the following command to set the new inform URL:
mca-cli
set-inform http://[new_controller_ip]:8080/inform
. Replace “[new_controller_ip]” with the IP address or hostname of the new UniFi Controller. Make sure to include the port number and “/inform” at the end. - Wait for a few moments to allow the access point to adopt the changes from the new UniFi Controller.
Once the access points have been informed about the change in controller location, they should appear as “Connected” in the UniFi Controller interface. You can verify this by navigating to the “Devices” tab and checking the status of each access point.
In case you encounter any issues with the access points connecting to the new controller, make sure that the access points have access to the new UniFi Controller’s IP address or hostname. This can be done by checking the network settings for each access point and ensuring they are properly connected to the network.
By following these steps, you can successfully inform the access points about the new UniFi Controller and ensure a smooth transition of control from the old computer to the new one.
Step 1: Back up UniFi Controller
The first step in moving the UniFi controller to another computer is to create a backup of the current controller. This will ensure that all settings, configurations, and data are safely stored and can be easily restored on the new computer. To create a backup, follow these steps:
1. Access the UniFi controller interface on the current computer.
2. Navigate to the “Settings” tab on the left-hand side menu.
3. Click on the “Maintenance” sub-tab.
4. Scroll down to the “Backup” section.
5. Click on the “Download” button to initiate the backup process.
6. Save the backup file to a secure location on the computer.
Step 2: Install UniFi Controller on the New Computer
After creating a backup of the UniFi controller, the next step is to install the controller software on the new computer. Follow these steps:
1. Open a web browser on the new computer and visit the UniFi download page.
2. Download the appropriate version of the UniFi controller software for your operating system.
3. Once downloaded, run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
4. Launch the UniFi controller software after installation and make sure it is running properly.
Step 3: Restore UniFi Controller Backup
Now that the UniFi controller is installed on the new computer, it’s time to restore the previously created backup. Follow these steps:
1. Access the UniFi controller interface on the new computer.
2. Navigate to the “Settings” tab on the left-hand side menu.
3. Click on the “Maintenance” sub-tab.
4. Scroll down to the “Restore” section.
5. Click on the “Choose File” button and select the backup file saved in Step 1.
6. Click on the “Restore” button to initiate the restore process.
Step 4: Verify UniFi Controller Settings
After restoring the UniFi controller backup, it’s important to verify that all the settings and configurations are correctly transferred to the new computer. Follow these steps:
1. Access the UniFi controller interface on the new computer.
2. Navigate through different tabs and sub-tabs to ensure that all settings and configurations are present and accurate.
3. Pay extra attention to Wi-Fi network settings, access points, and any other custom configurations.
4. Make any necessary adjustments or modifications if something seems to be missing or incorrect.
Step 5: Connect Devices to the New UniFi Controller
Now that the UniFi controller is set up and verified, it’s time to connect your devices to the new controller. Follow these steps:
1. Power up your UniFi network devices (access points, switches, etc.).
2. Wait for the devices to boot up and connect to the network.
3. Access the UniFi controller interface on the new computer.
4. Navigate to the “Devices” tab on the left-hand side menu.
5. Click on the “Adopt” button next to each device to add it to the new UniFi controller.
6. Repeat the process for all devices in your network.
Step 6: Decommission the Old UniFi Controller
After successfully migrating the UniFi controller to the new computer and connecting all devices, it’s time to decommission the old controller to avoid conflicts. Follow these steps:
1. Ensure that all devices are successfully adopted by the new UniFi controller and functioning properly.
2. Shut down or uninstall the UniFi controller software on the old computer.
3. Disconnect the old computer from the network to prevent any conflicts or interference.
4. Store the old computer or repurpose it for other tasks if needed.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you can easily move the UniFi controller to another computer without losing any settings or data. The backup and restore process ensures a smooth transition while the verification step confirms that everything is transferred accurately. Connecting devices to the new UniFi controller ensures seamless functioning of the network. Finally, decommissioning the old controller ensures there are no conflicts. Now, enjoy managing your UniFi network conveniently from the new computer!