I've installed a ton of Linksys, Netgear and other consumer and small business types of network equipment over the last decade. The concept is pretty simple: log in to the web server built in to the device using it's IP address and go to town.
I've also done three small UniFi systems and fumbled my way through them. The way I understand it is that you don't log in to the device to configure it. There is software that you run on a PC or Mac for that job. I loaded that software on my laptop.
When I run that application now I see two of the three networks I set up. The third might have been set up from another laptop. I recall one of the clients mentioning why he saw the SSID "Jones" when his name is "Smith" (where Jones and Smith are the two customer's last names and the name I used as their SSID). I remedied that by deselecting the incorrect name for that person, in essence only assigning the SSID that is "his".
So, I think I understand the differences in concept: Linksys, Netgear, et al, just configure it via the device's IP. Unifi needs a computer and software to set it up. If I'm not clear on that point so far please clarify as needed.
But I still have some questions:
I really like the equipment and would like to do more installs once I understand it better.
I've also done three small UniFi systems and fumbled my way through them. The way I understand it is that you don't log in to the device to configure it. There is software that you run on a PC or Mac for that job. I loaded that software on my laptop.
When I run that application now I see two of the three networks I set up. The third might have been set up from another laptop. I recall one of the clients mentioning why he saw the SSID "Jones" when his name is "Smith" (where Jones and Smith are the two customer's last names and the name I used as their SSID). I remedied that by deselecting the incorrect name for that person, in essence only assigning the SSID that is "his".
So, I think I understand the differences in concept: Linksys, Netgear, et al, just configure it via the device's IP. Unifi needs a computer and software to set it up. If I'm not clear on that point so far please clarify as needed.
But I still have some questions:
- Should I run the controller software on my computer for each customer? These are really small networks, 2 - 4 APs max. They'd call me for any problems or changes anyway.
- If I run the controller on my laptop when I'm there I believe there is a 4 SSID limit, or 4 customer limit. Not sure how to work around that.
- The computer with the controller software on it need not be present on the network? I'm pretty sure it's not since it seems to be working for my customers now.
- Should I install the UniFi controller on one of the customer's computers? I'd prefer not to for various reasons, but maybe they're not good ones.
- Has the controller software been improved recently to allow me to handle many customers on my laptop?
- I think they have a cloud-based controller system now. Maybe I should use that if it's not too expensive?
I really like the equipment and would like to do more installs once I understand it better.