I've set up about seven Ubiquiti Access Points (APs) using their web interface. Unfortunately, my previous firewall stopped working, and I switched to a SonicWall firewall connected to my switch with DHCPv4 enabled. As of now, the wired devices have internet access, and the APs do broadcast their SSID, but I can't connect to the internet through them. Do I need to assign the same static IPs to the APs that they had with the old firewall? Also, since the site manager I previously used is no longer available, what tool can I use to manage the APs now?
7 Answers
Double-check that the UniFi IP addresses are correct. Did you change the gateway IP? I learned the hard way that the APs won't let you connect to the internet if the gateway isn't right. It seems odd, but it does matter.
You should try setting up a new controller and then reset the APs to re-adopt them. It's basically starting from scratch with UniFi.
With over 100 UniFi devices running on SonicWalls, it looks like you've missed some configuration. Make sure you're using the right VLAN tags.
It sounds like your APs might be configured for a VLAN that doesn't exist anymore. You might need to do a factory reset and reconfigure them, potentially using self-hosted UniFi or a paid service. Did the previous manager leave any documentation?
Honestly, I'd just toss those consumer-grade devices into the e-waste and get something more robust for a business environment. But I get it—UniFi is solid for small setups with budget constraints.
Hold up—UniFi isn’t just consumer-level stuff; it’s more prosumer. It works pretty well for small businesses with limited budgets and staff. I wouldn't use it for large operations with dedicated IT, though.
I've seen UniFi setups in schools and government offices. They might seem basic at first, but with a good router, they're effective for medium to large situations.
Was your old firewall a Ubiquiti acting as a CloudKey? That could mess up your APs' functionality.
It was actually a Zyxel firewall. When I bypass it and connect everything directly to the switch, the APs work fine. It's a problem only when the new firewall is in place.
Check under zones in the WLAN settings; make sure to uncheck 'allow only Sonic points'. That might help with the connectivity issue.
Are there any alternatives to resetting each AP? I’d rather not deal with manually touching every one.