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    UniFi controller on pfSense

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General pfSense Questions
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    • I Offline
      ionutr
      last edited by

      Hey guys,

      I've been using the UniFi controller on a pfSense machine in the last few months, but yesterday I had to poweroff the pfSense machine for a few minutes. Today I saw that the UniFi controller installed on the pfSense machine has no UniFi device assignated to it.

      My question is: if I reboot/poweroff the pfSense machine that has the UniFi controller installed, when the pfSense machine comes back on, I have to assign the AP every time? Is there any way I can avoid this?

      I've searched on google and I haven't found anything useful.

      Thanks!

      PS: I'm running pfSense 2.2.6 and UniFi 4.7.6.

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      • johnpozJ Offline
        johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
        last edited by

        so you just powered it OFF, you did not do a controlled shutdown and then power on or restart?

        You might get better help on the unifi forums, Pretty sure unifi controller on pfsense is not a supported config from pfsense.

        An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
        If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
        Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
        SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

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        • I Offline
          ionutr
          last edited by

          If I reboot the pfSense machine, I also lose the UniFi device assignated to it.

          I'll try on unifi forums too :)

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          • jimpJ Offline
            jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
            last edited by

            Sounds like wherever it's keeping the database files is getting lost on each reboot. If you have /var and /tmp in RAM disks, try disabling that option. If you're on NanoBSD, there is likely no proper fix for that.

            It's best to not run that on pfSense anyhow, it's a very bloated Java app (but I repeat myself…)

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            • johnpozJ Offline
              johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
              last edited by

              If you can not run it on a vm, you do know they sell a little cloud key https://www.ubnt.com/unifi/unifi-cloud-key/

              Or you could run it on a pi for example.  I don't think pfsense is the best place to run that application to be honest..  I run my on its own vm..  what is great about vms is the ability to take snapshots when moving to new versions, etc..

              the db should not be stored in var or tmp on a normal install.. Default place for the db would be /usr/lib/unifi/data/db

              An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
              If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
              Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
              SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

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              • jimpJ Offline
                jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
                last edited by

                Looks like it's /usr/local/share/java/unifi/data/db on FreeBSD, no reason that should be removed on reboot. Unless it's on NanoBSD and never gets written in the first place, though I'd expect a different error in that case.

                I run the unifi controller from my FreeBSD workstation and it's fine, though I only start it when I need it and then stop it.

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                • jahonixJ Offline
                  jahonix
                  last edited by

                  VM, Cloud Key, PI.
                  I wonder no-one even mentions what Netgate has to offer to run the Unifi controller software on.
                  Helps pay the rent for some, doesn't it?  ;)

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                  • johnpozJ Offline
                    johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                    last edited by

                    Minnowboard is what $139… Can get the new Pi3 for $35, the unifi key is only $79 so maybe that is why they don't suggest them ;)

                    An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                    If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                    Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                    SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

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                    • jahonixJ Offline
                      jahonix
                      last edited by

                      You have neither worked in marketing nor sales; you are a technician, right? I'm with you, just trying to escape sometimes.  :)

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                      • johnpozJ Offline
                        johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                        last edited by

                        No never worked in marketing or sales, that sort of stuff never interested me..  Techy all the way for sure..  And that board looks good, have been meaning to pick up one to play with..  Sure it would rock running unifi controller for sure, prob make a pretty good plex server as well with that nice gig interface that pi3 is lacking..

                        An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                        If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                        Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                        SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

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                        • jahonixJ Offline
                          jahonix
                          last edited by

                          I see, you're trying hard now!  ;D

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                          • I Offline
                            ionutr
                            last edited by

                            I'm not using NanoBSD and /var and /tmp aren't in RAM disk. I need to run it on a machine that is always up, so this way it can store all logs. If I use it on a machine that isn't always on, it saves logs only when the machine with the controller is on and I prefer to use it on the pfSense machine, since this is the only machine (at least, at the moment) that other users don't have access to :)

                            I've searched and I have no unifi dir in /usr/local/share/java/ so… this should be the problem :) Any ideas?

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                            • johnpozJ Offline
                              johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                              last edited by

                              not having db there is not really an issue, where unifi controller install on your pfsense box?  This is where the db should be under the unifi folder in data/db folder.

                              An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                              If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                              Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                              SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

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                              • I Offline
                                ionutr
                                last edited by

                                Yep. It's /usr/local/UniFi/data/db I guess. So now I just have to figure out how to make sure I won't lose data if I reboot the machine or if it shutsdown due to power failure or stuff like that.

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                                • johnpozJ Offline
                                  johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                                  last edited by

                                  so your saying when you do a normal shutdown, or even power loss those files are deleted, or their size changes to new files?

                                  An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                                  If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                                  Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                                  SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

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                                  • I Offline
                                    ionutr
                                    last edited by

                                    After a reboot, those files are gone.

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                                    • jimpJ Offline
                                      jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
                                      last edited by

                                      Most likely whatever startup script/action you're running is wiping all that out then. Those aren't in a place that would be removed by the firewall itself.

                                      Remember: Upvote with the 👍 button for any user/post you find to be helpful, informative, or deserving of recognition!

                                      Need help fast? Netgate Global Support!

                                      Do not Chat/PM for help!

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