Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    UniFi controller on pfSense

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General pfSense Questions
    17 Posts 4 Posters 6.6k Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • 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 :)

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • 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…)

        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!

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • johnpozJ Online
          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 25.07.1 | Lab VMs 2.8, 25.07.1

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • 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.

            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!

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • 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?  ;)

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • johnpozJ Online
                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 25.07.1 | Lab VMs 2.8, 25.07.1

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • 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.  :)

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • johnpozJ Online
                    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 25.07.1 | Lab VMs 2.8, 25.07.1

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • jahonixJ Offline
                      jahonix
                      last edited by

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

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • 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?

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • johnpozJ Online
                          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 25.07.1 | Lab VMs 2.8, 25.07.1

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • 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.

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • johnpozJ Online
                              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 25.07.1 | Lab VMs 2.8, 25.07.1

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • I Offline
                                ionutr
                                last edited by

                                After a reboot, those files are gone.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • 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!

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • First post
                                    Last post
                                  Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.