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    UniFi controller on pfSense

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General pfSense Questions
    17 Posts 4 Posters 6.6k Views
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    • 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

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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 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

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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 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

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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 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

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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 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

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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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