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UniFi Express Setup Guide

This guide will walk you through setting up a UniFi Express system for a home network with the following features:

  • Two SSIDs: Home and Guest
  • Three VLANs: Home, Guest, and IoT
  • PPSK (Private Pre-Shared Key): Different keys for Home and IoT networks

Prerequisites

  1. UniFi Express Device: Make sure your UniFi Express device is plugged in and powered on.
  2. UniFi Controller Software: Install the UniFi Network Controller on a computer or server. You can download it from the Ubiquiti website.
  3. Basic Network Setup: Ensure you have an internet connection and basic network setup ready.

Step-by-Step Setup

Step 1: Access UniFi Controller

  1. Open a web browser and navigate to the UniFi Controller URL (e.g., https://<controller-ip>:8443).
  2. Log in with your UniFi account credentials.

Step 2: Adopt UniFi Device

  1. Go to the Devices section.
  2. Find your UniFi Express device in the list and click Adopt.
  3. Wait for the device to show as "Connected."

Step 3: Create VLANs

  1. Navigate to Settings > Networks.
  2. Click Create New Network.

Home VLAN

  • Name: Home
  • Purpose: Corporate
  • VLAN ID: 10 (Example)
  • Gateway/Subnet: 192.168.10.1/24 (Example)

Guest VLAN

  • Name: Guest
  • Purpose: Guest
  • VLAN ID: 20 (Example)
  • Gateway/Subnet: 192.168.20.1/24 (Example)

IoT VLAN

  • Name: IoT
  • Purpose: Corporate
  • VLAN ID: 30 (Example)
  • Gateway/Subnet: 192.168.30.1/24 (Example)

Step 4: Create Wireless Networks (SSIDs)

  1. Navigate to Settings > Wireless Networks.
  2. Click Create New Wireless Network.

Home SSID

  • SSID Name: Home
  • Security: WPA Personal
  • VLAN: Use VLAN 10
  • PPSK: Enable PPSK and configure keys for Home and IoT VLANs.

Guest SSID

  • SSID Name: Guest
  • Security: WPA Personal
  • VLAN: Use VLAN 20

Step 5: Configure PPSK for Home SSID

  1. Go to Settings > Wireless Networks > Home SSID.
  2. Under the Security settings, enable PPSK.
  3. Create multiple PPSKs:
    • Home Access Key: Associate with VLAN 10.
    • IoT Access Key: Associate with VLAN 30.

Step 6: Guest Network Configuration

  1. Ensure that the Guest SSID is configured to isolate traffic and restrict access to internal resources.
  2. Under Settings > Guest Control, enable Guest Portal if you want to use a captive portal.

Step 7: Apply Settings and Test

  1. Review your settings and apply changes.
  2. Connect devices to each SSID and verify connectivity.
    • Home devices should connect to the Home SSID and be assigned to VLAN 10.
    • IoT devices should use the designated PPSK for the IoT VLAN.
    • Guest devices should connect to the Guest SSID and be isolated.

Additional Tips

  • Monitoring: Use the UniFi Controller to monitor network traffic and performance.
  • Security: Regularly update firmware and review security settings to protect your network.
  • Support: For any issues, consult the UniFi support forums or documentation.

https://ui.com/uk/en/cloud-gateways/wifi-integrated/express

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