Unifi Gateway Ultra Setup including Switch and U6+ Access Point

On this page, I want to describe the setup of my home network. Not in too much detail, but more as a guide for myself and maybe others to follow on how to set up the devices.
Hardware Included
- Gateway: 1 x UCG Ultra (Cloud Gateway Ultra).
- Switch: 2 x Switch Lite 8 PoE.
- Access Point: 2 x U6 Plus.
- Ethernet cables and power adapters for all devices.
Gateway Setup
The gateway is the brain of your network.
Using the UniFi App (Mobile)
- Download the UniFi App:
- iOS: Apple App Store.
- Android: Google Play Store.
- Plug in the internet connection (WAN port) and power to the gateway. Allow it to boot up (2–3 minutes).
- Open the app and log in with your UniFi account. If you don’t have an account, create one at ui.com.
- The gateway should appear in the app (via Bluetooth). Tap Set Up.
- Name your gateway and follow the on-screen prompts, including running a speed test.
- Update the firmware if prompted (this may take up to 10 minutes).
Using a Desktop
- Plug your computer into one of the gateway’s LAN ports with an Ethernet cable.
- Open a browser and navigate to the default IP:
http://192.168.1.1
. - Follow the same steps as the mobile setup to configure the gateway.
If you do not want to use remote access, you can continue without creating an account. The link to set up without an account is in the bottom left corner on the login page.
Switch Adaptation
Expanding the network with a UniFi switch is quite easy.
- Connect the switch to the gateway using an Ethernet cable.
- Plug in the switch’s power (or use PoE if the switch supports it).
- Factory reset the switch if it was previously used:
- Insert a paperclip into the reset hole and hold for 10 seconds.
- Open the UniFi dashboard and navigate to Devices.
- Select the switch and click Adopt.
- Rename the switch (e.g., “Living Room Switch”) for easier identification.
- Manage ports and VLAN settings in the Port Manager if needed.
Access Point Adaptation
For all the WiFi devices, I am using U6+ Access Points.
- Connect the access point to a PoE-enabled switch port (or use a PoE injector).
- Factory reset the access point if needed (use a paperclip as before).
- In the UniFi dashboard, navigate to Devices.
- Select the access point and click Adopt.
- Rename the access point (e.g., “Home Office AP”).
Wireless Network Configuration
Create secure and segmented wireless networks.
- Go to Settings > Wi-Fi in the UniFi dashboard.
- Main Network:
- Name: Enter a custom SSID (e.g., “MyHomeWiFi”).
- Password: Set a strong password.
- Network: Link to the default LAN.
- Guest Network:
- Name: Enter a custom SSID (e.g., “GuestWiFi”).
- Password: Set a password.
- Network: Link to the guest VLAN.
- Advanced Options:
- Enable Device Isolation to prevent guests from seeing each other’s devices.
- Set Speed Limits (e.g., 10 Mbps).
- Add a Wi-Fi Blackout Schedule to restrict access at specific times.
Advanced Configuration
Optimize and secure your network with these optional settings:
- Content Filtering: Enable “Work” or “Family” mode to block malicious domains. (I will not use this as it is very limited. Instead, I use an AdGuard Home instance running on a separate machine.)
- Ad Blocking: Turn on DNS-based ad blocking for client devices. (Same as above—AdGuard Home will handle this.)
- Intrusion Detection/Prevention (IDS/IPS):
- Set to Auto for detection or Notify and Block for prevention.
- Dual WAN: Configure failover or load balancing for multiple internet connections (if you’re lucky enough to have more than one WAN at your place).
Monitoring and Maintenance
Use the UniFi dashboard for ongoing management:
- Topology View: Visualize connections between devices.
- Device Details: Monitor traffic and change device settings.
- Backups:
- Enable weekly automatic backups under Console Settings.
- Take manual backups periodically for extra safety.
- Firmware Updates:
- Enable auto-updates for the gateway and connected devices.
Final Notes
Your UniFi network is now ready for use! Test connectivity and explore advanced features as needed