UnifiOS

[Sky-Knight]

Introducing UniFi OS Server for MSPs

Deploy UniFi OS Server on your own hardware for license free local control, secure cloud management, SD WAN, and Zero Trust networking services for MSPs.

blog.ui.com

Well... I WAS going to swap all my junk at home over to Aruba Instant-On. But now that I can access the entire Unifi ecosystem without one of their stupid controllers somewhere... I'm going to have to stay!

 

[timeshifter]

I’ve got hands-on experience with local controllers like cloud, keys or cloud gateway devices or UDM‘s. I’ve also installed the controller on windows and Mac machines locally.

For a while, I ran my own controller in a Digital Ocean VPS. And I subscribed to UniFi’s official cloud hosting, and I have a few sites on Hostifi, for now.

Can you help me understand where this fits in?

 

[HCHTech]

It let's MSPs be their own Hostifi.

 

[Sky-Knight]

I’ve got hands-on experience with local controllers like cloud, keys or cloud gateway devices or UDM‘s. I’ve also installed the controller on windows and Mac machines locally.

For a while, I ran my own controller in a Digital Ocean VPS. And I subscribed to UniFi’s official cloud hosting, and I have a few sites on Hostifi, for now.

Can you help me understand where this fits in?

You're talking about the Network Controller. That does nothing but the network stuff.

The UDMs, the Cloud Keys, etc, these all run more than just the Network app.

What Unifi OS does, is let you run the OS that's on the cloud key, on whatever hardware you need. The announcement is aimed at MSPs because there are orgs that require their own data sovereignty, and the cloud keys aren't a great fit. I'm not a huge fan of the Dream Machines, because they lock configuration into a firewall device, that's not enough isolation. Being able to run Unifi OS as a VM on a platform of my choosing opens a ton of very strong doors.

@HCHTech We already had the ability to be our own Hostifi. Most of the larger MSPs I know operate their own controllers.

 

[timeshifter]

So Hostifi, UniFi Cloud Hosting or running your own controller in a VPS are just running the Network app. They can't do Talk, Protect, etc.?

You can do all of those apps if you have a UDM or Cloud Key, but it had to be on site on the local network.

Now with the UniFi OS for MSPs you can do not just the Network app, but Protect, Access, Talk, Connect, Innerspace not just for your local network but for all of your client's networks in house?

 

[Sky-Knight]

@timeshifter Correct, the entire Unifi Ecosystem, in a controller of your definition, anywhere, anytime.

If anything this just make Hostifi blow up, because now THEY can host the entire ecosystem too. But for me, it means I can keep all my stuff in my own home.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Been doing "hosted Unifi" since way back before most IT people even heard of Ubiquiti. Even wrote a guide here on TN on rolling your own Unifi controller on *nix at a big host like RackSpace. Back then when I had oodles of free volunteer time., I didn't mind taking care of that server. doing upgrades, checking logs, checking backups, doing OS upgrades, doing Unifi upgrades. Yeah..it's just...time..my own time.

But..I'll say, Hostifi became a blessing.
Most people will not properly secure their own *nix host controller that hosts a Unifi controller. That thing holds the keys your clients networks man...secure it! Properly. But most don't/won't. Hostifi does. Hostifi also automates backups for you, and "vets" the upgrades before deploying them. Makes it so I don't have to lift a finger to maintain it, they do all the work and it's so incredibly worth every penny.

Our numbers at Hostifi have actually been steady if not declining a little bit in recent years, because Ubiquitis Cloud Controller based gateways have gotten that good...no need to provision Unifi equipment to a different external controller anymore.