First time compiling, building for UniFi6+

simon_lefisch · April 3, 2025, 7:51pm

Hello everyone,

I am looking at compiling OpenWRT for my UniFi 6+ and I would like to include only what I need. I’ve never compiled before so this is something new for me. I have read some of the documentation and have setup a compiler VM on my Proxmox server to do just that. Specs are 4 vCPU cores and 8GB of RAM. I’m hoping maybe someone could help guide me with what I am trying do. I am more than willing to learn and research, I just need someone to steer me in the right direction and answer any questions I have. If DM’ing is easier, I’m all for it.

Basically I would just need the functions of an AP and be able to implement Dynamic PSK. No odhcpd, firewall, dnsmasq, or anything else I don't need (I have the aforementioned items disabled so I assume I can build without them?). Just trying to make it as light as possible while retaining only the functions I need. If it's not possible to build an image without those items above, please let me know. Again, compiling is new tome but I would love to learn more.

Thanks for any/all help you can provide.

Dante · April 3, 2025, 8:29pm

Have you tried using the image builder already? It's the easiest way to achieve what you want.

There's no compiling with it per se: you're simply putting the building blocks together.

simon_lefisch · April 3, 2025, 8:53pm

Hi @Dante, thanks for the reply.

So I believe I am. I am using this article as a base to follow. I have cloned to my build-vm and switched to the 24.10 branch, updated the feeds and was able to load the make menuconfig. From there is where I need a little guidance on what to do next. There are a lot of options and I just want to make sure I get it right. I want to make sure I build for the correct device, which would be mediatek/filogic.

Dante · April 3, 2025, 9:08pm

I had this in mind: https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/additional-software/imagebuilder

You don't need the whole toolchain to build images.

Also, consider using the containterized image builder. That way you don't need to worry about having the correct dependencies.

simon_lefisch · April 3, 2025, 9:28pm

Thanks @Dante, I am looking into that now. Would be great to build for my specific device. I'll check it out and comment back when I look it over.

simon_lefisch · April 3, 2025, 10:00pm

Ok, I did a quick read of the image-builder article you sent me. Got it installed and I see all the profiles. Looks much easier so thanks for that

As far as the packages, I was able to list what I want to add and remove (see below) based on what's in the default package list.

make image \
PROFILE=“ubnt_unifi-6-plus \
PACKAGES=“wpad-mbedtls -dnsmasq -firewall4 -odhcp6c -odhcpd-ipv6only -wpad-basic-mbedtls“ \

I would like to have LuCI (GUI) installed but not sure what packages I need. Looks like there are a lot to choose from. As of now I have the image installed on my device with all the default packages installed, including LuCI. Since I will be removing a few and adding one in particular, do I still need to install LuCI or is it already included in the image by default?

Dante · April 3, 2025, 10:05pm

AFAIK, you need to specify luci or luci-ssl explicitly. That's what I usually do.

simon_lefisch · April 3, 2025, 10:12pm

Got it.

I did find another command to show all the packages installed on the current image I have installed. I do see a bunch of other LuCI packs installed aside from luci and luci-ssl (see below).

luci luci-app-firewall luci-app-package-manager luci-base luci-light luci-mod-admin-full luci-mod-network luci-mod-status luci-mod-system luci-proto-ipv6 luci-proto-ppp luci-ssl luci-theme-bootstrap

Since I am removing the packages I mentioned above, I assume I could remove those LuCI packages that look to be related to them? IE; luci-app-firewall, etc.

Dante · April 3, 2025, 10:14pm

I vaguely remember that some packages can't be removed using the image builder and you'd have to use the full SDK to change that. But you can experiment and see for yourself.

simon_lefisch · April 3, 2025, 10:16pm

Ok good to know. I assume if I can't remove said packages that they just won't work.

simon_lefisch · April 3, 2025, 10:47pm

Alrighty, I was able to create an image for my device.

I assume I can flash the *-sysupgrade.bin file normally thru the current LuCI interface?

elbertmai · April 4, 2025, 1:26am

Yes, that is correct.

simon_lefisch · April 4, 2025, 4:13am

So I was able to create a customized image. Had a couple issues after installing but got most figured out for now. However I'm getting s SSL error when trying to update the package list in LuCI.

When adding the no-check-certificate option in the opkg configuration, I am able to update the package list. So it seems like I am missing an SSL package in my image. Would anyone know what package I need to install? I am choosing the correct image in Image Builder so it pulls the default packages. Below is a list if what I remove and add when running the build.

make image \

PROFILE="ubnt_unifi-6-plus" \

PACKAGES=“wpad-mbedtls luci luci-app-package-manager luci-base luci-light luci-mod-admin-full luci-mod-network luci-mod-status luci-mod-system luci-ssl luci-theme-bootstrap -dnsmasq -odhcp6c -odhcpd-ipv6only -wpad-basic-mbedtls”

andyboeh · April 4, 2025, 5:14am

Is the time correctly set/synchronized?

simon_lefisch · April 4, 2025, 2:27pm

Forgot to do that. That fixed it. Thanks for the reminder @andyboeh

simon_lefisch · April 4, 2025, 3:47pm

Ok I got everything working the way I want. Excluded/included specific packages, disabled specific services on start, things are working great so far.

I do have another question....I think I saw this in the article I referenced earlier in the thread so not sure I can do this in image builder, but is there any way to be able to change the default IP address so it matches my own subnet? I plan on buying one more of these APs so wanted to see if I could just have it set after I do the initial flash from stock UniFi firmware.

Dante · April 4, 2025, 4:08pm

You can build an image with custom configuration files.

simon_lefisch · April 4, 2025, 4:28pm

Awesome! I am looking thru it now and I was able to see the default files in /rom/etc/uci-defaults. I will look this over so I can get a better idea on how to correctly configure those files.

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone here who helped me out, especially you @Dante. Thanks for the info, the guidance, and patience while I learned this. I have never done anything like this but have always wanted to. This will make things easier for me in the future. Now I will need to do that same thing for my NetGear R7800 that is running as a dumb AP (which will be replaced with the other UniFi6Plus I will be purchasing soon), since it is running on the previous branch.

simon_lefisch · April 4, 2025, 4:48pm

Ok another question, sorry....I have enabled roaming (802.11r) on both my APs (one is an R7800 configured as a dumb AP and the other is the UniFi6Plus that I just flashed). When I had the default firmware installed (the one you download from the table of hardware), my iPhone was able to switch from 1 AP to the other without any issue. Since creating my custom image in image builder, my iPhone won't switch over. Is there a specific package I need to install for this? I would think it's installed by default by not sure.

Dante · April 4, 2025, 5:18pm

I think you should start a new topic where you can describe your setup and settings in detail.