Unifi APs run OpenWrt.... adopting any APs running OpenWrt under the unifi controler

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1

Hello ,
its been a while sence i noticed that my ubi ap ac lites are runing a flavor of openwrt,

Device UAP-AC-Lite:d3aa: Connected


BusyBox v1.25.1 () built-in shell (ash)


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UAP-AC-Lite-BZ.6.0.21# cat /proc/version
Linux version 4.4.153 (builder@owrt1505-builder) (gcc version 5.4.0 (LEDE GCC 5.4.0 r3979-2252731af4) ) #0 Thu Aug 30 12:10:54 2018
UAP-AC-Lite-BZ.6.0.21#

and i had a idea , would it be posible from , for example extracting software from the ap , make a regular ap runing owrt , behave on the network like the ubi aps and addopt it on the controler ?

it would surely rase some legal concerns over at ubiquiti ...

1 Like
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3

Well you can try, however unless the service software is statically linked you are likely to encounter dependency / library issues.

Looks like the SDK they are using was based on 15.05, which is very old

4

Not easily, no.

The best way to do this would be to write a service specifically for OpenWrt, which would allow translation of the adoption/configuration process to-from Unifi format.

There was a project some 5 years ago that attempted to emulate the expected Unifi API on OpenWrt: https://github.com/trueserve/openUF

However it hasn't been updated in ages, and I haven't seen any other attempts at reverse engineering the protocol.

You'd also be limited to Unifi models, which means unless your router/AP matches up perfectly with one of their devices, you'll have some issues (either the controller trying to set a config not supported by your hardware, or the controller not sending enough configuration to fully cover your hardware).

5

Help me understand why you'd want that?

AFAIK people flash OpenWrt to free the unifi products from the need for the controller/ubiquiti app/ubiquiti control, why you'd want to enroll freed products back?

Also, if you're fine using the ubiquiti controller, you may benefit from the proprietary radio drivers/firmware built into their proprietary builds of OpenWrt.

6

well, the usecase that lead me to reshearch this topic was that i have a deployed some unifi ap at my place , and using its imho exelant unifi controler software i was able to manage my wifi network ( personal & guest + portal ) , wifi map , roaming , see what clients are connected to what AP thus knowing their location etc very very easily .
i wanted to increase coverage of my wifi (lets say to another floor or building , temporaly ) on the cheap using some openwrt enabled hw and geting the best of both worlds (luci & unifi controler) ...

but this is imposible , i found out that during addoption (witch is basicly some json commands via ssh to the AP) the controler "phones back" to ubi to check if the S/N is correct , then proceeds with the addoption procces .. if the Controler has no internet , during addoption , it will throw an error .

..sad...

7

Ah, sorry, I misread it originally as if you wanted to use it for OpenWrt-flashed unifi models only, now it makes sense.

I believe that this, if implemented, would infringe on Ubiquiti IP. There are OpenWrt provisioning tools you may want to investigate.

8

Yes, you are absolutley correct . legal stuff slipped right through my mind..

But for the reccord what provisioning tools does openwrt have ? and are they similar to the unifi controler in function ? (control SSIDs , Vlans GuestWifi , users/Clients across multiple APs ) ?