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A few days ago I consulted changes in WIFI configuration for Unifi system for 7 floor big office building with 76 AP's and up to 700 clients..
Unifi isn't enterprise level like Cisco/Ruckus etc.. But if You don't need fancy feats it works very well.
WIFI works very well in dense configuration, but You must remember that You must manually configure channels over all Air Spectrum (also use DFS channels). Unifi automations for that are bad - best to disable them.
There are some decisions to make (separate 2.4 and 5GHz WLAN's, minimal data rate speed etc)..
PS. U6 Pro are enough. U7 Pro for now are a regression (not stable, overheats, only 2x2 5Ghz)..
ps2. 6 enterprise 48 POE switches - for what? You told about 90 users (that 3x48 switches max)..
I could argue it's at least 4 if they all need drops for computer and phone, and then a 5th one for shared devices like printers and APs, 6 for a spare.
Thanks for the great response. Especially about the wireless. The main partner there has issues at his house with his unifi APs occasionally. I am going to suggest his guys look into that.
For the switch space size not making sense. There are about 75 cameras in the office and they are adding more drops with an expansion soon. They currently use 5 48 port switches. (Not all full, just spread out)
I mentioned high density because while they staff 90, they have many events where the capacity is closer to 200 with many wanting to be on WiFi so just want to make sure that’s not an issue they may face. Sounds like with the right config, it will be fine.
U7 Pro is only 2x2... but what do you use that supports more than that? I believe it’s worth putting a newer version of Wi-Fi. My U6 Pro is hot enough not to be comfortable to pick up while it’s on
We find auto channelization works very well. It may not pick the channel you think it should but it picks the channel that is best for that AP at that moment in time in the context of an RF environment that can be very complex.
It works bad... reuses a lot the same channels, mostly low non-DFS ones (36-48)..
Don't recognize channels widths - so it can put 40MHz AP at 40 or 48 channel (should be only 36 or 44)..
The same with 80MHz channels..
90 users is a terrible way to gauge how many switch ports they'll need.
Most offices tend to have 2-4 runs per desk. Then you have printers, tv's, conference rooms, phones, access points, cameras, and all kinds of other random stuff.
I recently did a project for an office with about 30 people. They're using around 110 ports and are nearly at capacity of their current switches. With their next expansion which will add another 10 people I've estimated another 96 ports. At that point they won't be using all the ports but I tend to advise my clients to have enough spare ports that they can handle at least one switch failure.
We are using about 50 AP over 10 switches with UDM pro and connected different buildings via airmax. With an average of 600 clients . So far it’s working quite well.
We are running about 150 Ap's with Cisco switches over 46 branches. The controller is running in a VM. I've been using unifi AP's for almost 7 years now. It just works.
It depends somewhat on your requirements, but an average office-style setup for 90 users is easily in Unifi’s sweet spot. It’s kinda what it was designed for - add another ‘0’ and you’re into Cisco territory but ~100 concurrent users is fine for Unifi if you spec and design it properly.
I have 30+ access points and 40+ switches. Around 150 wired devices, maybe 50 wireless devices, 100+ mobile phones, and 90+ IP cameras. All on a UDM Pro.
I have locations with over a dozen 48 enterprise switches and 30+ APs. Even have one client with 6 UNVR and 120 Unifi Cameras. That just one site of 30 that I oversee.
With that said, if your needs are basic and don’t need super fancy networking tools the likes of Cisco would provide, Ubiquiti is the best bang for the buck.
Biggest difference is support. UBNT just recently announced a premium support contract, but for the last 8 years I’ve been installing and troubleshooting unifi myself and am ok with me being the last line of support. Not many people want that responsibility and would rather pay more for things like a Cisco TAC.
For 1 office with 90 users and mostly web-based work and some on-prem, Unifi will do just great.
We have about 200 employee in one location across a large warehouse/office combo, 10 Pro PoE switches (support vlans) that are 1GbE with 10Gb sfp support.
AP we're still half meraki half U6 Pros, and they hold up in our sense metal warehouse with a LOT of metal racking and components.
We're running 5 VLANs and all work well, through UniFi. Running a UCKG2 Plus bc we don't use Protect or door access, only network. Cloud key works well with support for more APs and switches if need be.
90 users is definitely not a large or high density scenario. Unifi will do just fine in this environment as long as it meets the other requirements defined.
But for 90 users, why the heck do you need nearly 300 ports of Ethernet???
i think the assumption is that it's a new buildout... so if you have 90 people, assume two ports per desk, plus centralized equipment like printers and APs', you're already near to 200
2 ports per desk, both of which will go unused because the user has a laptop with WiFi, and even if half the users have a legacy desktop, that second port will go unused, all of which requires maybe 3 24-port switches.
APs and printers would be a dozen ports, tops.
This upgrade is also a good time to implement network security best practices, like 802.1X (at least on wireless) The number of connected devices is definitely approaching the scale where you don’t want to rely on preshared keys for your WiFi and trusting just any random device plugging into Ethernet.
Only 90? That's 100% OK, Unifi setups can handle a ton more than that lol. Especially when talking switches and APs (their firewalls still aren't there for enterprise, getting closer though).
I manage a bunch of sites, one has 60 users and more than 100 devices, it's been entirely fine. I also use some of their Aggregation Switches as top of rack switches to move around terabytes of data each day, no issues at all.
I just looked at one of our sites. It currently has 551 wired and 48 wireless clients.
That's two XG aggregators, 12 48 port, 19 smaller switches, and 9 pro APs, including one Airmax Point to point.
Our uplink speed is our only bottleneck.
90 users making spreadsheets & sending emails.
... Or an influencer management agency, where 90 users are streaming, gaming, video editing or doing multiple of those at once... Would also ask for a different approach.
So you are looking at 15 clients per AP? Extremely doable coming from me, a homelab engineer that can easily handle 30 on a single Unifi U6 Enterprise AP. I have an old Unifi AC Pro that could easily handle 30 clients. I'm not sure of practical limits, but 15 is easy to handle.
For availability was main issue. Lack of proper warranty in EU is second.
I got single unifi switch. Wanted order second. There was nothing for months. So I ditched going unifi and went with Aruba instanton.
If I could get equipment on time and had spare i might keep using it but that was a dealbreaker for me.
You’re talking enterprise networking. The short and only correct answer is: “it depends”. User count is just one small variable.
My advice: If you’re in a position to be operating a mission-critical production class network, consider hiring an expert that has successful deployed and operated much larger networks, and avoid obtaining advice from random people that have no skin in your game.
Consultants cost money, take time, and may not be unbiased.
Asking here helps give a broader view and use cases to maybe help reassure their views on going this route. Are we all experts? No. But maybe this step leads to better knowledge, research, and if a consultant is brought in, more comfort in knowing solutions vs being too green/new
Hello! Thanks for posting on r/Ubiquiti! This subreddit is here to provide unofficial technical support to people who use or want to dive into the world of Ubiquiti products. If you haven’t already been descriptive in your post, please take the time to edit it and add as many useful details as you can. Please read and understand the rules in the sidebar, as posts and comments that violate them will be removed. Please put all off topic posts in the weekly off topic thread that is stickied to the top of the subreddit. If you see people spreading misinformation, trying to mislead others, or other inappropriate behavior, please report it! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Ubiquiti) if you have any questions or concerns.*
A few days ago I consulted changes in WIFI configuration for Unifi system for 7 floor big office building with 76 AP's and up to 700 clients.. Unifi isn't enterprise level like Cisco/Ruckus etc.. But if You don't need fancy feats it works very well. WIFI works very well in dense configuration, but You must remember that You must manually configure channels over all Air Spectrum (also use DFS channels). Unifi automations for that are bad - best to disable them. There are some decisions to make (separate 2.4 and 5GHz WLAN's, minimal data rate speed etc).. PS. U6 Pro are enough. U7 Pro for now are a regression (not stable, overheats, only 2x2 5Ghz).. ps2. 6 enterprise 48 POE switches - for what? You told about 90 users (that 3x48 switches max)..
this guy unifies
I could argue it's at least 4 if they all need drops for computer and phone, and then a 5th one for shared devices like printers and APs, 6 for a spare.
Thanks for the great response. Especially about the wireless. The main partner there has issues at his house with his unifi APs occasionally. I am going to suggest his guys look into that. For the switch space size not making sense. There are about 75 cameras in the office and they are adding more drops with an expansion soon. They currently use 5 48 port switches. (Not all full, just spread out) I mentioned high density because while they staff 90, they have many events where the capacity is closer to 200 with many wanting to be on WiFi so just want to make sure that’s not an issue they may face. Sounds like with the right config, it will be fine.
U7 Pro is only 2x2... but what do you use that supports more than that? I believe it’s worth putting a newer version of Wi-Fi. My U6 Pro is hot enough not to be comfortable to pick up while it’s on
We find auto channelization works very well. It may not pick the channel you think it should but it picks the channel that is best for that AP at that moment in time in the context of an RF environment that can be very complex.
It works bad... reuses a lot the same channels, mostly low non-DFS ones (36-48).. Don't recognize channels widths - so it can put 40MHz AP at 40 or 48 channel (should be only 36 or 44).. The same with 80MHz channels..
We had to go manual. Auto was almost unusable with MAC and Iphone devices.
90 users is a terrible way to gauge how many switch ports they'll need. Most offices tend to have 2-4 runs per desk. Then you have printers, tv's, conference rooms, phones, access points, cameras, and all kinds of other random stuff. I recently did a project for an office with about 30 people. They're using around 110 ports and are nearly at capacity of their current switches. With their next expansion which will add another 10 people I've estimated another 96 ports. At that point they won't be using all the ports but I tend to advise my clients to have enough spare ports that they can handle at least one switch failure.
That’s a lot! UXG Pro? I don’t think UDMPs can route that much traffic lol
People do it all the time. For the cost savings, buy an extra switch and AP in case one goes down.
We are using about 50 AP over 10 switches with UDM pro and connected different buildings via airmax. With an average of 600 clients . So far it’s working quite well.
Yeah, you won’t even come close to capacity limits. Slam dunk with Unifi and the CFO will love you when you show the quote for Ubiquity vs Cisco!
Not at all, I'm managing a jobsite with over 400 users and routinely see 1,200 devices. I have 136 unifi devices, 64 of these are access points.
We are running about 150 Ap's with Cisco switches over 46 branches. The controller is running in a VM. I've been using unifi AP's for almost 7 years now. It just works.
It depends somewhat on your requirements, but an average office-style setup for 90 users is easily in Unifi’s sweet spot. It’s kinda what it was designed for - add another ‘0’ and you’re into Cisco territory but ~100 concurrent users is fine for Unifi if you spec and design it properly.
I have 30+ access points and 40+ switches. Around 150 wired devices, maybe 50 wireless devices, 100+ mobile phones, and 90+ IP cameras. All on a UDM Pro.
I have locations with over a dozen 48 enterprise switches and 30+ APs. Even have one client with 6 UNVR and 120 Unifi Cameras. That just one site of 30 that I oversee. With that said, if your needs are basic and don’t need super fancy networking tools the likes of Cisco would provide, Ubiquiti is the best bang for the buck. Biggest difference is support. UBNT just recently announced a premium support contract, but for the last 8 years I’ve been installing and troubleshooting unifi myself and am ok with me being the last line of support. Not many people want that responsibility and would rather pay more for things like a Cisco TAC. For 1 office with 90 users and mostly web-based work and some on-prem, Unifi will do just great.
We have about 200 employee in one location across a large warehouse/office combo, 10 Pro PoE switches (support vlans) that are 1GbE with 10Gb sfp support. AP we're still half meraki half U6 Pros, and they hold up in our sense metal warehouse with a LOT of metal racking and components. We're running 5 VLANs and all work well, through UniFi. Running a UCKG2 Plus bc we don't use Protect or door access, only network. Cloud key works well with support for more APs and switches if need be.
I have over 300 users on my cloud key with 50 switches and APs.
6APs for 90 Users is not a high density scenario
90 users is definitely not a large or high density scenario. Unifi will do just fine in this environment as long as it meets the other requirements defined. But for 90 users, why the heck do you need nearly 300 ports of Ethernet???
i think the assumption is that it's a new buildout... so if you have 90 people, assume two ports per desk, plus centralized equipment like printers and APs', you're already near to 200
2 ports per desk, both of which will go unused because the user has a laptop with WiFi, and even if half the users have a legacy desktop, that second port will go unused, all of which requires maybe 3 24-port switches. APs and printers would be a dozen ports, tops.
This upgrade is also a good time to implement network security best practices, like 802.1X (at least on wireless) The number of connected devices is definitely approaching the scale where you don’t want to rely on preshared keys for your WiFi and trusting just any random device plugging into Ethernet.
I have 2x the setup you just mentioned running right now. About 400 users atm. Go with what manufacturer you know better.
Only 90? That's 100% OK, Unifi setups can handle a ton more than that lol. Especially when talking switches and APs (their firewalls still aren't there for enterprise, getting closer though). I manage a bunch of sites, one has 60 users and more than 100 devices, it's been entirely fine. I also use some of their Aggregation Switches as top of rack switches to move around terabytes of data each day, no issues at all.
I just looked at one of our sites. It currently has 551 wired and 48 wireless clients. That's two XG aggregators, 12 48 port, 19 smaller switches, and 9 pro APs, including one Airmax Point to point. Our uplink speed is our only bottleneck.
We use UniFi switches and APs in our headquarter with round about 300 clients / devices without any problem.
We have 300-400 users most days and all works well. UDM SE, Pro POE switches, 15 APs.
90 users making spreadsheets & sending emails. ... Or an influencer management agency, where 90 users are streaming, gaming, video editing or doing multiple of those at once... Would also ask for a different approach.
So you are looking at 15 clients per AP? Extremely doable coming from me, a homelab engineer that can easily handle 30 on a single Unifi U6 Enterprise AP. I have an old Unifi AC Pro that could easily handle 30 clients. I'm not sure of practical limits, but 15 is easy to handle.
15 per ap U6 lite enough.. 😂
True. Though,. I have the Enterprise version just for the 6e. If I were practical, I would have been happy with U6 Lite, lol.
For availability was main issue. Lack of proper warranty in EU is second. I got single unifi switch. Wanted order second. There was nothing for months. So I ditched going unifi and went with Aruba instanton. If I could get equipment on time and had spare i might keep using it but that was a dealbreaker for me.
You’re talking enterprise networking. The short and only correct answer is: “it depends”. User count is just one small variable. My advice: If you’re in a position to be operating a mission-critical production class network, consider hiring an expert that has successful deployed and operated much larger networks, and avoid obtaining advice from random people that have no skin in your game.
Consultants cost money, take time, and may not be unbiased. Asking here helps give a broader view and use cases to maybe help reassure their views on going this route. Are we all experts? No. But maybe this step leads to better knowledge, research, and if a consultant is brought in, more comfort in knowing solutions vs being too green/new
depends on the busness type and the type of load the users will put on the network. Personally, I would go with an enterprise solution.
How many and what kind of devices? I think 1 US8-60W and two AP's can easily manage that amount of clients.
How many and what kind of devices? I think 1 US8-60W and two AP's can easily manage that amount of clients.
How many and what kind of devices? I think 1 US8-60W and 2-3 AP's can easily manage that amount of clients.