UniFi USW-Flex-Mini Adoption & Setup (5 port gigabit switch)

The UniFi USW-FLEX-Mini from @UbiquitiInc is a compact, 5-port, Layer 2 switch that can be powered with PoE or a 5V USB-C adapter. The Flex Mini can be adopted in to your UniFi eco system, whilst local controllers work fine, there can be some difficulties installing the switch in a hosted controller, which we take a look at in this video.
Buy the Ubiquiti USW-FLEX-Mini here on Amazon:
amzn.to/3Vbxjna
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#unifi #ubiquiti #flex #mini

[@icecreamjunkie6790]

Just bought one and put it in my network! Once the Cloud Gateway Ultra is back in stock, I’ll be ditching all my ISP’s equipment for a full Ubiquiti setup. Already have a U7 Pro.

[@sheridans]

UniFi is great gear

[@icecreamjunkie6790]

@@sheridans For sure, I work in IT and we use Ubiquiti gear for all of our sites.

[@icecreamjunkie6790]

@@sheridans Update: I got my Ubiquiti site set up with a Netgear modem, Cloud Gateway Ultra, U7 Pro, and Flex Mini. I had no issues adopting the Flex Mini. I factory reset it, it came online, I adopted it, and it updated. Did they patch the issue you were discussing on the video?

[@sheridans]

@icecreamjunkie6790 it works fine locally, it's only when you try to adopt it to cloud hosted or different subnet

[@omoveja8185]

Hi, can you please tell me how long is the power cable ?

[@try-that]

I just watched a video from Hostifi, which was showing off their free discovery tool for discovering and adopting. They specifically mentioned the this and another switch causing problems adopting and this tool was written to get round it. I don't have the switch to test it on, perhaps you could try it and do an updated video if it works?

[@sheridans]

Thanks for this,I'll reach out to Reilly and ask him. Though not sure how it would help adopt since you can't set-inform. Thanks for heads up, will check it out

[@sheridans]

I've just spoke to Reilly and confirmed you can adopt them with the tool, also the ulta switches. I'll cover it if he gives me permission

[@try-that]

Great, look forward to seeing the video, especially if it helps others.

[@r0bo11]

Thanks for this video and additional tip! I was having adoption issues with my mini, and used a combination of Hostifi tool and adjusting the host inform override for my docker unifi controller instance. It was a bit of a headache having the usual adoption loop, but managed it in the end.

[@emiliabunko4518]

very usefull!

[@sheridans]

Glad it was helpful!

[@thomascook1640]

Does it support "port profiles" with Version 8?

[@JeramiFrost]

Unless something has changed in the newer controller versions, this thing is still a nightmare to adopt when your switch is on a different subnet from your controller.

[@sheridans]

it's still the same. which is the point of the video :)

[@JeramiFrost]

I recently had my mini flex lose connection to my controller, due to my own doing. The only way i have found to fix it is to install the controller software on a computer and put it on the same network as the switch, then adopt it. After that, its the same steps as you mention with regards to transferring it to my normal controller on a different subnet. I wish these things weren’t so appealing with being PoE powered and cheap.

[@sheridans]

Local controller seems to be the only way

[@JeramiFrost]

@@sheridans agreed. I get they will never add the ability to ssh into this, but they could at least try and fix the controller to allow it to adopt across subnets. Good video on showing people how to overcome the challenges presented with this switch btw.

[@underseavision6771]

Thanks for your video. I have a flex mini at a remote site with the unifi controller 8.11 local connected through a VPN tunnel. I was able to adopt the flex mini but the controller isn't able to see the remote subnets. This might be vlan tag related. Thanks again

[@sheridans]

I don't have any issues with subnets once it's been adopted afaik

[@underseavision6771]

@@sheridans thanks. I'm using option 43 and Edgrouters on both ends. This might have something to do with it. Tunnels are up for the subnets and reachable. Just can't see them through the controller

[@underseavision6771]

solved it.

[@sheridans]

Sharing? 😀

[@bokami3445]

I have two Mini Flex's and they are both a pain in the @ss. When I originally got them, If I set them to a static IP, the ports would default to 100M/b, switching to dhcp ip assignment would allow 1G/b and sorted that problem. Now randomly one of the ports will revert to 100G/b and require a factory reset to correct the problem. At some point I'm going to replace both with unmanaged switches. Waste of money IMHO.

[@sheridans]

Interesting, thanks for the update 👍