What Do I Need To Run UniFi Express (UX)

This short video gives you a run through of the basic steps that are needed to set up a network with Ubiquiti UniFi Express.
The Ubiquiti UniFi Express is 3 in 1 device. It can function as a router, an access point, or an OS Console (only runs Unifi Network with a total Ubiquiti device management limit of 5, ie 4 additional)
Please note that the UX does not support Intrusion Prevention / Detection (IPS/IDS), but this is the only current feature it does not support.
You can buy yours from thetechgeeks.com/products/ux-...
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
03:02 How do we set up UniFi Express?
08:33 How do we mesh these together?
11:48 How do you add a wireless access point?
14:09 Features of the UniFi Express
17:27 Outro

[@JarrydAyling]

If using one of these with a Cloud Key G2 Plus to run a few cameras in a home application, will the 5 device limit become an issue? Assuming the Cloud Key manages the cameras and the Express just has one device slot taken by the Cloud Key? Leaves 3 slots for switch/APs. Or is there a better route to take starting UniFi from scratch to run a simple home network with cameras?

[@The_Tech_Geeks]

Good question. The cloud key runs all the Ubiquiti applications where as the UX only runs Network. So technically you are adding two controllers in to the network. In that instance you will just use the Cloud Key to run Unifi Protect. It will not be managed nor be visible to the UX. The cameras that the Cloud Key manage will be managed by that device and again not seen in the device count of the UX. The UX can only manage switches and access points. The other option is to use a UXG-Lite and have the Cloud key manage that and that way you only have one controller. I hope this helps.

[@jermsz]

if you add a ubiquiti switch like the 8 port you were mentioning (with 4 poe) will the network software show the full list of whats connected to the switch such as ubiquiti cameras and accesspoints? or will it stop at the switch?

[@The_Tech_Geeks]

Good question. If you add the switch to the controller then you will be able to see and manage all the ports. You will also be able to see information about any devices that are connected to those ports (ie IP address and data) If you have other Ubiquiti access points then you can add those to the controller as well if you want. If you have Ubiquiti cameras, then you won't be able to add them as they need a controller with a harddrive to run Unifi Protect. I hope this helps.

[@JeffZiegler76]

Does it have a built in DHCP & DNS? My EdgeRouter Lite died & the cable company upped my speed so EdgeRouter X slows it down. I try ER7206 but that doesn't have a DNS server.

[@The_Tech_Geeks]

Good questions. It has a built in DHCP server and it can work as a DNS proxy. Ie you can assign the DNS for your DHCP scope to be the LAN IP of the UX and as long as you have valid WAN DNS servers configured in the device it will proxy the request to those.

[@andrewcarfax-foster5046]

i'd like to use two UX's to create a guest a meshed wifi network with a captive portal. Thanks for your info on setting that up. Would you happen to know if captive portal guest network setup is also a supported feature?

[@andrewcarfax-foster5046]

18:01, mentioned guest networking at the end there, So I assume captive portal features are there too.

[@LasseSchiffer]

Is it possible to use a second wired UniFi Express to extend the network combined with mesh? The ethernet as a wired backhaul that is instead of wireless? And is the possibly affecting the speed the same way or not?

[@The_Tech_Geeks]

Great question. There are two definitions of the word Mesh in this instance. The first is "two devices that create a wireless network without the need for an ethernet cable between them". This is what two Unifi Express can do. The second is "a single Wireless Name (SSID) shared across multiple wired or wireless access points". This is a standard out of the box feature with Ubiquiti Network. So yes you can use these as wired access points, cabled together and then as you mentioned you also won't lose some of the performance speed between them as they are not meshing with each other wirelessly as you have cabled them together. They will though both broadcast the same SSID. I hope this helps.

[@LasseSchiffer]

Thanks ! Will try during christmas and report back. Merry Christmas !@@The_Tech_Geeks

[@thatguyoverthere531]

Do you guys know if this can allow me to set up a switch from this, or do i have to go through the set up on my PC?

[@The_Tech_Geeks]

If you have a Ubqiuiti Unifi switch then once you have set up the Unifi Express as a controller you can add and then manage the Unifi switch through the Unifi Express.

[@ZPsssssssss]

somehow i couldn't add the express as an ap to my exisiting network managed by UDM SE. I don't have the second option available both plug-in or wireless mesh

[@The_Tech_Geeks]

That is very strange. Did you try after a factory reset?

[@vesp3rv]

What is mega sec unit ? It’s huge different between MB/s and Mb/s and M/s says for me nothing (I hear mega sec and it ms literally megasecond for me :D)

[@The_Tech_Geeks]

Hi, Thanks for your comments. Generally if I refer to something it will be Mb/s ie Mega Bits per second as that is generally what we use when we talk about internet connection speeds and basic networking, so definately not ms being milliseconds. I hope this helps.

[@Aryco463]

So ultimately ill still need a provider modem between NBN and Ubiquiti express?? Also if i used one Ubiquiti express then into a POE switch with 3 unifi 6 lite's running in my house can i set this up so the 3 ap's and the express mesh? i want to be able to walk around my house and the ap's seamlessly just change so i can get best speed and coverage no matter where i am in the house

[@The_Tech_Geeks]

If you don't have fibre to the property and your NBN is delivered over the phone line still, then you are correct and you still need a modem between them. As to the mesh. The U6-Lites can already be meshed, as your definition looks like a single network name across all access points. This is a standard feature of Unifi. If you connect them to a network switch and use the UX as the controller then you can manage them altogether in the way you are hoping.

[@Aryco463]

Amazing, i think i have NBN FTTC (there is a pit out the fron tof my property) and then this goes inside with the backup battery. but it would probably be beter to have the UX anyways to keep it all up to date and working correctly. what POE switch do you reccomend... i will only use 3 ap's so i wont need a big one but if it has a few extra ports i can use to hardwire other things around the house.@@The_Tech_Geeks​

[@Aryco463]

yes i think i have FTTP i rememebr seeing the backup battery box next to the nbn box that had fiber.... what does that mean? what POE switch do you reccomemnd with UX.@@The_Tech_Geeks

[@The_Tech_Geeks]

Sounds like you have fibre in your house so hopefully it will plug right in. On the Poe switch it will depend on how many Poe ports you need but the usw-lite-8-Poe could be a good starting point.

[@carmineadiletta2947]

my situation is 1 unifi express, 2 ubiquiti access points, I would like to transmit via wifi a guest network with a subclass like 192.168.1.1... and I do it without problems, I would now like to create another wifi that has the same class as the modem ( 192.168.0.1... ) but unifi express gives me an error, how can I configure it to do this, can you help me? A thousand thanks!!

[@The_Tech_Geeks]

Good question. The issue you have here is that the modem is on the WAN side of your Unifi Express. Your Unifi Express on its LAN (or for that instance it Wireless LAN) have a different IP range to the WAN interface. If they are not unique then the UX will not know how to route the traffic and so it won't work. Is there a reason you want it the same as the modem, or are you just wanting another IP Range?

[@nasifmahdi]

Great video

[@The_Tech_Geeks]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Frandsen29]

how about wired backhaul?

[@The_Tech_Geeks]

Wired backhaul should be at 1Gb/s speed.

[@fuser662]

What if you don't want to use the web to use it, can you just hit it directly and manage it that way?

[@The_Tech_Geeks]

If you mean can you set it up using the App and not a web browser then yes you can do it that way.

[@fuser662]

@@The_Tech_Geeks I mean fully manage the device and my network. Where I live I frequently lose internet connection and I'm looking for a router where even without internet I can still manage my Wi-Fi and my devices and I'm wondering if this will work for that, That's how I found your video

[@The_Tech_Geeks]

You can log in to the device locally and manage it. The cloud link is an addon. The actual management is on the local device, so in your instance that should work.

[@moya-moye]

I have bought a Udm wall by spending some 1200 bucks. Also 2 unify accespoint 6e enterprise version one unify express, after a massive wifi hacking by some unknown remote actions. originally the ISP gave their own modem (Speedprt pro with hybrid option from telekom). But then I want to use only Udm wall as main modem and router. I plugged in the DSL cable to Udm wall, but nothing is being recognised...I am not a professional, but I really want this to work and have a secure connection.pleae help..where am I doing wrong..I want to give up the ISP modem

[@The_Tech_Geeks]

Great to hear from you. If you have DSL then you won't be able to get rid of your ISPs modem I am afraid. You have two options to make it work. 1. Put the DSL modem in bridge mode if it supports it. This basically makes the modem a bridge between LAN and DSL and removes all of its functions like IP allocation etc. In this setup all you will then need to do is plug the WAN port of your Dream Wall in to the LAN of the DSL modem and configure the WAN port of the Dream Wall to use PPoE and add in your username and password details for your ISP. 2. Keep using your currently DSL modem. This will work but probably by default the IP range of your Dream Wall is on 192.168.1.x and the IP address of your DSL modem is 192.168.1.x so it will look like it is not working. It is, it is just that routing is not working. So either change your LAN network on your Dream wall to say something like 192.168.10.x or change your ISP modem to something like that. Then the Dream Wall should be able to route and everything will work. I hope this helps get you going in the right direction.

[@moya-moye]

@@The_Tech_Geeks Thank you sir. For detail description of the procedure. Is it possible instead of speed port pro 4 , I can buy another small modem form unify to replace the ISP modem as a bridge..since the modem from ISP is huge and can't be put on a Wall..I bought the udm wall.to make a clean look without compromising security. I am sorry, I may sound naive to you, but i have another apartment, where I have same DSL connection but a modem from fritz company and router from tp link..it does work. I don't know..why it doesn't work in this house .it's the same company

[@moya-moye]

Sir...Is there any alternative to ISP modem (currently it's very big)...I want something very small wall hanging modem to work as bridge to my udm wall

[@The_Tech_Geeks]

There are plently of companies that make smaller ADSL/VDSL modems, like DrayTek etc that can be put in bridge mode. D-Link make a small one and so to TP-Link. Just make sure it will work with your ISP.

[@raydzek]

So still not zero-touch like a Meraki option.

[@The_Tech_Geeks]

Correct. One day maybe :D

[@stultuses]

But with ubiquity, you have zero licence fees Pick your poison

[@armlemos81]

You don’t have intrusion prevention nor detection on Express - please edit as this can lead to misinformation.

[@The_Tech_Geeks]

Thanks for pointing that out. It is still application aware, but you don't have the Intrusion Prevention option as you mention that you do on the UDR/UDM/UDM-Pro/SE

[@armlemos81]

@@The_Tech_Geeks and I don’t think it will ever be available as this is also hardware consuming - the express in my opinion is really targeting very basic installations/mesh like architectures or for a great travel router

[@The_Tech_Geeks]

Yes, very true. It is great to people wanting Ubiquiti but only have a few devices and maybe just a couple of access points.

[@stultuses]

​@armlemos81 Yes, it's disappointing they didn't include this The original USG, which this looks like it is replacing does, but when you turn it on, performance drops through the floor They could have made a faster device for very little cost increase This device is good for simple installs, like a grandparents place where you want to be able to set and forget it but log into it now and then remotely to make sure things are OK. You will not be able to add cameras or any other unifi product, unless you go for a standalone version, like say the unvr for video As a light basic unit is ok, similar to a cheap router in the known brand range, like Asus etc

[@The_Tech_Geeks]

Watch this space is probably the words I would use. More products coming from Ubiquiti later this year that may hit the spot.