UniFi: Adopt to Cloud by SSH

Issue:

UniFi devices will typically look for a controller on the local network only. HPG, however, will generally utilize a cloud controller for managing UniFi devices.

Solution:

To address this issue, administrators can use SSH to access the CLI of the UniFi device to manually set the "Inform URL" of the device. The Inform URL tells the device where go over the internet for adoption and management.

This solution will work for the majority of UniFi devices, with only 1 or 2 exceptions for the lower end POE switches, which will not come with SSH enabled on them.

Requirements:

UniFi Camera, Switch, or Access Point
Windows 11 PowerShell or Putty
Access to HPG's UniFi Cloud Console

Guide:

note: this guide will assume that Windows 11 Terminal is used instead of Putty. If you prefer Putty, adapt the guide to fit your need

Go to https://unifi.ui.com and logon
in UI.com, access one of the cloud managed sites. These are identifiable by the following icon located below the site's connection status graph:

Example:
On the Dashboard of the site, click the Copy icon next to Inform URL
Paste the Inform URL into Notepad so that you can easily re-access when adopting multiple devices
Power on the device
Connect the device to the network
Get the IP Address of the device
- For devices with integrated Display:
  - Use the integrated display on the device to cycle to the IP Address
- For devices without integrated Display:
  - Search for the MAC address of the device on the DHCP server
Open Windows 11 Terminal on a computer that is connected to the same network as the device you are adopting
In Windows 11 Terminal, type the following command:
```
ssh ubnt@[ipaddress]
```
Replace [ipaddress] with the IP Address that the device was assigned by DHCP
When prompted for a password type:
ubnt

After entering the password you will be logged into the device.
Type the following command to set the "Inform URL":
```
set-inform [informurl]
```
Example:

After sending this command, the device will show up in the cloud console
Go to the cloud console, and go to the site that you are adopting the device
Go to the UniFi Devices tab
You will see the device waiting to be adopted. Click Adopt and wait for the device to complete adoption before continuing with the configuration of the device.

Configure the device according to SOP and site/application requirements.