Why UniFi?
When most people think about networking equipment, they default to consumer-grade routers from the big-box store. The problem? Those devices weren't designed for reliable, scalable networks. They lack VLAN support, centralized management, and the reliability you depend on every day.
Ubiquiti UniFi bridges the gap between consumer gear and enterprise networking — giving you professional-grade features like centralized controller management, PoE switching, and seamless roaming without the enterprise price tag.
Planning Your Deployment
Before you buy a single piece of equipment, start with a site survey. Walk through your space and note where you need coverage, where you need wireless connectivity, and where your cabling will run. This saves time and money down the road.
A typical deployment includes:
- UniFi Dream Machine Pro — your gateway, firewall, and controller in one device
- UniFi Switch — PoE-capable for powering access points
- UniFi Access Points — strategically placed for complete coverage
Network Design Example
Here's a basic VLAN configuration:
# VLAN 1 - Management (default)
# VLAN 10 - Corporate devices
# VLAN 20 - Guest Wi-Fi
# VLAN 30 - IoT devices (printers, cameras)Segmenting your network with VLANs keeps guest traffic isolated from your sensitive data and prevents IoT devices from becoming attack vectors.
Going Live
Once your equipment is racked and cabled, adoption through the UniFi Network Application is straightforward. Devices appear automatically, and you can configure everything from a single dashboard — from firewall rules to Wi-Fi SSIDs.
The key to a smooth go-live is testing. Verify coverage in every corner of your space, confirm VLAN isolation is working, and run a speed test from multiple locations before going live.