How to export a site from UniFi Controller

There will probably come a time when you need to export a site from your UniFi Controller. Either for backup purposes, or to migrate to a new controller (like UniHosted), or to replicate settings elsewhere. Well, when the time comes you'll need to know how to do this correctly.

This post will provide a straightforward walkthrough on how to export a site from a UniFi Controller. Let's make sure you can do this securely and effectively.

Let's get it!

Table of Contents

• UniFi site export
• Steps to exporting a site from your UniFi Controller
  • Step 1: Access the UniFi Controller
  • Step 2: Open site settings
  • Step 3: Navigate to site export
  • Step 4: Export site
  • Step 5: Save the export file
  • Step 6: Import site to another controller
• Final thoughts

UniFi site export

Exporting a site involves creating a file that contains all the configurations and settings of that site from your UniFi Controller. This file can then be imported into another UniFi Controller setup, replicating the original site’s configuration. Sooner or later you'll need to know how to do this. Luckily, it's quite straightforward.

Reasons for exporting a site:

• Backup: Regular backups of your site will help recover quickly from hardware failures or data corruption.
• Migration: When upgrading to a new UniFi Controller or moving to a different server, you might need to export and then import your site to the new system.
• Replication: Exporting a site can simplify the setup process if you need to replicate existing configurations (for exampl for mulitple locations)

Steps to exporting a site from your UniFi Controller

Before exporting your site, tick these boxes:

• Update UniFi Controller software: Make sure your UniFi Controller is up-to-date to avoid issues during import.
• Review site configuration: Check the configurations and settings to know everything is correct and up-to-date.
• Notify users: If the export process might affect network performance or accessibility, please notify any potentially impacted users ahead of time.

Step 1: Access the UniFi Controller

Log into your UniFi Controller using a web browser. You can do this by going to the IP address of your controller or its domain name if configured.

Step 2: Open site settings

1. Select the Site: Select the site you want to export from the site dropdown menu in the bottom left of the UniFi dashboard (if you have multiple sites).
2. Go to site settings: Click on the settings (gear) icon to enter the settings menu for the selected site.

Step 3: Navigate to site export

Within the site settings, find and select the ‘Backup’ option. This section handles both backup creation and site export.

Step 4: Export site

1. Create backup/export file: Click on the option to download or export the site configuration. You might see options like "Backup", "Download Site", or "Export Site".
2. Choose what to include: You may be asked to select which elements of the site configuration to include in the export, such as network settings, device configurations, and historical statistics etc.
3. Initiate export: Confirm your choices and initiate the export process. The system will generate a .unf file that contains all the selected site information.

Step 5: Save the export file

Download the .unf file to your local machine. Make sure this file is stored securely, especially if it contains sensitive network configurations.

Step 6: Import site to another controller

If you are exporting the site to import it into another UniFi Controller:

1. Access the New Controller: Log into the UniFi Controller where you want to import the site.
2. Go to Settings and Import Site: Find the import option in the settings and upload your .unf file. Follow the prompts to complete the site import.

If you are switching to a managed hosting provide like UniHosted, we'll guide you throught the importing process personally.

Final thoughts

Exporting a site from a UniFi Controller is super valuable. Especially if you need to manage and replicate network configurations. If you follow the above steps, it's quite easy to export your site configurations, making them easily transferable between UniFi Controllers.

If you are considering to improve you network performance and sercurity, you might want to consider a managed hosting service like UniHosted. We provide managed UniFi Controllers to improve your network efficiency. Especially, if you are an MSP or IT-service business looking for reliable, secure and scalable UniFi network deployments, this is something for you.

Feel free to give us a spin! Additionally, I'm happy to walk you through personally. You can schedule a call with me (Founder of UniHosted) here.