How to install UniFi OS Server on Linux

With the release of UniFi OS Server, Ubiquiti now allows you to self-host the full UniFi stack—including UniFi Network, SiteMagic VPN, and UniFi Identity—on your own infrastructure, without needing UniFi hardware.

If you're running Linux, especially Ubuntu 22.04, you can install UniFi OS Server using Ubiquiti’s official installer. This guide walks you through the full installation.

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What is UniFi OS Server?

UniFi OS Server is Ubiquiti’s new containerized platform for running UniFi applications on your own server, powered by Podman. It includes:

  • UniFi Network — Full controller for switches, APs, and gateways
  • SiteMagic VPN — Mesh VPN between remote sites
  • UniFi Identity — SSO and access management
  • InnerSpace (optional) — Floorplans and RF analysis

You can run UniFi OS offline or connect it to UI.com for remote access and backups.

Prerequisites

You’ll need:

  • Ubuntu 22.04 (64-bit)
  • Root access
  • At least 2 vCPUs, 4 GB RAM, 20 GB disk
  • Terminal experience

Docker is not supported. UniFi OS uses Podman, and all container management runs as a separate user named uosserver.

Step 1 – Install Podman

Run the following to install Podman and its dependencies:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y podman uidmap slirp4netns iptables curl wget ca-certificates

Check Podman version:

podman --version

If it’s older than 4.3.1, run:

bash
# Add the Kubic repo
echo "deb https://download.opensuse.org/repositories/devel:/kubic:/libcontainers:/unstable/xUbuntu_22.04/ /" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/devel:kubic:libcontainers:unstable.list

# Import GPG key
curl -fsSL https://download.opensuse.org/repositories/devel:/kubic:/libcontainers:/unstable/xUbuntu_22.04/Release.key | sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/libcontainers-unstable.asc

# Update and install latest Podman
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y podman

Step 2 – Download the Installer

bash
mkdir -p /usr/local/src/unifi-os-server
cd /usr/local/src/unifi-os-server

curl -LO https://fw-download.ubnt.com/data/unifi-os-server/8b93-linux-x64-4.2.23-158fa00b-6b2c-4cd8-94ea-e92bc4a81369.23-x64
chmod +x ./8b93-linux-x64-4.2.23-158fa00b-6b2c-4cd8-94ea-e92bc4a81369.23-x64

Always check Ubiquiti’s release blog for updated links.

Step 3 – Install UniFi OS Server

Run the installer:

bash
sudo ./8b93-linux-x64-4.2.23-158fa00b-6b2c-4cd8-94ea-e92bc4a81369.23-x64

This installs UniFi OS Server into a Podman container and creates a Linux system user called uosserver to manage it.

Step 4 – Open the Dashboard

Once installed, visit the local dashboard:

https://<your-server-ip>:11443

Step 5 – Manage UniFi OS Server (Using uosserver CLI)

After installation, your system has a built-in CLI command called uosserver. Run it as root:

bash
uosserver

Example output:

UOS Server: 4.2.23
Usage: uosserver <command>

Commands:
  start                 Start the container
  stop                  Stop the running container
  status                Display the status of the container and services
  shell                 Open a shell session inside the container
  support               Generate support file
  version               Show current version
  help                  Show this help message

Uninstall:
  uosserver-purge       Completely uninstall UOS Server (run as separate command)

This CLI wraps common tasks like starting/stopping the container, getting its status, and accessing the internal shell.

You can still use Podman directly under the uosserver user:

bash
sudo -u uosserver podman logs unifi-os
sudo -u uosserver podman ps

Hardening Tips for Production Use

  • Use Let’s Encrypt or your own SSL cert
  • Set up automated offsite backups
  • Add uptime monitoring
  • Use a reverse proxy or firewall to restrict access
  • Snapshot or back up before upgrades

Known Limitations

  • No support yet for UniFi Protect, Access, or Talk
  • Docker is not supported
  • Installer does not configure SSL or backups
  • Still in Early Access — features may change or break
  • First-time startup may take a few minutes before Network becomes available

Final Thoughts

Linux is now a first-class host for UniFi OS. With full local control, rootless containers, and easy remote access, this is a big step toward enterprise-ready UniFi deployments without proprietary hardware.