Migration support included in the MSP plan.

How to Migrate Your UniFi Devices to a New Controller

Table of Contents

Step 1: Understanding Your Migration Options

When migrating devices between UniFi controllers, you have two primary methods:

  1. Site Export: This is the recommended approach as it offers more control over which devices you migrate.
  2. Backup: This method exports all your sites at once, which can be limiting since a backup can only be imported once to a new controller.

For a precise and controlled migration, we will proceed with a Site Export.

Step 2: Exporting Your Site

  1. Access Your Old Controller: Open the UniFi Controller where your devices are currently managed.
  2. Navigate to Settings: Go to the 'Settings' menu, select 'System', and then choose 'Export Site'.
  3. Download the Site Export File: Follow the prompts to download the site export file to your computer.

Step 3: Preparing Your New UniHosted Controller

  1. Ensure Multi-Site is Enabled: On your new UniHosted controller, go to 'Settings' > 'System' > 'Site Management' and verify that 'Multi-Site Management' is enabled. This allows you to manage multiple sites within the same controller.
  2. Create a New Site: It's advisable to create a new site instead of using the default one, as the default site cannot be deleted and has unique permissions within the UniFi system.

Step 4: Importing Your Site

  1. Navigate to the New Site Creation Page: On your new controller, select 'Add Site' and choose 'Import Site'.
  2. Upload the Site Export File: Select and upload the site export file you downloaded from your old controller.

Step 5: Migrating Your Devices

  1. Device Adoption: After importing, devices will appear as offline because they are still associated with the old controller. UniFi simplifies the migration with an intuitive interface that guides you through migrating devices to the new controller.
  2. Update Device Inform URL: You will need to update the Inform URL to point to the new controller. The format is typically http://[hostname]:8080/inform. Follow the prompts to migrate your devices.

Step 6: Finalizing the Migration

  1. Monitor the Migration: After initiating the device migration, monitor the status on your new UniHosted controller. The devices will transition from 'Getting Ready' to 'Connected'.
  2. Verify Settings and Networks: Ensure that all settings, networks, and configurations are correctly transferred from your old controller.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can ensure a seamless transition to a more robust and scalable network management solution. Should you encounter any issues or require further assistance, our support team is here to help.