this post was submitted on 08 Feb 2026
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I bought into the ecosystem while taking my networking cert classes back in 2017. They were much cheaper than Cisco gear for business-grade networking, and overall I've been happy with them.

Their security offerings are locally managed, and you can make local accounts, but I just bought a NAS from them and I had to sign in with my ubiquiti account first before I could make a local account, and it seems the cloud account has some privileges that you can't give to local super admins.

So now I'm having second thoughts. I figure since it's enterprise-grade stuff they can't really make it cloud-dependent like you see on the consumer side since a lot of companies need air-gapped networks. On the other hand, on those occasions that I didn't have internet access and hadn't yet made a local-only account, I was locked out, so...

Regarding the NAS specifically, I use a TruNAS system at work and it works well enough on a rack server, but since it uses ZFS I don't know it would be good for home use. What alternatives are there?

Are there any truly FOSS networking options? I figure especially on the switching side you need purpose-built hardware, right? There aren't generic motherboards with 48 network ports you can buy.

I like my Unifi setup, I'm just scared of a rug pull.

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[–] ccunix@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

Just use switches and APs and I'm happy. Had 2 generations of AP and will eventually upgrade to the current ones, but am not in a rush.

I have no desire to expand beyond that, but the networking gear works well.

[–] mongojarle@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Mikrotik for switches. Grandstream for APs. All been just working, and easy to set up. Good price as well.

[–] xep@discuss.online 2 points 2 days ago

Came here to say same thing. Mikrotik is great, although RouterOS doesn't support Ipv6 Neighbour Discovery in a highly useable manner yet. Fantastic otherwise.

[–] lka1988@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I've been running the original Unifi Dream Machine (the can, not rack) since it released in 2019. Been pretty solid, no complaints; it replaced my trusty Asus RT-N66U w/Tomato firmware; I think the UDM has been deployed longer than the Asus at this point.

The single built-in AP on the UDM was getting a bit overwhelmed, so recently I bought a U7 Lite AP to help split the load a little better. Working great so far, but now I'm looking into adding an NVR for cameras.

I like my Unifi setup, I’m just scared of a rug pull.

Same here.

[–] tofu@lemmy.nocturnal.garden 3 points 3 days ago

Can't say anything on unify, but what's wrong with ZFS in the homelab, especially if you know it already? I use ZFS on my Proxmox hosts and my TrueNAS.

[–] USSEthernet@startrek.website 3 points 3 days ago

I've fully invested into UniFi equipment and cameras. I love having a centralized dashboard for my entire network. Network wise you can completely disable the cloud functionality, but then it's not as easy to remotely manage your equipment. Depends on your security risk acceptance or privacy concerns. So far Ubiquiti hasn't given me any reason not to trust them...yet. NAS wise, I've been running TrueNAS for a few years and it's worked out great so far. I've been hosting container apps within TrueNAS more recently. B2 Backblaze for off-site backups. Unifi has Wireguard built right in and I have Tasker on my phone to auto VPN back into my network when I disconnect from my home WiFi. Overall, I'm happy with my setup. Not having the latest equipment sucks, but why upgrade for the sake of upgrading if everything still works?

[–] rumba@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 days ago

At home, I have a shit ton of in-wall HD's behind TVs, a Dream Machine SE Pro. A 16 port and an 8 port POE switch.

At work, I have a Pro Max, a 24 port enterprise switch, and a handful of access points. I also have one of their door controllers with its attached video doorbell.

Their cameras aren't bad, but they're overpriced. I went full reolink and haven't regretted any of that. I use their protect nvr stuff at work, and while it works, it's not great. If you just want something easy to set up and go, it's good enough. If you want to do some really complicated, complex things, you're better off with frigate or blue iris.

Their VPNs a little bit light duty. I don't know if it's still the case, but when I did my setups there was no local DNS option. But that's easy enough to take care of.

[–] cmnybo@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 2 days ago

I've been using their access points for a long time. They have been working quite well. I do have an old WiFi 5 AP that's starting to fail, but that's not too surprising considering the age.

I've just been running the controller with a local account. Hopefully they won't try to force me into using a cloud account.

[–] PumpkinEscobar@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Not so much to the content of your post but to your title:

Their web interface is nice, reasonably priced (not cheap) prosumer sort of gear. I have 2 APs and 1 router, 1 AP is flaky, it’s the 7 XGS which should be a high end AP. It gets pretty bad coverage with it and it’s flaky, randomly going offline once a week. RMAed it, replaced Ethernet cable, poe injector (ubiquity branded) and tried tweaking settings. Still happening

So to the subject, some good in the web interface but I will not buy again. That said, most network gear has some sort of jank in my experience, flaky, or just bad management interface, etc…

[–] KairuByte@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 days ago

I’d say they offer prosumer options for sure, but they also have what I would consider enterprise offerings as well. Even a large campus can easily be run off their enterprise gear.

[–] hydrian@twit.social -1 points 2 days ago

@early_riser I use #unifi for #switching and #wifi. I enjoy those products. I don't like their #NAS and #routing options.

I ran #pfsense for over a decade, but since the 2.8 release you can't do an offline install. So I switched to #opnsense.

[–] talkingpumpkin@lemmy.world 0 points 2 days ago (2 children)

A NAS is just a computer and TrueNAS is just Linux (ok, TrueNAS CORE is Bsd).

You can run zfs on any machine: they recommend loads of RAM for optimal performance, which you don't need at home (or at work, unless your job is running a data center).

You can choose from a number of FOSS NAS-specific operating systems, plus all linux distros (since you post here, I'd assume you either can or aim to administer a home sever?)... why would you go with a proprietary OS?

There are several FOSS operating systems for network equipment too (keyword "NOS"), but as far as I'm aware none that work on small soho/edge switches. OpenWrt runs both my router (mikrotik) and WAPs (tplink), but the two 8-port switches I have at home (also tplink) run their proprietary firmware.

[–] early_riser@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

why would you go with a proprietary OS?

I'm happy with my Unifi network and security setup, especially the single pain of glass. I had assumed the NAS would integrate with that system, but it doesn't seem to.

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