Network design
How to expand a UniFi installation without breaking what works
By IPProtec · · 5 min read
Quick answer
To expand a UniFi installation you check console capacity, free ports and switch PoE power budget, recording storage, version compatibility and existing documentation, and plan the expansion with a prior backup.
Expanding a UniFi network is usually straightforward: new devices are adopted from the same console and inherit networks, WiFi and policies. Problems appear when equipment is added without first checking what is already there: a switch with no PoE power left, a recorder that goes from keeping thirty days to ten, or a rushed update on the same day as the works.
That is why it pays to review the existing installation before ordering hardware. This is the list we follow.
Pre-check list
- Console: does it support more devices and cameras?
- Switches: are there ports and PoE power left for the new equipment?
- Recording: is there room for more cameras without losing days?
- Software: is it updated in a controlled way?
- Cabling: are routes and conduits available?
- Configuration backup before touching anything.
The most overlooked item: PoE power
Free ports do not mean free power. Every PoE switch has a total power budget in watts shared by all powered devices, and a camera with infrared or a high-end access point draws considerably more than a basic model. If what is installed plus what is new exceeds that budget, some device will lose power or reboot intermittently.
The actual draw of each port can be checked in the UniFi console. With that figure you decide whether the current switch is enough, whether it should be replaced by one with more power, or whether a second switch near the new area is the better option.
More cameras, same recording days
Storage was sized for a given number of cameras and a specific retention period. Adding cameras without adding disk space reduces the available recording days proportionally. Before expanding, decide how many days you want to keep and work out whether the current disk allows it; if not, storage is expanded as part of the same job.
Common expansions
| Expansion | What it usually requires |
|---|---|
| More WiFi | Cable to the new area and a free PoE port |
| More cameras | PoE ports, power and storage |
| Access control | A hub per door, readers and locks |
| New site | A gateway at the site and Site Magic |
How to do it without downtime
- Back up the configuration and note the installed versions.
- Update beforehand, if needed, on a different day from the expansion: if something fails, you know what caused it.
- Install the new cabling and devices without touching what is in service.
- Adopt and configure the new devices, and check coverage, recording or door opening as applicable.
- Update the documentation: network diagram, ports in use, available PoE power and credentials.