Setup your Own Unifi Controller in the Azure Cloud

If you want to operate your own Unifi Cloud Controller Instance in an Azure Cloud you can follow the step by step tutorial.

1. Create an Microsoft Azure Account here

2. Login with your credentials and create a New Virtual Computer

After the creation of the Virtual Computer download PUTTY here and SSH to your new Virtual Computer with installed Ubuntu.

Perform these steps for installing the Controller Software.

 Step 1: Add the Ubiquiti repository to /etc/apt/sources.list:  

echo "deb http://www.ubnt.com/downloads/unifi/debian unifi5 ubiquiti" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list

 Step 2: Add the Ubiquiti GPG Key: 

sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv 06E85760C0A52C50

Step 3: Update the server's repository information: 

sudo apt-get update

 Step 4: Install UniFi: 

sudo apt-get install unifi

 You may now close the Terminal or PuTTY window. 

 Step 6: Open your browser and navigate to https://hostname.cloudapp.net:8443/ 

If this fails and you see this error in your logs:  unifi error: Service killed by signal 11  you should SSH in your Instance and execute this command:

 

echo "JSVC_EXTRA_OPTS=\"\$JSVC_EXTRA_OPTS -Xss1280k\"" | sudo tee -a /etc/default/unifi

Restart your box.

Hit again in your Webbrowser: https://hostname.cloudapp.net:8443/  and you should reach the Unifi Site and complete the steps there.

Adopt a Unifi AP with these steps in your Cloud Controller

 UniFi Discovery utility is installed along with your UniFi controller.  

• On Windows, it's in Start Menu->Ubiquiti UniFi->UniFi-Discover
• On Mac, /Applications/UniFi-Discover.app (or use Spotlight to find it)
• Run "java -jar <unifi_base>/lib/ace.jar discover"

To perform L3 adoption with the discovery utility:  

1. Wait until the AP shows up
2. If the AP is not in default state. click "reset", specify the SSH username/password and click "Apply"
3. Click on "manage", modify the inform URL and leave the SSH username/password as ubnt/ubnt and click "Apply"
4. Open a browser to your remote UniFi controller and you should see it being "Pending Approval"
5. Click on "adopt". You'll see it going to "Adopting" state, ignore it  as it'll eventually become "Adoption Failed" or "Disconnected"
6. perform [step 3] again (no need to wait for [step 5] to finish)
7. AP is now managed by the controller

Once adopted, the Controller will upgrade these units automatically.