UniFi · Project planning
Planning a Ubiquiti UniFi Network
Build the network around what the business needs to do. The equipment list should follow a clear plan for coverage, capacity, security and recovery.
In plain English
An uplink connects one part of the network to another. PoE is power carried over compatible Ethernet cabling. A UPS is battery backup with a finite runtime. Acceptance means the agreed checks showing that the required work succeeds.
Reviewed September 2026 · 3 minute read
Turn business needs into a short brief
Count the people and devices using the network at the same time. Identify the applications that cannot tolerate interruptions, areas with poor service and expected growth. Obtain a floor plan and record building materials, separate structures and available pathways.
| Business need | What the plan should define |
|---|---|
| Reliable video calls | Coverage and workload checks in the rooms that use them. |
| Guest internet | Guest access plus tested restrictions on business systems. |
| New workstations | Outlet locations, tested cable runs and available switch ports. |
| Less disruption | Outage window, rollback and agreed failure/recovery checks. |
Also record the provider handoff, internet speed, static addressing, VPN requirements, rack space, power, cooling and budget. A useful brief explains both the desired result and how the customer will accept it.
Choose the gateway, management and physical path
Decide between an integrated Cloud Gateway and a separate gateway/application host. Confirm the exact model’s supported applications and scale. Compare routing performance with the intended security and VPN features enabled; port speed alone is not a performance promise.
Check the available management arrangements and current product specifications before ordering. Include optional service costs rather than assuming every related service is free.
- Cabling: specify endpoints, cable and connector requirements, labels, pathways and the agreed level of testing.
- Switching: allow for occupied ports, sensible expansion and uplink traffic.
- PoE: match every device’s required mode and power to its port and the switch’s total budget.
- Power: estimate actual load and UPS runtime; include the equipment needed to keep the intended service operating.
A switch can have spare PoE ports but insufficient remaining wattage. Review PoE capacity for the selected models. For separate buildings, choose the interconnection after assessing distance, environment and site conditions.
Plan wireless coverage and access together
Place APs around occupied areas and real client demand. Account for walls, mounting orientation, interference and the available wired backhaul. More transmit power or more APs does not automatically improve the result.
Coordinate channels and widths, then validate with representative devices and applications. Manufacturer Wi-Fi guidance distinguishes sparse and dense environments; it does not replace testing your building. An internet speed test alone cannot separate Wi-Fi, switching and provider problems.
Document each network’s purpose, addressing, DHCP and allowed connections. Map wired ports and SSIDs to those networks. Test permitted applications as well as blocked access, and protect the administration path throughout changes.
Budget for operation and prove the result
Include installation, support, subscriptions where applicable, power, spares, replacement and recovery in the comparison. Assign the customer owner, delegated administrators, update responsibility, alerts and backup storage.
- Match the installed cable labels, equipment inventory and port schedule.
- Verify wired connectivity, addressing and network access policy.
- Check Wi-Fi in the agreed areas with realistic workloads.
- Test agreed power or WAN failure scenarios in an approved window.
- Hand over backups, recovery access, diagrams and any unresolved exceptions.
Turn a requirement into a complete plan
Your practical challenge
Plan for 12 desks, two APs and a shared printer. Count physical connections, calculate the PoE requirement, describe guest access and record one realistic busy-time test. Leave capacity for the growth you actually expect.
Explain your result, the evidence you used and what remains untested. Use the reference library when you need a chart or worked example.
Put it into practice
Check what you learned
Choose an answer for each question, then check your understanding. Your answers stay in this browser.
Read the answers and explanations
- An agreed requirements and acceptance plan
A requirements-led design connects equipment choices to the business result and the checks that prove it.
- Each port's power capability and the total switch power budget
Port count does not prove power compatibility or sufficient total available wattage.
- Tests in required areas using representative clients and workloads
Real coverage and application checks show whether the design meets the brief in the places people work.
Sources and further reading
Keep your momentum
Ready for the next step?
If you can explain the example and your answer, try the next lesson. Revisit the feedback whenever you need it.
FryAVSI · Updated September 10, 2026
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FryAVSI · Northeast Ohio and beyond
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