Recently I installed a lot of new Unifi Sites in local Schools, due to Corona the demand of a working Wifi in School Environments boosted. Most sites we Setup run their Network split to different VLANs, so a simple Layer 2 Adoption is not always possible. But Unifi Controllers luckily have a way to solve this possible adoption issue. So I got used to set both, DHCP Option 43 and unifi DNS name on each site, no matter if VLAN (L3 Structure) or a flat L2 Network. I just set the Options and done.

A good cover about the Topic as Audio:


Depending on what you use as DHCP Server Configuration of the “DHCP Vendor Specific Option 43" is quite different. Most of them have in common that you first need to convert the Static IPv4 of your unifi Controller into a HEX Value. In Front of the HEX-Address we have 01:04: this is for Suboption 01 and length 04:
DHCP Option 43 Explained

I added a small Form and table to this Post to quickly give you a rough overview how to configure which DHCP. Just fill in your static IPv4 Controller Address. If any other DHCP Server is missing and you like me to add it let me know the Options.
 

 
DEVICECOMMENTSETTINGS
pfSenseAdd Custom DHCP Option Number 43 with Type StringNumber: 43
Type: String
Value: 01:04:...
OPNSenseGo to Services > DHCPv4 > [the relevant interface] > Additional OptionsNumber: 43
Type: String
Value: "01:04:..."
Sophos UTMNet Services > DHCP > New DHCP OptionName: unifi
Typ: hex
Hex: 01:04:...
Scope: Vendor ID
Vendor ID: ubnt
Mikrotik RouterOS via GUIIP > DHCP Server > Click the "+" sign to create a new optionName: unifi
Code: 43
Value: ...
Mikrotik RouterOS via CLISSH or Terminal into your Mikrotik and type:/ip dhcp-server option add code=43 name=unifi value=...
/ip dhcp-server network set 0 dhcp-option=unifi
Cisco CLICreate or modify a DHCP Pool. (help) Then add option:option 43 hex ...
Peplink RouterGo to DHCP Option 43 and enter those ValuesType: Byte
Hex-Button: checked
Value: ...
Windows ServerGo to Scope Options and add Vendor Specific InfoBinary: ...
DD-WRTservices tab, enabled Dnsmasq, Additional Options:dhcp-option=vendor:ubnt,1,...
DNSMasqAdd this option to your pool configdhcp-option=vendor:ubnt,1,...
ISC DHCP server (dhcpd.conf)Linux ISC DHCP server via dhcpd.conf.Add to your dhcpd.conf:
option space ubnt;
option ubnt.unifi-address code 1 = ip-address;
class "ubnt" {
match if substring (option vendor-class-identifier, 0, 4) = "ubnt";
option vendor-class-identifier "ubnt";
vendor-option-space ubnt;
}


Add to the subnet part, short example:
subnet 10.10.10.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
range 10.10.10.100 10.10.10.160;
option ubnt.unifi-address ...;
}
Palo AltoAdd DHCP Option 43 (Pan OS 7.1)Name: unifi
Option Code: 43
Vendor Class ID: ubnt
Option Type: IP Address
Option Value: ...


Unifi in DNS

Secondary to the Option 43 I also add the hostname “unifi” into my local DNS Server pointing as A Record to my static IPv4 of the Unifi Controller. Don’t forget to also specify a domain if your DHCP Server sets a local domain. So if your local domain is “mylocal” add for Example:

“unifi.mylocal A 192.168.1.2”

I indeed prefer to use both methods because depending on your local domain I already had some problems where the DNS only way didn't work as expected.

 

Screenshots Example pfSense

Most times we use pfSense as Router, DHCP and local DNS. As a quick Example here are some Screenshots how to configure DHCP 43 and DNS in a pfSense:

Services > DNS Resolver > General Settings > Host Override

pfSense DNS Server entry for Unifi Controller


Services > DHCP Server > Additional BOOTP/DHCP Options

pfSense Unifi L3 Adoption via DHCP Option 43 Vendor Specific

✉ MG// CEST

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