UniFi Switch: How to access the CLI & Config via SSH

In this article, I will show you how to access a UniFi switch’s CLI interface and configuration. As you know, UniFi Switches are controlled and configured through the UniFi Controller. When you SSH to the switch you only get a linux shell prompt rather than a command line interface.

Here is how to connect to the UniFi switch CLI

1. SSH to the switch & login.
   The credentials can be found in your UniFi controller’s settings.
2. At the # prompt, telnet to 127.0.0.1
3. At the (UBNT) > prompt type “enable“
4. Type “show run” to output the running configuration of the switch

BusyBox v1.19.4 (2017-07-12 21:42:26 PDT) built-in shell (ash)
Enter 'help' for a list of built-in commands.

US.v3.8.6# telnet 127.0.0.1

Entering character mode
Escape character is '^]'.

Warning!
The changes may break controller settings and only be effective until reboot.

(UBNT) >enable

(UBNT) #show run

!Current Configuration:
!
!System Description "USW-48P-500, 3.8.6.6650, Linux 3.6.5"
!System Software Version "3.8.6.6650"
!System Up Time          "61 days 16 hrs 24 mins 2 secs"
!Additional Packages     QOS,IPv6 Management
!
....

Once you have reached the (UBNT) # prompt you are effectively configuring an EdgeSwitch, here is the EdgeSwitch CLI command reference.

If you want to backup the configuration file you can use one of the following commands.

# 
# Backup unifi switch config over FTP
(UBNT) # copy system:running-config ftp://user@192.168.1.20/unfi-switch.cfg

#
# Backup unifi switch config over TFTP
(UBNT) # copy system:running-config tftp://192.168.1.20/unfi-switch.cfg

#

To make changes to the switch configuration use the configure command to enter config mode. Here is an example of how to change the description for interface 0/1

(UBNT) #config

(UBNT) (Config)#interface  0/1

(UBNT) (Interface 0/1)#description "Port 1 Testing"

(UBNT) (Interface 0/1)#exit

(UBNT) (Config)#exit

(UBNT) #exit