The Wiert Corner – irregular stream of stuff

When your UniFi Cloud Key web interface shows this [Archive.is] after upgrading:

 

UniFi Controller is starting up…

Please wait a moment

Then you just ran into a bug which seems to occur most with 5.9.29 of the UniFi software: [Archive.is] “UniFi Controller is starting up…” “Please wait a moment” “5.9.29” – Google Search

The easiest way is to restore from a backup: this usually works.

For that you need ssh access, which usually is with the ubnt user. But you could have made life more complicated when you followed these:

• [WayBack] UniFi – Accounts and Passwords for Controller, Cloud Key, and Other Devices – Ubiquiti Networks Support and Help Center: UniFi Device Authentication Password
• [WayBack] UniFi – Accounts and Passwords for Controller, Cloud Key, and Other Devices – Ubiquiti Networks Support and Help Center: UniFi Controller Password
• [WayBack] UniFi – Accounts and Passwords for Controller, Cloud Key, and Other Devices – Ubiquiti Networks Support and Help Center: UniFi SSH and Cloud Key Password

Steps from [WayBack] UniFi Controller is starting up… Please Wait A Moment – Ubiquiti Networks Community (thanks [Archive.is] About mrfoxdk – Ubiquiti Networks Community!):

1. SSH to the Unifi CloudKey
2. dpkg -P unifi
3. Open a browser and browse the URL of CloudKey
4. Login
5. Press “Install” under UniFi
6. Wait for the process to complete, and then wait a bit for the service to be brought online.
7. Recover the configuration backup from the latest backup

Removing and reinstalling the UniFi software, then restore from backup

Step 2 above will purge the unifi software of the cloud key as per dpkg --help:

root@UniFi-CloudKey:~# dpkg --help
Usage: dpkg [<option> ...] <command>

Commands:
  -i|--install       <.deb file name> ... | -R|--recursive <directory> ...
  --unpack           <.deb file name> ... | -R|--recursive <directory> ...
  -A|--record-avail  <.deb file name> ... | -R|--recursive <directory> ...
  --configure        <package> ... | -a|--pending
  --triggers-only    <package> ... | -a|--pending
  -r|--remove        <package> ... | -a|--pending
  -P|--purge         <package> ... | -a|--pending
  -V|--verify  ...        Verify the integrity of package(s).
  --get-selections [<pattern> ...] Get list of selections to stdout.
  --set-selections                 Set package selections from stdin.
  --clear-selections               Deselect every non-essential package.
  --update-avail [<Packages-file>] Replace available packages info.
  --merge-avail [<Packages-file>]  Merge with info from file.
  --clear-avail                    Erase existing available info.
  --forget-old-unavail             Forget uninstalled unavailable pkgs.
  -s|--status <package> ...        Display package status details.
  -p|--print-avail <package> ...   Display available version details.
  -L|--listfiles <package> ...     List files `owned' by package(s).
  -l|--list [<pattern> ...]        List packages concisely.
  -S|--search <pattern> ...        Find package(s) owning file(s).
  -C|--audit [<package> ...]       Check for broken package(s).
  --add-architecture <arch>        Add <arch> to the list of architectures.
  --remove-architecture <arch>     Remove <arch> from the list of architectures.
  --print-architecture             Print dpkg architecture.
  --print-foreign-architectures    Print allowed foreign architectures.
  --compare-versions <a> <op> <b>  Compare version numbers - see below.
  --force-help                     Show help on forcing.
  -Dh|--debug=help                 Show help on debugging.

  -?, --help                       Show this help message.
      --version                    Show the version.

Use dpkg -b|--build|-c|--contents|-e|--control|-I|--info|-f|--field|
 -x|--extract|-X|--vextract|--fsys-tarfile  on archives (type dpkg-deb --help).

For internal use: dpkg --assert-support-predepends | --predep-package |
  --assert-working-epoch | --assert-long-filenames | --assert-multi-conrep |
  --assert-multi-arch | --assert-versioned-provides.

Options:
  --admindir=<directory>     Use <directory> instead of /var/lib/dpkg.
  --root=<directory>         Install on a different root directory.
  --instdir=<directory>      Change installation dir without changing admin dir.
  --path-exclude=<pattern>   Do not install paths which match a shell pattern.
  --path-include=<pattern>   Re-include a pattern after a previous exclusion.
  -O|--selected-only         Skip packages not selected for install/upgrade.
  -E|--skip-same-version     Skip packages whose same version is installed.
  -G|--refuse-downgrade      Skip packages with earlier version than installed.
  -B|--auto-deconfigure      Install even if it would break some other package.
  --[no-]triggers            Skip or force consequential trigger processing.
  --verify-format=<format>   Verify output format (supported: 'rpm').
  --no-debsig                Do not try to verify package signatures.
  --no-act|--dry-run|--simulate
                             Just say what we would do - don't do it.
  -D|--debug=<octal>         Enable debugging (see -Dhelp or --debug=help).
  --status-fd <n>            Send status change updates to file descriptor <n>.
  --status-logger=<command>  Send status change updates to <command>'s stdin.
  --log=<filename>           Log status changes and actions to <filename>.
  --ignore-depends=,<package>...
                             Ignore dependencies involving <package>.
  --force-...                Override problems (see --force-help).
  --no-force-...|--refuse-...
                             Stop when problems encountered.
  --abort-after <n>          Abort after encountering <n> errors.

Comparison operators for --compare-versions are:
  lt le eq ne ge gt       (treat empty version as earlier than any version);
  lt-nl le-nl ge-nl gt-nl (treat empty version as later than any version);
  < << <= = >= >> >       (only for compatibility with control file syntax).

Use 'apt' or 'aptitude' for user-friendly package management.

It will show you output like this:

root@UniFi-CloudKey:~# dpkg -P unifi
(Reading database ... 21238 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing unifi (5.9.29-11384-1) ...
Purging configuration files for unifi (5.9.29-11384-1) ...
Removing user `unifi' ...
Warning: group `unifi' has no more members.
Done.
dpkg: warning: while removing unifi, directory '/usr/lib/unifi' not empty so not removed
Processing triggers for systemd (215-17+deb8u9) ...

Now you need the UniFi Cloud Key IP address:

root@UniFi-CloudKey:~# ip route get 8.8.8.8 | awk '{print $NF; exit}'
192.168.71.50

Finally, load that IP address in your browser: with either these steps:

• Longer
  1. Load https://192.168.71.50
  2. Click on the “Configure” button (see screenshot on the right)
• Shorter: Load https://192.168.71.50/login

Now you can enter the same credentials (usually username ubnt) to logon, to end up in https://192.168.71.50/manage/main, then follow these steps:

1. On the left size, click “Maintenance” or browse to https://192.168.71.50/manage/maintenance:
   
2. Now click on “Install”, then on “Confirm” to start the instalation:
   
3. Now wait for this prompt to disappear:
   
4. It will return to the page with an updated UniFi software installation:
   
5. As a preparation to restore the most recent back-up, you now can “Stop UnFi”:
   
6. Finally, you can restore the most recent firmware back-up:
   
7. Like the “Install”, you also have to “Confirm” this:
   
8. Now wait during the restore process:
   

Sometimes you are out of luck:

If that happens, try [WayBack] Solved: Re: Cloud Key Offline, can’t login – Ubiquiti Networks Community:

Updating the firmware

1. “Start” the UniFi software:
   
2. Verify the firmware version:
   
3. Verify on-line if there is a newer version (I usually start with [Archive.is] cloudkey firmware – Google Search)
4. Sometimes the UI can upgrade, but usually it cannot:
   
5. Go back to the main page at https://192.168.71.50 (as you cannot
6. Click on the “Manage” button or go to port https port 8443 https://192.168.71.50:8443:
   
7. This will redirect to https://192.168.71.50:8443/manage/wizard:
   
8. Wait for the firmware to update:
   
9. Wait for the device to reboot
10. Re-logon at https://192.168.71.50/manage/main
11. “Stop” the UniFi
12. “Restore” the most recent Backup
13. Wait for the restore process to finish which can take up to 5 minutes:
    
14. “Start” the UniFi
    
15. Wait up to 2 minutes until it has started and the “Stop” button appears (do not click it)
    
16. Now the device should be on-line at https://unifi.ubnt.com/#/controllers

–jeroen