Ubios-udapi-server Access

Integrate with a web security gateway. If a device is flagged for malware, have the security system call the API:

POST /proxy/network/api/v2.1/sites/default/clients/aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff/block

Within 500ms, the device is isolated from the network.

Sometimes a misbehaving device spams status updates. Restart the service (safe to do):

sudo systemctl restart ubios-udapi-server

The server listens primarily on specific TCP ports (typically internal to the UniFi OS instance to prevent external tampering). It utilizes:

Check if ubios-udapi-server is running and can reach the device. ubios-udapi-server

systemctl status ubios-udapi-server

ubios-udapi-server is the unsung workhorse of UniFi OS local management. Understanding it unlocks powerful automation, faster troubleshooting, and deeper integration with your UniFi network – all while keeping control local. If you’re writing scripts or building tools for UniFi, learning its endpoints is time well spent.

The ubios-udapi-server is a critical backend service in Ubiquiti's UniFi OS, primarily responsible for managing and applying network configurations on devices like the UniFi Dream Machine (UDM), UDM Pro, and Next-Generation Gateway (UXG). It acts as a bridge between the high-level UniFi Network application settings and the low-level system execution. Core Functions and Architecture

This server handles the "heavy lifting" for several key network subsystems:

Interface Configuration: Dynamically configures physical and virtual interfaces (VLANs), including starting DHCP clients on WAN ports like eth8 or eth9.

Security & Firewall: It orchestrates the configuration of NAT, firewall filters, and IP sets. It specifically manages the Suricata configuration files used for IDS/IPS (Threat Management). Integrate with a web security gateway

Service Management: Controls the lifecycle of various internal services, including the dnsForwarder, dpi (Deep Packet Inspection), radius-profiles, and geoipFiltering.

Socket Communication: It listens on a UNIX socket at /var/run/ubnt-udapi-server.sock to receive commands from other system components. Configuration and Troubleshooting

While usually automated, power users and administrators may interact with it for advanced tasks or troubleshooting:

Configuring Advanced Security: You can manually adjust Suricata’s threat detection by editing the configuration file at /usr/share/ubios-udapi-server/ips/config/suricata_ubios_high.yaml using tools like the VI editor.

Monitoring Logs: System logs often show ubios-udapi-server activity during startup, revealing if specific services like the L2TP VPN server failed to start because an interface wasn't ready. The server listens primarily on specific TCP ports

Identifying Issues: Periodic WAN link drops or "commit errors" during configuration changes are often traced back to how this server applies settings or monitors link health. Modern Context: UniFi OS Server

Ubiquiti has recently introduced the UniFi OS Server (e.g., version 4.3.6), which allows users to run the full UniFi OS experience—including features previously exclusive to consoles like Site Magic SD-WAN—on their own Windows, macOS, or Linux hardware. This new architecture replaces the legacy "UniFi Network Server" to provide a more unified experience. UniFi OS Server 4.3.6 - Ubiquiti Community

Home Assistant has a native UniFi integration, but advanced users call the API directly. Query the ubios-udapi-server every 30 seconds to get the list of connected clients. Use that data to trigger automations (e.g., "If John's iPhone leaves, arm the alarm").

Out of the box, the ubios-udapi-server is dormant. You must enable it. Here is the step-by-step process.