Access Points on the Network Map

Access points (APs) are the WiFi edge of your UniFi network. In Topology, each AP is a hub: wired uplink on the left, wireless clients on the right.

Finding an AP on the map

1. Open UniFi OS → Topology.
2. Trace solid lines backward from the AP to its switch (and gateway path).
3. Click the AP icon for port stats, uptime, firmware, and connected clients.

AP labels often include the model (for example UAP-AC-Pro, U6-LR, U7-Pro). Rename devices to physical locations (AP-Lobby, AP-Warehouse-2) so the map matches the building.

Wired uplink (preferred)

A solid line from switch → AP means Ethernet (often PoE from the switch).

Checklist for a healthy wired AP:

• [ ] Switch port profile allows required VLAN trunks
• [ ] PoE budget on switch is sufficient (AP reboots if starved)
• [ ] Link shows GbE or 2.5 GbE, not stuck at 100 FDX
• [ ] Cable is Cat5e or better for gigabit

[PoE Switch] =====solid GbE=====> [AP-AC-LR]
                                        |
                                   (WiFi clients)

Mesh uplink (dashed AP → AP)

If an AP connects to another AP with a dashed line, it is using a wireless/mesh uplink. Throughput drops versus wired. Use mesh only when cabling is impossible.

Improve mesh:

• Reduce distance and improve line-of-sight between APs
• Wire at least one mesh AP if possible
• Limit hop count (one hop is much better than two)

Radio channels on the AP node

Above many AP icons you will see channel info, for example:

• 1 (ng) — 2.4 GHz, legacy/n‑g clients
• 161 (ac) — 5 GHz, 802.11ac/ax clients
• 6 (AX), 40 (AX) — WiFi 6 on multiple bands

Use this to spot:

• Too many APs on the same 2.4 GHz channel (interference)
• Clients that should be on 5 GHz but stay on 2.4 GHz

Tune under Settings → WiFi and Insights → WiFi environment.

Clients on dashed lines (AP → device)

Each client branch typically shows:

Example pattern from a busy AP:

• Laptops on Corporate SSID, 5 GHz, 90%+
• Guest phones on Guest SSID, isolated VLAN
• IoT gear on IoT SSID, lower bandwidth needs

If a client shows Guest but should be corporate, fix SSID choice or RADIUS policy — not the AP hardware.

AP offline in topology but clients still browse?

Usually means:

• Management path to i2unifi is down (AP cannot inform) while local switching still forwards traffic — rare but possible briefly during outages
• More often: AP is offline and clients joined a different AP — check which AP serves them in Clients

Capacity planning from the map

Count clients per AP in topology:

Conference rooms and classrooms need more APs at lower power, not one AP at max power.

Hosted controller note

Your APs report to the i2unifi cloud controller. The topology map is built from live data those APs send. If the map is stale:

• Refresh the page
• Confirm AP shows Connected in Devices
• See Guides → How UniFi Devices Connect to i2unifi Cloud

Related resources

• Docs → UniFi Network Topology Map Explained
• Guides → Choosing and Placing UniFi Access Points
• Guides → UniFi AP Troubleshooting