How to enable SNMP on Ubiquiti devices using the UniFi controller

This article explains how to enable SNMP monitoring on Ubiquiti UniFi devices managed through a UniFi Network Controller for use with Auvik.

These instructions apply to UniFi devices managed centrally by:

• UniFi Network Application
• UniFi Cloud Key
• UniFi OS Console
• Self-hosted UniFi Controllers

Supported device types include:

• UniFi Access Points
• UniFi Switches
• UniFi Security Gateways (USG)
• Some UniFi gateways and routers that support SNMP

These instructions do not apply to standalone Ubiquiti devices that are not adopted into a UniFi controller.

Important Notes

UniFi Dream Machine (UDM/UDM Pro/UDM SE)

Some UniFi OS-based consoles, including the UniFi Dream Machine product line, have limited or inconsistent SNMP support depending on firmware and application version.

Ubiquiti has historically deprioritized SNMP in favor of API-based management within UniFi OS. As a result:

• SNMP functionality may vary by firmware release
• Certain metrics or interfaces may not be exposed
• Ubiquiti may not officially recommend SNMP monitoring on some platforms

Before deploying SNMP monitoring, verify your UniFi OS and Network Application versions support the required SNMP functionality.

Enable SNMP (v1/v2c)

Prerequisites

Before you begin:

• Ensure your UniFi devices are fully adopted and managed by the controller
• Confirm the devices are online and provisioned
• Have administrator access to the UniFi controller
• Decide on an SNMP community string to use with Auvik

Steps

1. Open the UniFi Network Controller

2. Navigate to:

   Settings → System → Advanced
   (Menu locations may vary slightly depending on UniFi Network Application version.)

   

3. Locate the SNMP section
   
4. Enable:
   • SNMPv1
   • SNMPv2c
     

5. Enter an SNMP community string

   Example:

   auvik-monitoring

6. Click Apply Changes
7. Allow the devices to reprovision

Once provisioning completes, SNMP will be enabled on supported UniFi devices managed by the controller.

Add the SNMP Credentials to Auvik

After enabling SNMP in UniFi:

1. Open Auvik

2. Navigate to:

   Manage Credentials

3. Add a new SNMP credential using:

   

   • SNMP Version: v2c
   • Community String: (the value configured in UniFi)
4. Save the credential

Auvik will begin polling supported UniFi devices using SNMP.

Configuring SNMPv3

Newer versions of the UniFi Network Application also support SNMPv3.

To configure SNMPv3:

1. Navigate to:

   Settings → System → Advanced → SNMP
   

2. Enable SNMPv3
3. Configure:
   • Username
   • Password

Important UniFi SNMPv3 Behavior

UniFi simplifies SNMPv3 configuration and does not expose all standard SNMPv3 settings.

The UniFi controller:

• Uses the same password for both:
  • Authentication
  • Privacy/Encryption
• Uses fixed protocols:
  • Authentication Protocol: SHA
  • Privacy Protocol: AES-128

These values cannot be changed within the UniFi interface.

Configure SNMPv3 in Auvik

When creating the SNMPv3 credential in Auvik, use:

Because UniFi uses a single password field, the authentication and privacy passwords in Auvik must match.

Troubleshooting Tips

If Auvik cannot monitor the device after enabling SNMP:

• Confirm the device has completed provisioning
• Verify UDP port 161 is reachable from the Auvik collector
• Ensure firewalls are not blocking SNMP traffic
• Recheck the community string or SNMPv3 credentials
• Confirm the device firmware supports SNMP
• Test SNMP manually using tools such as:

snmpwalk

Example:

snmpwalk -v2c -c auvik-monitoring <device-ip> system

Additional Notes

• UniFi APs and switches typically provide the best SNMP support
• SNMP data availability varies across UniFi product families
• Some advanced metrics may require UniFi API-based integrations rather than SNMP alone
• Auvik discovery and topology mapping may still function even if certain SNMP metrics are unavailable