3.9 KiB
openUF
Daemon that makes an OpenWrt router appear as a UniFi AP to UniFi Network controllers.
Implemented Features
| Feature | Description | Implementation |
|---|---|---|
| L2 Discovery | UDP broadcast + multicast every 10s | announce.c → port 10001 |
| Adoption | AES-128-CBC handshake with the controller | inform.c → handle_response() |
| Firmware spoofing | Persists and reports the target version requested by an upgrade | inform.c → handle_response() |
| WiFi Config | Creates WiFi networks from the controller via UCI | wlan.c → wlan_apply_config() |
| Band Steering | 802.11k/v Neighbor Reports + BSS Transition | wlan.c → apply_vap() |
| Fast Roaming | 802.11r FT with mobility_domain derived from MAC | wlan.c → apply_vap() |
| WPA3 / PMF | SAE, SAE-mixed, 802.11w 0/1/2 | wlan.c → sec_to_uci() |
| WiFi Clients | MAC, signal, bitrate, bytes per VAP | clients.c → iw station dump |
| Wired Clients | MACs from bridge FDB | clients.c → bridge fdb |
| CPU / RAM | Real-time usage | sysinfo.c → /proc/stat + /proc/meminfo |
| Interfaces | Speed, duplex, rx/tx counters | sysinfo.c → /proc/net/dev |
| Channel / RF | Channel utilization, noise, tx_power | sysinfo.c → iw survey dump |
| LLDP Send | Custom frames via AF_PACKET raw socket | lldp.c → lldp_send_frame() |
| LLDP Read | Neighbors for UniFi topology | lldp.c → lldpctl -f json |
Building in the dev container
# From the OpenWrt build root
cd /home/openwrt/openwrt
# Build only this package
make package/OpenUniFi/compile
# For a clean package rebuild
make package/OpenUniFi/clean
make package/OpenUniFi/compile
Makefile.standalone is an alternative for compiling directly on an OpenWrt
device that has the development dependencies installed:
make -f Makefile.standalone
Contributors and AI agents should read AGENTS.md for the concise
architecture map, invariants, and validation checklist.
Changing Compiler Settings
# OpenWRT build directory
cd /home/openwrt/openwrt
# Change settings
make menuconfig
# export settings
./scripts/diffconfig.sh
# Paste settings into .devcontainer/openwrt.config file in the code
# Then rebuild the dev container by pressing F1 in VScode
# and typing rebuild and selecting rebuild dev container
Configuration
On the access point, run the following to install the package:
# Install dependencies
# replace wpad-basic-mbedtls with wpad-mbedtls
apk del wpad-basic-mbedtls && apk add wpad-mbedtls && /etc/init.d/network restart
# Remove old installation
apk -r del openuf
# Install new version
apk add openuf-0.4.0-r1.apk --allow-untrusted
# Configure
vi /etc/openuf/openuf.conf
Example Configuration
controller_ip = 192.168.1.1 # UniFi controller IP
lan_if = br-lan # Default Lan interface Name
ufmodel = u6-inwall # emulated model
inform_interval = 10 # inform interval
enable_announce = 1
enable_inform = 1 # Enable adoption and telemetry requests
enable_logging = 1 # Write diagnostics to /var/log/openuf.log
protocol_debug_level = 0 # 0=off, 1=safe response details,
# 2=full decrypted JSON (contains secrets)
Daemon settings live in /etc/openuf/openuf.conf. Adoption and controller state
are persisted separately in /etc/openuf/state.json; do not copy that file
between devices because it contains the device authentication key.
Because UniFi firmware cannot run on the OpenWrt host, an upgrade request does
not download or install its image. Instead, openUF saves the requested firmware
version in state.json and reports it in subsequent inform packets.
Glossary
TNBU
TNBU is the magic string/identifier at the start of the binary packet format used in this custom Inform protocol implementation.
CCQ
Client Connection Quality