Networking & Wi-Fi
Office networks, UniFi, Wi-Fi, cabling, VLANs and cameras. 15 answers from the ALCO team.
Managed networking
About this serviceDo you do the cabling yourselves?
ALCO manages the whole install. Cabling runs are done by ALCO or by a cabling crew we coordinate, tested and labelled either way. Ask us about your building.
Why UniFi?
One console for the gateway, switches, Wi-Fi, cameras and doors, no per-device license fees, and hardware that has been reliable for our clients. We will use something else if your situation calls for it.
Can you take over a network you did not install?
Yes. We document what is there, back up the configurations, fix the urgent things and put it under monitoring.
Do we own the equipment?
Yes. Hardware is bought in your name or supplied by ALCO and invoiced to you. The configuration and documentation are yours too.
What about the internet line itself?
We work with your provider, and we will recommend a second line where an outage would hurt. The carrier stays a named dependency, not something we pretend to control.
UniFi by Ubiquiti
About this serviceDo we need all of it?
No. Most clients start with a gateway, a switch and Wi-Fi. Cameras and door access come later if they are useful. It all joins the same console.
Can we see the console ourselves?
Yes. You get your own login with the access you want. ALCO holds the admin role and the backups so we can be accountable for it.
We already have some UniFi gear. Can you take it over?
Yes. We adopt it into a properly backed-up console, review the settings, update the firmware and put it under monitoring.
Is ALCO an authorized Ubiquiti partner?
ALCO designs, supplies, installs and manages UniFi networks for clients. Ask us and we will tell you exactly how we buy and support the hardware for your project.
Where is the footage stored?
On UniFi storage on your premises, by default. Retention is set to what you need. Off-site copies can be arranged for critical cameras.
What if the internet goes down?
The local network, Wi-Fi, cameras and doors keep working. With dual-WAN, the gateway fails over to the second line automatically.
UniFi Network server hosting
About this serviceDo we need a Cloud Key or Dream Machine?
No. The hosted controller replaces the Cloud Key for the Network application. Gateways still live on site.
Can we keep our own admin access?
Yes. Your administrators get accounts; ALCO holds a logged admin account for support.
Is this official Ubiquiti hosting?
No. It is the standard self-hosted UniFi Network application, run by ALCO on the ALCO server.
What about UniFi Protect cameras?
Protect needs on-site hardware. We install and manage that too; see managed networking.
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