networking

UniFi Dream Machine SE recovery notes

The short version: if the recovery IP on a UDM-SE does not respond, remove any SFP+ module and try again.

To boot the device into recovery mode, hold the reset button with a paperclip while you power it on. The device then binds the recovery IP, 192.168.1.30, to the first interface it sees as “up”.

Here is the trap. An installed SFP+ module will probably report “up” before any of the RJ45 LAN ports do. The recovery IP binds to the SFP+ interface, and you sit there wondering why you cannot ping 192.168.1.30 from a LAN port. Remove the SFP+ module, power the device back into recovery mode, and the LAN ports work.