Power Redundancy

UniFi provides multiple layers of power protection for network infrastructure, ranging from redundant device power supplies to battery backup and managed rack power distribution. Combining these capabilities can protect critical deployments against individual power supply failures as well as broader utility power interruptions.

What Types of Power Failure Can UniFi Protect Against?

Power redundancy can address several different failure points:

• Utility power failure: A UPS provides temporary battery power when facility power is interrupted.
• Power distribution: A PDU distributes and manages power to multiple rack-mounted devices.
• Device power supply failure: Supported devices can use redundant power supplies or UniFi SmartPower to maintain operation if a primary PSU fails.
• Critical PoE device power: Mission Critical provides integrated battery backup for connected PoE devices such as UniFi Access components.

For higher-availability deployments, these capabilities can be combined so that no single power component represents a single point of failure.

Battery Backup with UniFi UPS

UniFi UPS systems provide battery-backed power for network infrastructure during utility power interruptions.

A UPS can be used to protect critical equipment such as gateways, switches, Network Video Recorders, Network-Attached Storage, and other rack-mounted infrastructure, providing time for utility power to recover or equipment to shut down safely.

Battery-Backed PoE with Mission Critical

The UniFi Mission Critical switch includes an integrated battery backup designed to maintain power to connected PoE devices during utility power interruptions.

This can be particularly useful for critical edge devices such as UniFi Access Control Hubs, readers, cameras, and other infrastructure that needs to remain operational during a power outage.

Managed Power Distribution with UniFi PDU

UniFi PDUs provide centralized power distribution and management for rack-mounted infrastructure.

A PDU can be used to organize and manage power delivery across gateways, switches, storage, and other equipment within a rack.

Redundant Device Power

Most UniFi Enterprise devices provide multiple power inputs or redundant power supplies, allowing the device to remain operational if one power source or PSU fails.

For maximum resilience, redundant power inputs should be connected through independent power paths where supported.

UniFi SmartPower

UniFi SmartPower provides an additional redundant power source for supported devices.

The SmartPower system continuously monitors connected devices. If a supported device’s internal power supply fails, SmartPower can automatically provide backup power without requiring the device to restart.

See the applicable product specifications for SmartPower compatibility.

Power Architectures

Power Backup States

Click here to learn the potential states of the RPS.

RPS State	UniFi Network Port Icon / Event	USP-RPS's LCM	Description
Disconnected			The USP cable is not connected or is not fully inserted.
Connecting			The USP cable is connected, but the RPS has not successfully negotiated with the attached device. This may indicate that the attached device is not fully booted.
Connected  (Standby)			The RPS is ready to provide backup power to the connected device.
Delivering Power			The RPS is currently delivering backup power. The connected device may be experiencing an internal power supply (PSU) failure, or has lost its AC power.
Insufficient Power Availability			The RPS does not have sufficient power availability to provide backup power to the device on the indicated port. This is because the RPS is already delivering power to one or more other devices. See the Power Overload section for more.
Power Overload			Check the device connected to the indicated port to make sure there is no short circuit. After making the necessary adjustments, click the "reset" icon found in the port properties panel of the UniFi Network application. See the Power Overload section for more.
PSU Power Overload			Check the interruption of utility power on the attached devices. If there is no power outage in the RPS's power source, the USP-RPS will automatically try to recover the attached devices by the priorities and recorded topology. See the Power Overload section for more.
Disabled			Disabled ports won't provide power to connected device.

Power Overload

Single Port Power Overload

To prevent short circuiting, the RPS monitors power continuously. If the power limit threshold is exceeded, the RPS will cut off power on the port to protect the device and the port's circuit.

PSU Power Overload

The primary purpose of the RPS is to recover the device experiencing the internal power supply failure. Overload may occur multiple devices simultaneously experience a power interruption and their power requirement exceeds that of the RPS's power availability. In this case, power will be provided according to the priorities listed below.