UniFi - Power Redundancy

Add UniFi SmartPower technology to your network to maximize uptime and resiliency through advanced power redundancy and distribution units. Continue reading to learn more about UniFi's power technology.

Uninterruptible Power and Redundancy

UniFi has created the SmartPower Power Backup and Power Backup Professional to protect supported UniFi devices from sudden power supply unit (PSU) failure. These power backup units continually monitor all attached devices and provide automatic failover to ensure the network continues to operate without interruption. They are perfect for powering a failed device while waiting for a replacement.

Power Backup (USP RPS)

The SmartPower Power Backup features 950W of DC power availability and supports connection with (6) compatible devices. 

Power Backup Professional (USP RPS Pro)

The SmartPower Power Backup Professional features 1,250W of DC power availability and supports connection with (8) compatible devices. In addition, its 48V DC port enables integration of an external battery to continue powering the network during complete outages (UPS). Finally, an additional 110V AC outlet is the perfect opportunity to power an ISP modem for maximum network resiliency.

Compatible UniFi Devices and Power Requirements

Rack-mounted UniFi gateways, Network Video Recorders, and Professional/Enterprise switches all support a SmartPower port enabling compatibility with the Power Backup and Power Backup Professional. 

The table below lists compatible devices and their power availability. If you are unsure, refer to a device's datasheet or listing on the UI Store.

Power Architectures

Refer to the diagrams below to learn how networking architecture can provide varying levels of protection against power failure.

We recommend case 2 and case 3 for maximum resiliency. 

Power Backup States

The table below shows the potential states of the Power Backup and Power Backup Professional:

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 (Pro) has not successfully negotiated with the attached device. This may indicate that the attached device is not fully booted.
Connected (Standby)			The RPS (Pro) is ready to provide backup power to the connected device.
Delivering Power			The RPS (Pro) 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 (Pro) does not have sufficient power availability to provide backup power to the device on the indicated port. This is because the RPS (Pro) 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 (Pro)'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 (Pro) monitors power continuously. If the power limit threshold is exceeded, the RPS (Pro) 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 (Pro) 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 (Pro)'s power availability. In this case, power will be provided according to the priorities listed below.

Uninterruptible PoE

The Mission Critical (USW Mission Critical) features an integrated 368Wh lithium-ion battery making it an excellent option for providing power redundancy to UniFi Door Access or other key PoE devices. It has (4) GbE PoE++ and (4) GbE PoE+ RJ45 ports and supports 120W of PoE availability. Furthermore, there are (2) 110V AC outlets which are perfect for providing power redundancy to both an ISP modem and network gateway.