UniFi Event-Network Setup

Goal

When the WAN link degrades during an event, bidder devices on the event Wi-Fi should automatically fall back to the on-site server over the local LAN, with no visible interruption beyond the connectivity banner turning yellow.

Steps

1 – Note the server's LAN IP

Find the static or DHCP-reserved IP for the event server on your UniFi network (e.g. 192.168.1.50). Set a DHCP reservation so it never changes.

2 – Create a local DNS record

In UniFi Network → Settings → Networks → DNS Records (or Local DNS in older firmware), add:

Hostname	IP
`auction.event.lan`	`192.168.1.50`

Set this same hostname in .env:

LOCAL_HOSTNAME=auction.event.lan

3 – Create a dedicated event SSID

SSID name: e.g. GalaAuction
Password: share on the event program or check-in desk
VLAN: optional; keep on the same LAN as the server
Band steering: enable for cleaner 5 GHz preference

4 – Test failover

Join GalaAuction on a test device.
Confirm https://bid.example.org loads normally (WAN path).
Disconnect the WAN cable or block WAN traffic in UniFi.
Confirm the connectivity banner turns yellow ("Local network – offline-capable").
Confirm bidding still works — bids are accepted via auction.event.lan.

5 – Battery backup

Plug the server, UniFi gateway, and all access points into a UPS. A 10-minute runtime is enough to survive a generator switchover or brief power blip.

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