On UniFi networks running CyberSecure, web traffic to Wireguard.com for downloads will tend to get blocked. Here’s how to allowlist in UniFi Cybersecure (as of 5/7/26, Network Application 5.0.16)
To allowlist –
Go into Unifi Network Dashboard for the Site
> Settings
> Cybersecure
> Content Filters
> Applied Policy (Default or whatever it’s named)
> Allowlist
> add wireguard.com
> Save Changes
And then refresh the webpage on whichever device you’re connecting from.
Might need to then go into Incognito to load the download.wireguard.com/windows-clients webpage, but it’ll get you moving forward again if you need it 🙂 otherwise we should have a Wireguard MSI in our IT Software Archive in OneDrive.
This article clarifies how the UniFi Network Video Recorder (UNVR) handles RAID configurations, drive initialization, and hot spare functionality. It combines insights from official UniFi documentation, Crosstalk Solutions’ setup guides, and field experience.
RAID Configuration Options in UNVR
The UniFi UNVR supports several RAID configurations, but the most commonly recommended for security camera setups is RAID 5 due to its balance of redundancy and usable storage.
RAID 5 requires a minimum of 3 drives
Provides 1 drive’s worth of redundancy
Allows for one drive failure without data loss
Offers better storage efficiency than RAID 1 or RAID 10
For example, 3 x 10TB drives in RAID 5 = 30TB total – 10TB for parity = 20TB usable storage
For example, 4 x 10TB drives in RAID 5 = 40TB total – 10TB for parity = 30TB usable storage
Hot Spare Drive Behavior
What Is a Hot Spare?
A hot spare is a drive that is pre-installed and sits unused until another drive fails. When a failure occurs, the system automatically begins rebuilding the array using the hot spare.
Important Clarifications:
The hot spare must be installed during the RAID setup phase.
You cannot insert it later without reinitializing the array.
Reformatting the array is required to enable the hot spare function.
Hot Spare Use Case:
In a 4-drive RAID 5 setup:
3 drives are active
1 drive is the hot spare
For example, 4 x 10TB drives in RAID 5- but one is just a standby, doing nothing = 40TB total – 10TB for parity and -10 for hot spare = 20TB usable storage
Hot spare and raid 5 would require four drives, so there’s no 3 drive option.
This allows for faster failover and quicker recording recovery, although it still requires some time to rebuild after a failure.
Initialization and Setup Considerations
Initialization Time
Initial drive formatting and RAID setup can take a long time—estimates vary based on drive size and health. For 10tb drives, 2 days is a conservative estimate, though this may shorten significantly once the initialization progresses past early stages.
System Behavior When Drives Are Added or Removed
UNVR is not a hot-add system. Adding or removing drives resets existing footage.
Adding a fourth drive after the fact (not during initial setup) means a full reformat is required, and previous recordings will be lost.
Always backup data before any changes to the RAID array.
Recommended Action Steps
Initial Setup
Install all drives (including intended hot spare)
Choose RAID 5 during setup
Configure the hot spare at the time of initialization
If Adding a Hot Spare Later
Backup any critical data
Insert the fourth drive
Reformat the RAID array and enable hot spare role for the new drive
Post-Setup Maintenance
Monitor drive health via UniFi Protect
Replace failed drives promptly
Ensure that replacement drives match size and speed class for best results
Summary
Configuration
Drives Used
Usable Storage
Redundancy
Notes
RAID 5 Only
3 x 10TB
20TB
1 drive
Good storage-to-redundancy ratio
RAID 5 + Hot Spare
4 x 10TB
30TB
1 drive + 1 hot spare
Higher resilience, slower total storage setup
Adding Drive Later
N/A
N/A
N/A
Requires full reformat and loss of current footage
