Omada Controller Docker Compose

Modern Docker Compose stack for the TP-Link Omada Software Controller with external MongoDB, host-network adoption support, backups, preflight checks, and a smaller controller-only image.

This project is a clean, source-built alternative for running Omada Controller in Docker after the LinuxServer image was retired. It is designed for home labs, small networks, and self-hosted Omada SDN deployments that want explicit versions, separate MongoDB lifecycle management, and operational tooling instead of a large all-in-one container.

Unofficial project. TP-Link Omada Software Controller is proprietary software downloaded from TP-Link. This repository packages and operates it; it does not redistribute or audit TP-Link's application.

TP-Link Software And Container Images

The repository code is open source, but TP-Link Omada Software Controller is proprietary software. No explicit TP-Link permission to redistribute Omada Controller binaries inside public Docker images was found in the official download page or the Linux .tar.gz package. Public container images that include Omada binaries are published only if redistribution permission is confirmed.

Until then, the default workflow builds the image locally from the official TP-Link Linux package URL that you provide in .env. The GitHub Actions release workflow includes a GHCR publishing path, but it is gated by the repository variable TP_LINK_REDISTRIBUTION_OK=true and should remain disabled unless you have confirmed that publishing images with Omada binaries is allowed.

Official Omada download page: https://support.omadanetworks.com/us/download/software/omada-controller/

Why This Omada Docker Stack Exists

Many existing Omada Controller Docker images use all-in-one packaging or are no longer maintained. This repository takes a different approach:

• Controller-only Docker image: no bundled MongoDB server inside the Omada container.
• External MongoDB service: official mongo:8.0, authentication enabled, separate volumes and healthcheck.
• Docker Compose first: host-mode default for LAN discovery and adoption, bridge/macvlan examples for advanced users.
• Safe operations: preflight checks, backup workflow, support bundle, password rotation, and downgrade guard.
• Explicit Omada versions: no latest tag workflow and no automatic major-version upgrades.
• Clean v6 target: starts with Omada Software Controller 6.2.10.17 and avoids legacy v3/v4/v5 entrypoint complexity.

Quickstart

This project currently uses a source-build workflow. Build the controller image locally before starting the stack.

cp .env.example .env
$EDITOR .env
make preflight
make build
make up

Then open:

https://<host-ip>:8043/

Configure Omada automatic backups in the UI immediately after first login.

What You Get

Area	Default
Controller	Locally built as local/omada-controller:${OMADA_VERSION}
Omada version	6.2.10.17
Database	External mongo:8.0 service
MongoDB exposure	Bound to 127.0.0.1 in host mode
Networking	Host mode for easiest Omada device discovery and adoption
Data volumes	Separate Omada data, Omada logs, MongoDB data, MongoDB config
Java runtime	Java 17
Target platform	linux/amd64 first

Requirements

• Docker Engine with Compose v2.
• linux/amd64.
• CPU support required by MongoDB 8.0.
• Official TP-Link Omada Linux .tar.gz artifact URL.
• Strong MongoDB passwords in .env.

Configuration

Edit .env before building:

OMADA_VERSION=6.2.10.17
OMADA_URL=https://...
OMADA_SHA256=
MONGO_ROOT_PASSWORD=change-this-root-password
OMADA_MONGO_PASSWORD=change-this-omada-password
OMADA_MONGO_BACKUP_PASSWORD=change-this-backup-password

Use OMADA_SHA256 when a trusted checksum is available. If no checksum is available, the build records trust-on-first-use artifact metadata.

Commands

Run make help for the full command contract.

Command	Purpose
make preflight	Validate Docker, Compose, .env, ports, MongoDB bind address, and CPU compatibility
make build	Build local/omada-controller:${OMADA_VERSION}
make up	Start the host-mode Omada Controller and MongoDB stack
make up-bridge	Start the bridge-mode stack for advanced deployments
make down	Stop the host-mode stack
make logs	Follow controller and MongoDB logs
make smoke	Check Compose status and the Omada login endpoint
make backup	Stop the controller, run authenticated mongodump, restart the controller
make support-bundle	Collect redacted diagnostics
make rotate-mongo-password	Rotate Omada or backup MongoDB user passwords

Networking And Device Adoption

Host networking is the default because Omada adoption and discovery are LAN-native workflows. In host mode:

• Omada Controller binds directly on the Docker host network.
• MongoDB is still bound to 127.0.0.1.
• Device discovery and adoption behave closest to a bare-metal controller.

Bridge mode is available, but adoption usually requires DHCP Option 138, a manual Inform URL, or TP-Link's discovery utility. See networking.md and adoption.md.

Backups And Upgrades

Use two backup layers:

• Omada UI automatic backups for application-level recovery.
• make backup for authenticated MongoDB disaster-recovery dumps.

Before upgrading Omada:

1. Read TP-Link release notes.
2. Export an Omada UI backup.
3. Run make backup.
4. Update OMADA_VERSION, OMADA_URL, and OMADA_SHA256.
5. Rebuild with make build.
6. Start with make up.
7. Verify login, sites, devices, adoption state, and logs.

See backup-restore.md and upgrades.md.

Supported Scope

• Clean Omada v6 installs.
• Docker Compose v2.
• MongoDB 8.0.
• linux/amd64.
• Local source builds from explicit TP-Link artifact URLs or staged artifacts.

Intentionally Unsupported

• Prebuilt public controller images unless Omada redistribution permission is confirmed.
• latest controller tags.
• Embedded MongoDB inside the controller container.
• Legacy v3/v4/v5 upgrade logic in the entrypoint.
• ARMv7.
• Automatic major-version upgrades.
• Exposing MongoDB to the LAN by default.

Documentation

• bootstrap.md: design record and implementation plan.
• docs/networking.md: host, bridge, and macvlan tradeoffs.
• docs/adoption.md: Omada device adoption workflows.
• docs/configuration.md: supported environment variables.
• docs/backup-restore.md: backup and restore runbooks.
• docs/upgrades.md: safe Omada upgrade process.
• docs/recovery.md: recovery and downgrade guard notes.
• docs/security.md: security defaults and limitations.
• docs/migration.md: migration notes from retired or all-in-one images.

License

Repository packaging code is MIT licensed. TP-Link Omada Software Controller is proprietary software and must be downloaded from TP-Link by the user or builder.