BarkWho: Manor Network Controller

BarkWho is a self-hosted, "Dark Academia" themed parental control dashboard designed specifically for the UniFi Dream Router (UDR). It provides a simplified, high-fidelity interface for managing family internet access, implementing curfews, and "nuking" specific devices during emergencies.

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🏛️ Architecture & Logic

BarkWho is built as a bridge between your family`s daily needs and the complex UniFi Network application.

The Stack

• Frontend: React (Vite) PWA with Tailwind CSS. Styled with a custom "Dark Academia Tech" aesthetic (Deep Viridian, Gold, Cream) featuring glassmorphism and circuit board motifs.
• Backend: Node.js (Express) acting as a secure middleware.
• Integration: Communicates directly with the UDRs local API (/proxy/network/v2/...`).

Core Logic: "State Inversion"

BarkWho operates on a "Permission First" mental model, whereas UniFi operates on a "Restriction" model.

• UI Green (Allowed): BarkWho sends enabled: false to the UniFi Block Rule. (The block is off, so traffic flows).
• UI Red (Blocked): BarkWho sends enabled: true to the UniFi Block Rule. (The block is active, traffic is stopped).

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🚀 Deployment Guide

Prerequisites

1. UniFi Dream Router (UDR) with SSH enabled or a local admin user.
2. Docker & Docker Compose installed on your hosting server (e.g., Raspberry Pi, Proxmox VM).

1. Configuration

Create a .env file in the project root:

UDR_IP=192.168.1.1          # IP address of your UDR
UDR_USER=localadmin         # Local admin username (not UI.com email)
UDR_PASSWORD=password123    # Local admin password
APP_SECRET_KEY=secret_key   # Random string for session security

2. Map Your Policies

BarkWho needs to know which UniFi Traffic Rules correspond to your dashboard categories.

1. Log in to your UniFi Network Controller.
2. Go to Settings > Traffic Management > Rules.
3. Create your blocking rules (e.g., "Block Social Media", "Block Gaming"). Assign them to the specific Target Groups (Target: "kids_console", "kids_computers") in UniFi.
4. BarkWho will auto-discover these rules. In the BarkWho Dashboard, click the Settings (Gear) icon on a Category card to select which rules belong to "Social", "Gaming", etc.

3. Launch

docker compose up -d --build

Access the dashboard at http://<server-ip>:5173.

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📖 End User Guide (How-To)

1. Dashboard Controls

• Category Toggles: Switch "Social Media" or "Gaming" on/off instantly. This toggles the underlying rules on your router.
• Bonus Time: Click the Circle/Plus icon on a category to grant temporary access (15m, 30m, 1h). The system automatically re-blocks access when time expires.
• Rule Assignment: Click the Gear icon to choose which UniFi rules are controlled by that category card.

2. The Curfew Clock

• Status: Shows if the "Estate Curfew" is currently active.
• Overrides: If you need to extend internet access past bedtime, use the Custom or preset buttons (+30m, +1h) to temporarily disable the curfew.

3. Device Library & "Nuke"

• Search: Quickly find devices by name (e.g., "iPad") or Owner.
• NUKE: The big red button immediately cuts off all internet access for that specific device (via UniFi`s "Block Client" feature). Use "Restore" to unblock.

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🧩 Device Profiles & Router Groups

Q: I see a "Profile: Kids" option in BarkWho, but I have "kids_computers" and "kids_console" groups on my router. How do they match?

A: In Version 1.0, they function independently.

1. BarkWho Profiles (Visual Tagging): The dropdown in the Device Library (Default, Kids, IoT) is a visual organizer for you. It helps you quickly identify which iPad belongs to whom within the BarkWho interface. It remembers your selection locally but does not reconfigure the router.

2. Router Groups (Functional Enforcement): The actual blocking power comes from the UniFi Traffic Rules.

   • Example: In UniFi, you create a rule named "Block Roblox". You set the Target of that rule to include both your kids_computers and kids_console groups.
   • In BarkWho: You assign the "Block Roblox" rule to the "Gaming" category.
   • Result: When you toggle "Gaming" to Block in BarkWho, it enables that rule. UniFi then enforces it against whomever you defined in the rule settings (both computer and console groups).

Summary: Use UniFi to define who gets blocked (Groups). Use BarkWho to decide when they get blocked (Policies/Curfew).