Enable Non-Root SSH Access

Configuration
1

I’m new to HA, and I’m trying to set up a bare-metal installation on a Pi 5; software versions are Core: 2025.2.4, Supervisor: 2025.02.1, Operating System: 14.2, and Frontend: 20250214.0. I have the basics working, but now I want to set up non-root SSH so I can use Ansible to retrieve my backups. (I know using a NAS would be easier, but I’ve not yet either the knowledge nor the financial wherewithal.)

Most of the instructions I’ve found online seem outdated, as they refer to system settings that do not exist on my installation. I’ve tried to follow Debugging the Home Assistant Operating System, but I’m still getting [email protected]: Permission denied (publickey). when I try to connect. Also, I appear to be connecting as root, which I do not want; how do I create a “normal” (non-root) user on HA?

2

I would look at this

3

I’ve tried that, but I get stuck at The add-on seems to not be ready, it might still be starting…

4

Well that provides a container with access to some of the OS and will not disappear when you update HA to the next revision.

5

Yes, but if it won’t start it isn’t much use to me. Am I doing something wrong?

6

Possibly, probably, maybe.
Not sure.

You need to look at the logs, try things is HA working. You listed a supervisor versionand bare metal, I assumed you meant HAOS install but if you are on supervised you probably have things set-up wrong. (Because there is 1 right way and 17575874 wrong ways with supervised mode.)

7

I assumed you meant HAOS install…

I assumed so as well; I used RPi Imager to flash the SD card; the software versions I listed are what come up in Settings -> About.

In Imager I selected Other specific-purpose OS -> Home assistants &c. -> Home Assistant -> Home Assistant OS 14.2 (RPi 5).

8

It is. I see it niow.

So is everything else working?

9

Mostly. I can’t control my Sensi thermostat anymore (This was a reinstall from scratch, without backups) and one (of two) Z-wave switch that won’t connect, but I suspect that’s a range issue. Everything else seems okay. My Zigbee stuff works, and my apps work as well.

10

Then it has to be the add-on configuration, Check the instructions for it again or it’s GitHub.

11

Ah yes, the documentation. Silly me.