Expose OpenThread Border Router add to public interface

Installation
1

I just recently started with HA and I’d prefer to use the Docker-Compose setup. I have this already running.

Now I wanted to get Matter+Thread working but failed to make OpenThread Border Router and Python-Matter-Server work.

I set up Homeassistant OS on a Raspberry, where I could make it work (after lots similar struggles initially).

  • What I miss is the OpenThread Border Router web interface which has one feature I’d like to use. To show the Thread Network topology.

  • What I also try to accomplish is to use the Python-Matter-Server and OpenThread Border Router on the Raspberry from my Docker-Compose HA install.

Both things seem not to be possible because the services are not bound to the public network interface of the Raspberry Pi.

Is there a way to change that setup?
I’m comfortable enough configuring Linux, but I’m not familiar with the restricted setup of Homeassistant OS and where to start.

2

If I understand correctly, you have your main instance of HA running as Docker-Compose, and another HA instance using HAOS on an Raspberry primarily running Matter Server AddOn and OTBR AddOn, and you want the former to use the latter for Matter/Thread.

I use the SiLab’s Multiprotocol AddOn’s Web Server, but I presume the OTBR AddOn also has the Web Server as well. I have an HA instance I use for playing and testing which I have named homeassistant-test. I’m able to reach the Multiprotocol’s WebServer from an external PC using: http://homeassistant-test.local:8080

For Matter, I am able to reach the websocket port of the Matter Server from an external linux machine using: ws://homeassistant-test.local:5580/ws
At Matter Integration installation time, I don’t remember, but looking at the HA config_flow code for Matter Client, it seems the user is provided a chance to enter a URL to reach the Matter Server. If correct, then you could use something like the URL I use.

For the Thread Integration, it should be able to see the OTBR via dns-sd discovery.

1 Like
3

First thing you have to ask yourself is: Do I need an HA addon?
Everything an addon does can be replicated in a “pure” docker setup.

Don’t know about a “OpenThread Border Router addon”, but the Python matter server literarly has a compose file in it’s source:

4

To run OpenThread Borde Router using docker, see the official documentation

https://openthread.io/guides/border-router/docker/run

5

First thing you have to ask yourself is: Do I need an HA addon?
Everything an addon does can be replicated in a “pure” docker setup.

I used that, but it just couldn’t make it work.
I also know how I can access them when running on Docker, but that doesn’t help me if the Docker install doesn’t work.

My question is, can I expose the Matter and OpenThread Border Router Add-Ons running on Homeassistant OS so that they can be accessed from another host.

6

Interesting. And this is Homeassistant OS or some other install method?

7

Full Blown HA with HAOS image installation

1 Like
8

Then maybe ask about that issue rather than about the issues of the workaround :wink:

9

The OTBR add-on can be exposed in the configuration

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So for matter:

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1 Like
10

There are way too many variables involved to know where to start asking.

I have a working Matter controller and Thread border Router and want to go with it for now.
This part seems quite simple.
The main hurdle is that I don’t yet understand the limited HA OS environment and I need some pointers to get started.

Then I can compare my working setup with the not working one until I find the culprit.

11

Thanks a lot, that was it.

I thought I tried that already, but probably messed something up (not too surprising after 4 days of experimenting and trying to track down issues)

12

Thanks that helped :+1: