Hello HA community need some guidance please

Hello I had a raspbian installation running a simple HA until it corrupted its sd card image.
I reinstalled it and had a lot of trouble being able to access it using http:/ip add:8123
Using the wifi interface power off command seemed to fix it?

Anyhow before start again and tear out any more hair can someone please point me to a good discussion or article of the advantages and disadvantages of the raspbian vs hass.io please.
I am confused as to which path to take.
I plan to use the pi3 again and when I have something bedded down that works do the same on linux ou ubuntu dedicated pc.

my needs are fairly straight forward comprising
wunder ground weather
temp/humidity monitoring of some rooms using poe (bruh has some articles)
control a few lights/power outlets
a few ip cameras using hardwired poe
integrate my existing mitsubishi electric aircons.
integrate a file server for music.
If anyone would be prepared to help get started with an existing working configuration I can use to get started I would really appreciate it as its a lot to get ones head around. I managed to get the first two going but it was a bit of a struggle keeping the config file clean.

thanks
Ian

Ian

raspbian is the os…

hassio is a supervisor (that talks to the os) and home assistant.

The reason you aren’t finding comparisions is because there is none. One is an os, the other is a software package. It would be like asking ‘compare windows to photoshop’. Doesn’t make sense does it?

Typically, there is 4 ways to install home assistant.

  1. Hassio on hassOS.
  2. Hassio on docker on any OS.
  3. Home assistant in a virtual environment on any os.
  4. Home assistant in docker on any os.

HassOS is an OS that specifically runs on raspberry pis for HomeAssistant. It takes away the complication of needing to configure the OS. But it also makes it so you can’t do much outside home assistant.

If you go the route, you have to configure everything for the OS. This means, installing all requirements, installing docker (if you want to go that route), updating python etc. But it ultimately gives you 100% control over the system. And you can use the system for other things outside home assistant.

1 Like

Petro thanks so much for pointing out my misconception and i sing the different versions of OS
to run Home Assistant.
Given I will start on a Pi3 and down the track move it all to a linux based box (as I think the Pi will run out of legs plus I can put a media server on the same box) which OS route do you think would be the best to take?

Also could you sumarise the advantages of using docker please.
Unsure if its related but when I have a reliable home assistant running I would also like to try a graphical layout to display sensors in a home floor plan.

thanks
Ian

If you use raspbian, and install hassio on top of that, you will have the best of both worlds. An operating system that you can install extra stuff on like a media server, as well as the advantages of hassio - addons etc.

Thank you both for responding.
Can you please sumarise where docker fits into home assistant or point me towards a good discussion on its advantages and disadv if it has any?

Not sure I understand this question.

Docker is Docker.

Home Assistant can be run on Docker or if you run HassIO, you’re already using Docker, so Docker is the groundwork to run Home Assistant should you choose that.

Your only other option outside of that is running in python (venv)

Regardless of the advice above. (all of it valid)
You could just install HassOS onto the pi which will directly install a docker with hassio and HA
Snapshots taken with this will be directly portable to whatever platform you eventually choose.
The world is your oyster, it’s just that hassos will quickly fill your short term goal whilst researching where you want to be in a year’s time.
BTW I run hassos on a pi3 with over 600 sensors and automations, a z wave network currently with 38 nodes - the cpu runs at 1% and ram at 6% - what do you mean “run out of legs” ?

Thank for the advise. Well obviously the Pi3 can handle everything as you have a large automation with many sensors and is stable. CPU fine,
I was more concerned if it had enough messaging bandwidth (using mosquitto?) Are the sensors you are using transferring a lot of messaging/data or short duration low frequency?

thanks
Ian

Thanks for your advise/information, will give it another go.

“Docker is Docker.”

Docker is a tool designed to make it easier to create, deploy, and run applications by using containers. Containers allow a developer to package up an application with all of the parts it needs, such as libraries and other dependencies, and ship it all out as one package.

For anyone that has an interest:
I decided to use the pi and installed docker (great documentation)
I am very impressed with docker and its features.
I installed the home assistant docker image.
I installed a docker mqtt image and couldnt get it to run. Spent a lot of time trying to get it to run.
With the help of the hometechhacker forum I found that the toke mqtt image is nor compatible with the pi processor architecture. I installed their suggested eclipse docker image and finally have a version that appears to be running ok.
So it has taken quite a while to be able to start using home assistant.
Ive been using it for a couple of weeks now.
Today I went to login to home assistant and it doesnt know my user name that i have been using for 2 weeks.
So its off to the forums again to try and find why