Pre-Install for another site

I ordered an small Dell desktop. I want to preconfigure it, then finalize it at my son in-laws house. I don’t want it to install any of my devices. I just want to do as much at my home before bringing it to his home to minimize travelling. I plan on being a remote administrator initially.
Any suggestions?

Debian + docker. HAOS is not a simple installer and if restore is ever needed linux and docker are easiest.

Zwave can be setup offsite

DHCP then just set static IP in router at the site

Cockpit and portainer. Assuming they dont know much about server administration this could make over the phone troubleshooting easy

Hi, Thanks.
I am running HAOS on the same Dell computer for about (6) months. I did not find the install difficult. My plan was to have the same setup at both sites. I would set myself up as a remote administrator to aid him. He is very technical but very busy.
I thought HAOS was the preferred method and the easiest to maintain.

Just one question. I saw that you installing cockpit. I have debian 11 and I presume you are using cockpit on your installation.
Will cockpit run beside home assistant and can you integrate it in ha or use its data?

Yes. Cockpit is Debian package. Runs on host and will no affect HA

There is no purpose or use for integrating cockpit since better integration exist for monitoring host

Cockpit is useful for inexperienced server admin to do basic tasks. Command line is faster. I recommend just in case you need user to check or do task that is not possible for you to do remotely since “ssh in and do stuff” may be too much

I use ubuntu server + docker

I would suggest running ZeroTier on it, then you can dial in and edit away