Setup 2 homes for remote access

Hi, I have 2 homes and want remote access for both homes, want to use one iPhone App, and get notifications on the App for both homes. Here are the questions:

  1. Do I need 1 or 2 subscriptions to the Cloud Service. If I need 2, can I use the “+” designation for the 2nd account?
  2. Do I need 1 or 2 Logins/User Names for the local HAs. If 2 different User names, can I use the “+” designation?

Also, as an added enhancement, it would be helpful to have both homes visible on one dashboard when I am online on one of my computers.

Thanks, Mitchell

If you want to use Nabu-casa on both, you need 2 subscriptions.
There are other ways to correctly get external access but they are a bit nerdy, so if that’s not you, then yes.
Me, I’m nerdy, and still did 2 subs so that all my google stuff works the same.

The 2 houses are different instances, for me I name them all different so that they don’t get confused in my head. They don’t really interact any other way other than the google (and smartlife) mashes things into 1 account, so there’s that.

How about the question of the “+” login for Cloud and “+” name for each instance of HA?

Also, can I have one dashboard for both?

My solution for two homes was to install a remote control program (a VNC server) on a computer in each home. A VNC viewer is installed on my phone. I don’t do notifications, but if I did, I would set up email notifications in HA. With a remote control program I can monitor and control programs other than HA.

RealVNC has a free, non-commercial version called Lite that allows an account to manage three servers.

If you want simple → Nabu Casa 2 suscription (as suggested, ATM I’m not using it)
If you want to try the “nerdy” route one choice could be:

  • install Tailscale (https://tailscale.com/) VPN on both houses
  • Join both houses to the same Tailnet
  • install tailscale app on the Iphone
  • access both HA instances from the same companion app using tailscale IPs (or name if you use the tailscale DNS)
  • if you want more nerdy stuffs do not overlap IP address ranges in the 2 houses (eg 192.160.0.X on 1 and 192.168.1.X on 2) and expose both networks to tailscale via tailscale subnet route

there are many tutorial online on how to do it…