Should I replace my RPI4 8GB Ram microsd with an old macbook pro i5 16GB SSD (mid 2011) running docker?

Hardware
1

Hello there!
So I’m currently running hass.io on a RP4 with 8GB Ram with the system on an sdcard. I have a spare Macbook pro (mid 2011) which has been upgraded with an 256 SSD and 16GB Ram. I have dual boot on this machine with both MacOS High Sierra and Ubuntu (Raspberry Pi OS).
I’ve always wanted to experiment with docker and, although I could do this on my RP4, I’d rather use ubuntu on the macbook pro. Is this a good idea? I think I can use the laptop with the lid closed, but I’m pretty sure the mac will make more noise and use more power.Should I:
1: Continue running hass.io on the RP4
2: Experiment with docker on the RP4 4 (installing hass.io and a bunch of other things)
3: Use the macbook as a server running Docker for various systems.

BTW, I have installed Adguard, ESPhome, Motioneye… on the current hass.io image. Are these installed as new docker images in the RP4? Or are them somehow part of hass.io?

Sorry for asking too many questions, but I want to upgrade my system here and had all these things in mind.

Thanks in advance,
Airton

2

I see, you’re trying the other way - new start before cleaning up :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Personally I find the Pi4 more than enough for HA and a lot of addOns. I have a dedicated Pi4 for all things HA, and I rarely get over 40% cpu, the RAM is never more than 1,5GB (out of 4GB). I recently switched from HA supervised to HA-OS on that Pi, because the things I wanted to do outside of HA-OS are rarely used, so I found some other ways around in using them under HA-OS, or I moved them to my other Pi4 (4GB) with Nextcloud, Jellyfin and so on.

For me, my HA installation is so important, I want it to run as smooth as possible. That doesn’t rule out working and experimenting on that Pi, but if I’m unsure, I use one of my other PCs/Pis in the house.

Just to explain that a little further. In the end, HA addOns are Docker containers, they are just a little more coordinated and tied together. So to learn about Docker, I wouldn’t try my luck with HA, there are numerous alternatives out there, that are better suited to experiment and try things. HA addOns are to “closed” to be a good object for experiments.

So my advice would be: use a Pi4 dedicated to HA and it’s eco system, but don’t expect that machine to be your experimenting object.

Setup the MAC for all things you want to try. In most cases the first experiments with new Docker containers aren’t the “24/7-I-need-this” things, so it makes sense to not run the most power hungry device 24/7.

And for experementing: try setting up a Docker environment on Ubuntu and install Pi-Hole, Nextcloud, a media center of your choice and borgmatic for backups. :smiley: If you’re done with this, ask for more advanced Docker solutions, but I’m quite sure, for this case we talk after christmas (at the earliest) :rofl:

1 Like
3

Never apologize for asking questions.

In the case of HA, personally I wouldn’t.

Why:
An 8g Pi4 with an SSD is plenty to run HA and a few addons while barely breaking a sweat.
Once a HA system is installed and running a home things you do with it suddenly become mission critical. You can and will accidentally break the heck out of your HA install if you are also using it as your Linux playground. (bad partner acceptance factor)

If you want to explore open systems and Docker and Kubernetes and whatever floats your boat on your Ubuntu install, knock yourself out. I just wouldn’t ‘explore’ with my production HA instance.

Also, for a supported Supervised install, HA needs Debian not Ubuntu. Finally, in a docker container, only core is supported so you won’t be able to use addons.

4

Plus one to this. Just add an external SSD to your Pi 4, it will actually perform better than with the SD card.

5

But these you just install as containers…which essentially is the same as what add-ons are installed like… docker install allows to go beyond HA-only containers (I love docker :slight_smile: )

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I’m using a 4GB Pi 4 running from a USB connected SSD.
Running Home Assistant in a Docker container (using Docker-Compose), along with Zigbee2MQTT, Mosquitto, Pi Hole, and some other containers. Resource usage is minimal, load average is ~0.8 and memory utilisation is approximately ~15%, I have plenty of headroom to add more services if I wanted to. I think using anything else would be overkill.