Utilizing multiple network interfaces to keep hardware offline and HA online

Configuration
1

Hi all,

I am brand new here, so many apologies if this post if not up to snuff. I am very excited to play with this technology and hope I can contribute in the near future. I have web full stack experience, but lack networking, hence this post. With that being said, I am currently researching exactly how to accomplish this setup and I’m finding a lack of information on it. I have yet to install HA because I’m unsure if I will attempt to do it on OS or on Docker and the input here may influence that. What I am looking for from you is a confirmation whether or not this planned setup is worth pursuing, or if I’m chasing a dream. If it is possible, could you advise what I should research or configs to follow? I have been trying but unable to find concrete answers on this problem without sinking a ton of time into possible solutions.

My goal is to have all of my IoT devices connected to a wifi router which is offline and acts entirely as a connection between my server and the devices. This is beneficial for two reasons: 1) the main network keeps full bandwidth rather than permanently hampered by 24/7 streams and 2) I do not want any of the devices to be able to reach out externally. I already have this setup with IP Cameras and BlueIris, and I want to add HA onto this existing system.

Currently my setup looks like:

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image2116×1069 284 KB

Ideally, an IoT device on the offline side would be able to interface with HomeAssistant on the internet side by virtue of HomeAssistant utilizing multiple network adapters OR I can write something custom to pass-through expected events by hand (not sure how that would look, just spitballing)
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(cut diagrams due to new user limitation)
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I’ve found the following posts which seem relevant:
HassOS with multiple network cards - #16 by ld9000 (awesome replies, looks possible, will try this first)
(cut other relevant forum posts due to new user limitation – believe me I did search and read existing posts)

I realize this may be a noob question, but I am researching and learning as much as I can, and I realize I have a lot of work on my end before I come begging others for help. My only hope here is to become aware of the possibilities of my intentions with the current software, and any popular design patterns or snafus I should be aware of, as to not waste any more time than I need to. I used to have all the time in the world to tinker, and now I only have minutes that feel like seconds :slight_smile:

Thank you and good day!

2

Here is the diagram I cut from above due to the new user limitation:

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3

I’d look at putting a PFSense firewall/router in there, it’ll give you much more flexibility.

I do that along with VLANS.

4

Hi Sean,
Any luck with your config? Asking as I’m in the midst of implementing HA on a server with two NICs, one “off the internet” for iot devices and one “online” for HA software updates, notifications, etc. So far it is mostly working… albeit I cannot select which integration should use which NIC. That level of granularity does not seem available yet.

5

Did you ever get this to work? I have a very similar setup and issue