Running Home Assistant on Mac Mini

Experiment with installing and configuring Home Assistant container on Mac mini including Docker management, audio support, and automation setup.

Overview

• Tinker with Home Assistant ... >2022-01-16 >2022-03-11 >2022-01-20 >2022-01-16 >2021-12-07 @done(2022-03-11 11:58 PM)
  • Investigate if I can run a home assistant container ... @done(2022-01-16 12:03 AM)
    • home-assistant docker only works on linux ...
    • https://github.com/docker/for-mac/issues/2716
    • https://docs.docker.com/desktop/mac/networking/
    • https://docs.docker.com/network/network-tutorial-host/
    • https://community.home-assistant.io/t/question-running-homeassistant-using-docker-on-macos/274048/4
  • Install home assistant @done(2022-01-20 09:43 PM)
    • pip install sqlalchemy aiohttp_cors
  • Create a script to boot up homeassistant on Mac mini ... if its not already running ... @done(2022-01-20 10:58 PM)

Installation & Setup

Home Assistant OS (HAOS) on M1 Mac Mini

• Was able to get HAOS installed on Mac mini with m1 per these:

  • https://github.com/home-assistant/operating-system/releases
    • Was able to download vmdk on this page
    • Was able to determine linux 6 was being used
  • Helpful
    • https://github.com/home-assistant/operating-system?tab=readme-ov-file
    • https://community.home-assistant.io/t/how-can-i-download-directly-the-haos-image/340430
  • Inspiration to use VMware fusion player: https://www.reddit.com/r/homeassistant/comments/15lvymm/home_assistant_on_a_mac_mini_m1/
  • Guide I followed on instructions on how to install the vmdk: https://www.home-assistant.io/installation/windows/
  • Disabling secure boot: https://communities.vmware.com/t5/VMware-Workstation-Player/How-to-specify-that-UEFI-Secure-Boot-is-enabled-disabled/td-p/2833618
  • kinda helpful guides
    • https://www.simplysmart.house/blog/install-home-assistant-on-windows-vmware
    • https://community.home-assistant.io/t/installing-home-assistant-on-vmware-player-17/570428
  • ignored these guides
    • https://www.home-assistant.io/installation/generic-x86-64/
  • General settings
    • https://www.google.com/search?q=nvme+vs+sata&pws=0
  • Alternatives considered
    • https://fedora-asahi-remix.org/
    • https://fedoramagazine.org/coming-soon-fedora-for-apple-silicon-macs/

• I can get a shell into haos ... but it doesn't have ...

  • Need to make a shared folder ...
  • https://community.home-assistant.io/t/home-assistant-blue-how-to-get-a-shell/500050/3

• Home assistant os is using docker for everything https://community.home-assistant.io/t/how-to-install-vmware-tools/516367/9

• /mnt/data/supervisor/homeassistant is mounted to /config in containers ..

Docker Container Installation

• Install docker on Mac mini
  • https://www.influxdata.com/blog/getting-started-home-assistant-docker/
  • docker run -d --name homeassistant -v '/Users/omareid/Workspace/git/automation-hub/hass-config:/config' --network host -p 8123:8123 homeassistant/home-assistant
  • docker run -d --name homeassistant -v '/Users/omareid/Workspace/git/automation-hub/hass-config:/config' -p 8123:8123 homeassistant/home-assistant
  • https://docs.docker.com/network/network-tutorial-host/
  • docker run --rm -d --network host --name my_nginx nginx

Configuration & Integration

Completed Integrations

• Confirmed ha can see buttons @done(2024-02-26 09:30 PM)
• Confirmed ha/macmini can see lights @done(2024-02-26 09:30 PM)
  • Moved lights over to Mac mini @done(2024-02-26 09:30 PM)
• Make sure HA can access lights @done(2024-02-26 09:30 PM)
  • [-] there may no longer be a need to ssh if sound cards are accessible in container
• hook hue back up @done(2024-02-26 09:30 PM)

• Address issues @done(2024-02-26 09:32 PM)
  • https://community.home-assistant.io/t/home-assistant-network-unreachable/474772/4
  • rebooting machine https://community.home-assistant.io/t/solved-restarting-home-assistant-from-the-command-line-without-restarting-container-other-cmds-works-with-docker/122246/13
  • Had to reboot home assistant to get all buttons registered ...
• Build basic flask app to turn lights off/on @done(2024-02-26 09:32 PM)
  • https://auth0.com/blog/developing-restful-apis-with-python-and-flask/
• Make sure home assistant can call API @done(2024-02-26 09:31 PM)
  • https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/rest_command/

Pending Integrations

• hook nanoleaf back up
• Resetting up the zwave stick
  • https://bright-softwares.com/blog/en/docker/docker-tip-inspect-and-jq

Docker & Container Management

Docker Networking

• Understand internal docker mechanics ...
  • https://forums.docker.com/t/understanding-the-docker-for-mac-localhost-behavior/41921/2
  • docker.for.mac.host.internal
  • host.docker.internal
• https://medium.com/@TimvanBaarsen/how-to-connect-to-the-docker-host-from-inside-a-docker-container-112b4c71bc66

Audio Support in Docker

• Play sound within docker container ...
  • https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-for-mac-audio-support/16098/6
  • https://devops.datenkollektiv.de/running-a-docker-soundbox-on-mac.html
  • Login as root https://stackoverflow.com/questions/28721699/root-password-inside-a-docker-container
  • Addressing platform issue https://stackoverflow.com/questions/66662820/m1-docker-preview-and-keycloak-images-platform-linux-amd64-does-not-match-th
  • https://github.com/jessfraz/dockerfiles
  • docker run -it -e PULSE_SERVER=docker.for.mac.localhost -v ~/.config/pulse:/home/pulseaudio/.config/pulse --platform linux/amd64 --entrypoint bash -u 0 --rm jess/pulseaudio

• https://github.com/TheBiggerGuy/docker-pulseaudio-example/issues/1
• Might be easier to ssh onto host from container and run command ....

Docker Utilities

• install ping in a container
  • apt-get install -y iputils-ping
  • https://stackoverflow.com/questions/39901311/docker-ubuntu-bash-ping-command-not-found

Docker Issues

• Issue with passing tty ... https://github.com/docker/for-mac/issues/900
• https://github.com/docker/for-mac/issues/900

Development & Customization

Flask API Integration

• Build basic flask app to turn lights off/on @done(2024-02-26 09:32 PM)
  • https://auth0.com/blog/developing-restful-apis-with-python-and-flask/
• Make sure home assistant can call API @done(2024-02-26 09:31 PM)
  • https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/rest_command/

Custom Integrations & Add-ons

• Making a home assistant plugin
  • https://developers.home-assistant.io/docs/add-ons/tutorial/
• Building custom integration
  • https://developers.home-assistant.io/docs/integration_listen_events/

Service Management

• Turn server into service
  • https://support.apple.com/guide/terminal/script-management-with-launchd-apdc6c1077b-5d5d-4d35-9c19-60f2397b2369/mac
  • https://www.reddit.com/r/AlpineLinux/comments/t612mi/ifconfig_on_alpinelinux_on_ipad_in_ish_app/
  • https://somesh-rokz.medium.com/how-to-create-services-in-macos-using-bash-launchctl-and-plutil-commands-step-by-step-guide-d736d25cdeeb

Troubleshooting

Installation Issues

• Issues I was experiencing
  • https://community.home-assistant.io/t/no-bootable-medium-found-system-halted/60783
  • https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/2151780
  • https://communities.vmware.com/t5/VMware-Fusion-Discussions/No-Operating-System-found/td-p/1828789
  • https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/80415

Network Issues

• https://community.home-assistant.io/t/home-assistant-network-unreachable/474772/4
• rebooting machine https://community.home-assistant.io/t/solved-restarting-home-assistant-from-the-command-line-without-restarting-container-other-cmds-works-with-docker/122246/13

Future Work

Immediate Tasks

• Wrapup home assistant on Mac mini
  • get button to work
  • resetup nanoleaf

External Access

• Setup external access
  • http://homeassistant.local:8123/hassio/addon/core_duckdns/info
    • https://www.duckdns.org/domains
    • bytesofpurpose.duckdns.org
    • https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/http/#server_port

Alternative Setups

• Container mode for home assistant -
  • Homeassistant os just spins up containers / is a facade to containerized services
  • Can do zwave with a wave js container ...
  • https://github.com/zwave-js/zwave-js-ui/blob/master/docker/docker-compose.yml

Portainer

Installation

• Install portainer
  • https://www.reddit.com/r/selfhosted/comments/xuv0hq/any_recommendations_for_an_web_based_docker/
  • https://academy.portainer.io/install/#/lessons/O_jpOK1OjVo2_9305Wu1F6a26PpHugh3
  • Has oauth ...
  • https://docs.portainer.io/start/install/server/docker
  • docker volume create portainer_data
  • docker run -d -p 8000:8000 -p 9443:9443 --name portainer --restart=always -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock -v portainer_data:/data portainer/portainer-ee:latest

Resources

• https://www.portainer.io/
• https://www.portainer.io/take-3
• https://academy.portainer.io/install/#/lessons/KFFbWJs2VcFzs4aKHf0sE-lIT2AGWYsp

Proxmox

Setup & Integration

• Proxmox
  • https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/proxmoxve/
  • https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/Linux_Container

Hardware & Devices

USB Devices

• /dev/tty.usbmodem2101

References & Resources

Configuration Examples

• https://www.home-assistant.io/examples/#example-configurationyaml
• https://iotechonline.com/home-assistant-install-with-docker-compose/

Docker Resources

• https://docs.docker.com/desktop/mac/networking/
• https://docs.docker.com/network/network-tutorial-host/

Community Resources

• https://www.reddit.com/r/homeassistant/s/qx5Ih4JIlL