Home Assistant Hardware Setup Guide

Overview

• Discussion on what hardware to use for running Home Assistant (HA)
• Brief explanation of HAOS (Home Assistant Operating System) image
• Methods to install HAOS on different hardware options

Hardware Options for Home Assistant

Home Assistant Green

• Uses 1-3 Watts
• Comes pre-loaded with HAOS
• No expandable storage (everything is soldered on)
• Performance comparable to a Raspberry Pi 4
• Price around $100
• Recommendation: Not an upgrade if you already have a Pi 4, similar in performance

Raspberry Pi (Pi 4 & Pi 5)

• Pi 4 and Pi 5 discussion
• Pi 5 not recommended due to cost and performance-to-cost ratio

Beelink Mini PCs

• Alternative to Raspberry Pi with better performance
• Features Intel N95 processors with GPU capabilities (useful for Frigate and Plex)
• Price varies, can be competitive with Home Assistant Green after factoring shipping
• Expandable storage and memory (NVME and RAM not soldered on)
• Uses around 6-7 Watts idle
• Preferred option for more processing power and room to grow

Refurbished Mini PCs

• Example: Dell ultra-slim form factor PCs
• Can be found cheaply on eBay, Amazon, or locally
• Good option for keeping electronics out of landfills

Alternative Options

• Camru mini PCs with N95 processors
• GeekAmm mini PCs with Intel 12th Gen i7 (overkill for just HAOS)
• More powerful options available for complex tasks (e.g., Proxmox)

Installing HAOS on Beelink N95

Required Accessories

• Sabrent NVME USB Adapter for easy installation
• Optional: HDMI cable, keyboard, and monitor for initial setup
• Use Ethernet for better reliability (avoid Wi-Fi for main HA box)

BIOS Configuration

• Access BIOS by spamming F10, F11, F12, or Delete key
• Change SATA mode to AHCI if needed
• Ensure power state is set to resume after power loss
• Disable Secure Boot and enable UEFI to boot HAOS

Flashing HAOS to NVME Drive

• Use Balena Etcher to flash HAOS image to NVME drive
• Download HAOS image from Home Assistant website (prefer direct download over the URL method)
• Insert NVME drive back into Beelink

Initial Setup

• Connect Beelink to Ethernet and power it up
• Access Home Assistant via homeassistant.local:8123 or check router for IP
• Follow onboarding process to set up admin user, location, and basic configuration

Getting Started with Home Assistant

• The HA dashboard will detect available devices in your home
• Integrate with various smart home devices and automation tools
• Explore add-ons like ESPHome, Node-RED, and Plex via the Add-On Store

Summary

• Beelink N95 or similar mini PCs are recommended for running HAOS due to their performance, expandability, and room for future growth
• Initial setup involves flashing HAOS onto an NVME drive, configuring the BIOS, and completing the onboarding process
• Various integrations and add-ons can be explored to enhance your smart home experience