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Homelab

Home Assistant Setup and Your First Automation

Home Assistant controls smart devices from every brand locally, without the cloud. Install it and build your first automation.

1. Pick an install

Easiest: Home Assistant Green or Home Assistant OS on a Raspberry Pi or Proxmox VM (supports add-ons). Docker also works.

2. Docker install

Run the container with host networking.

docker run -d --name homeassistant --restart=unless-stopped --privileged \
  -e TZ=America/New_York -v ./config:/config -v /run/dbus:/run/dbus:ro \
  --network=host ghcr.io/home-assistant/home-assistant:stable

3. Onboard

Open http://SERVER-IP:8123, create your account; it discovers many devices automatically.

http://SERVER-IP:8123

4. First automation

Settings > Automations & scenes > Create automation: When sun sets, then turn on the porch light.

Settings > Automations & scenes > Create automation

FAQ

Do I need the cloud?

No. Home Assistant runs locally; Home Assistant Cloud is optional for remote access and voice.

Docker or Home Assistant OS?

Home Assistant OS supports add-ons and backups out of the box. Docker suits people who already run a server.