Want to move from Docker container to HA Core running alongside Docker. | Home Assistant | Page 1

limpid prism Jul 27, 2025, 9:20 PM

#

Hi,

I already have a server setup with Debian and a few containers, one of which is HA, but i'm fairly new, so my understanding is limited.
Last time i tried HA was back in 2020, and at the time i think i ran HAOS which have Add-ons.

When i got the container i now run setup and everything, i wanted a add-on i had used back then, only to find out that the container version of HA does not support add-ons, only HACS.

It seems like some functionality is only available via add-ons, so i would like to migrate from container to HA core to allow for add-ons.

What i am "afraid" of is that there will be issues with my docker network communicating with the HA core, making my other containers seperate from it.
One of those containers allow for me to use HA even when i'm not home, so losing that functionality would be annoying.

I may have formulated myself bad or left out information, if needed i will do my best to explain or provide the neccecary information.

shrewd silo Jul 27, 2025, 9:23 PM

#

Add-ons are just other pieces of software that can otherwise be installed manually (with very few exceptions)

limpid prism Jul 27, 2025, 9:23 PM

#

ok! is there a guide to this somewhere?

shrewd silo Jul 27, 2025, 9:24 PM

#

It sounds like you're already running other containers

limpid prism Jul 27, 2025, 9:24 PM

#

Yes, i am

shrewd silo Jul 27, 2025, 9:25 PM

#

What container runtime are you using? Docker?

limpid prism Jul 27, 2025, 9:25 PM

#

docker compose

shrewd silo Jul 27, 2025, 9:27 PM

#

What specific questions do you have? Should be as simple as finding the software you want to run and adding it to your docker-compose.yaml

#

As far as connecting the software to HA (if applicable) you'd set up the appropriate integration

#

https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations

limpid prism Jul 27, 2025, 9:29 PM

#

I don't have anything specific in mind right now, as i've more or less just got my HA baseline setup. But if needed in the future, i don't want to be limited or have to use a roundabout solution if there is an add-on i could use.
I'm not opposed to learning how to add add-ons to my docker yaml.
Is that link a guide for how to do so?

shrewd silo Jul 27, 2025, 9:30 PM

#

You'd do what you've already done with the other containers

limpid prism Jul 27, 2025, 9:31 PM

#

Let me see if i understand then. in add-on1 i'd make a docker-compose.yml and then connect that to the HA container? or am i lost?

shrewd silo Jul 27, 2025, 9:31 PM

#

No

limpid prism Jul 27, 2025, 9:32 PM

#

no to what?

shrewd silo Jul 27, 2025, 9:33 PM

#

Disregard HA for the moment

limpid prism Jul 27, 2025, 9:33 PM

#

ok

shrewd silo Jul 27, 2025, 9:33 PM

#

The only point that HA would come into play is if you want to connect the software to HA (such as connecting the program apcpusd to monitor UPSes in HA)

#

If you're wanting to install other software on the host, you could do that either with the package manager or if you want to run it in a container, by adding it to your docker-compose.yaml and starting it

limpid prism Jul 27, 2025, 9:35 PM

#

wait wait wait, am i just understanding add-ons backwards. Add-ons make sense for HAOS and HA CORE as you wouldn't typically have other software or services running alongside it, therefore the need for add-ons.

#

wheras with the way i have it it makes no sense, hacs however do, as they are modifications or minor changes to the actual GUI or some other functionality in HA.

shrewd silo Jul 27, 2025, 9:37 PM

#

Add-on functionality in HA OS is just a way to install other software on the host from within the HA UI

#

HACS is completely unrelated

limpid prism Jul 27, 2025, 9:37 PM

#

yes, i just wanted to see if i understand. I think i just have asked a stupid question then.

#Want to move from Docker container to HA Core running alongside Docker.