This document is a work-in-progress; it will never be complete nor 100% accurate.

My home journey started back in 2009 with a ReadyNAS and my home automation journey started in 2013 with Arduino Nanos. I have lots of experience, but will never consider myself an expert. There is always something to learn about!

Gory Details

Networking

• UniFi Security Gateway
• UniFi AC-PRO
• (3) UniFi 8-port POE Switches

Server

• (1) Xeon E3 1250v2, AMD64, NixOS 20.09

Cameras

• (2) Hikvision Cubes
• (3) XiaoFang cameras running FangHacks

Off-the-Shelf Hardware

• Linear HUSBZB1 - ZWave and Zigbee Stick
• Dome Water Shutoff Valve (ZWave)
• (7) SmartThings Water Leak Sensors (Zigbee)
• (3) GE Switches & Dimmer Switches (ZWave)
• (5) Ikea TRÅDFRI Bulbs (Zigbee)
• (4) Ikea TRÅDFRI Smart Buttons (Zigbee)

Containerization

• Docker - it’s what all the cool kids are using, and really does make my server maintenance easier. I jump around between a single host running Docker, to a mult-architecture (x86 and arm64) cluster, to a single host Docker Swarm. It’s fun to experiment.

Software

Network

• Traefik - a http load balancer, obtains certificates (both external and internal) from Let’s Encrypt, managed via labels within the stack definition.
• DNSCrypt Proxy - DNS over HTTPS; all outgoing udp-based dns traffic is blocked at the Unifi Security Gateway.
• Wireguard - a secure connection into my home network.

IoT/Home Automation

• Mosquitto - a publish-subscribe-based messaging protocol; this runs most of my IoT infrastructure.
• Home Assistant - a home automation software hub; anything not integrated via MQTT is integrated via Home Assistant.
• Grafana - a data-visualization tool; draws pretty charts and graphs from the data within Influx
• Node-Red - a flow-based, automation tool; creates complex automations for Home Assistant. Home Assistant does have a yaml-based automation system (which works just fine, despite what Node-Red propoents say) it’s just a lot more fun to visualize and debug automations in Node-Red.
• MySensors - a sensor framework for many different micro-controllers; I use it for many of my battery powered, custom IoT devices like my soil moisture sensor, and door sensors.
• ESPHome - a sensor framework for ESP8266 and ESP32 micro-controllers; I use it for most of my other custom IoT devices like my thermostat actuator, garage door actuator, fireplace actuator, etc.
• litterrobot2mqtt - a Litter Robot API to mqtt bridge process.
• mysensorsbootloader2mqtt - a mysensors bootloader to mqtt bridge process.
• seattlewaste2mqtt - a seattle waste collection schedule to mqtt bridge process.
• unifi2mqtt - a Unifi Controller device status to mqtt bridge process.
• wsdot2mqtt - a wsdot travel times to mqtt bridge process.
• zillow2mqtt - a zillow zestimate to mqtt bridge process.

Databases

• InfluxDB - a time-series datastore; Home Assistant publishes sensor changes into Influx
• PostgreSQL - a relational database that houses data for Miniflux and Home Assistant.

Misc. Self-Hosted

• Miniflux - an opinionated RSS feed reader; replaced Feedly and Google Reader before that.
• UniFi Controller - a unified controller for Ubiquiti UniFi hardware.
• Borg Backup + Rclone - automated backups for all my servers, rclone’d to Backblaze B2.