Install Home Assistant OS in a VM (Proxmox)

This is a manual guide to install Home Assistant OS (HAOS) in a VM under Proxmox VE, adapted from the Proxmox forum thread. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

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1. Obtain the VM image

1. Go to the HA installation page’s “Alternative” section on the official site. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
2. Right-click the KVM/Proxmox link and copy the URL. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
3. Open shell on your Proxmox host and run:

wget <URL-you-copied>

4. After download, decompress the image:

unxz /path/to/file.qcow2.xz

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2. Create the VM

Using the Proxmox web interface:

• General: Choose a VM name and ID; enable “Start at boot.” :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
• OS: Select “Do not use any media.” :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
• System:
      - Set “Machine” to q35
      - Set “BIOS” to OVMF (UEFI)
      - Select EFI storage (e.g. local-lvm)
      - Uncheck “Pre-Enroll keys” (disable secure boot) :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
• Disks: Delete the automatically added SCSI drive (and any other default disks). :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
• CPU: Assign at least 2 cores. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
• Memory: Assign at least 4096 MB (4 GB). :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
• Network: Default settings are fine unless you need VLANs, static IP, etc. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

Do NOT start the VM yet.

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3. Add the HAOS image to the VM

From the Proxmox host shell, run:

qm importdisk <VMID> /path/to/haos_*.qcow2 <storage-name>

Example (if your VM ID is 205 and storage is local-lvm):

qm importdisk 205 /root/haos_ova-12.0.qcow2 local-lvm

:contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}

Then, back in the Proxmox GUI:

• Select the newly created VM → go to Hardware tab.
• You’ll see an “Unused Disk” — select it and click Edit.
• If using an SSD, check “Discard”; else just add the disk. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
• Go to the Options tab → Boot Order → click Edit.
• Mark only the newly added disk (usually scsi0), and uncheck all other boot devices. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}

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4. Final steps — start the VM

1. Start the VM from the GUI. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
2. Open the VM's console — you should see boot-up messages and, if successful, a line indicating the URL to access HA’s web UI (usually http://<VM-IP>:8123). :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}
3. Navigate in your browser to http://<VM-IP>:8123 and complete the Home Assistant initial setup. :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}

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Notes / Troubleshooting

• The VM must use UEFI (OVMF), and Secure Boot must be disabled (uncheck “Pre-Enroll keys”). :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}
• Make sure the disk you import becomes the boot disk via “Boot Order.” Otherwise, the VM might not boot. :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}
• If using SSD storage, enabling “Discard” (TRIM) can help with disk performance and longevity. :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}
• For USB passthrough (e.g. for Zigbee/Z-Wave dongles), you’ll need additional configuration — after HAOS VM is running, add the USB device via the Proxmox GUI under VM → Hardware → Add → USB Device. This step is not in the original guide but is commonly needed for Smart Home integrations. :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}

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Why this method?

Running HAOS as a VM under Proxmox lets you consolidate multiple services (Home Assistant, NAS, media servers, etc.) on a single (or few) host machine(s), optimizing resource usage. Snapshotting and backup features at the hypervisor level make it easier to recover from failed upgrades or configuration errors. :contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}

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