I started my Home Assistant journey by installing it directly on my Beelink SER5 Pro. This initial install was a supervised version, but I quickly realized I wanted a more modular and future-proof setup, so I created a full backup and reinstalled Home Assistant on a clean Debian OS running on the same Beelink box.

Initial Setup

The first version of Home Assistant was deployed directly on the base OS. While it worked fine, I wanted better separation of concerns and system control, especially for integrations with my smart home and future AI assistant setup.

Backup and OS Transition

To move from the generic install to a cleaner supervised install, I performed a full snapshot backup from the original HA UI. Then I installed a fresh copy of Debian 12 on the Beelink.

Installing Home Assistant Supervised on Debian

I followed the official HA supervised install instructions. Steps included:

• Installing dependencies: network-manager, systemd-resolved, and others
• Configuring the required OS-level settings like AppArmor and NetworkManager
• Running the installer script provided by HA

After installation, I restored my snapshot and everything came back up seamlessly: integrations, dashboards, automations — all intact.

Why Supervised on Debian?

This approach gives me:

• Access to Home Assistant Add-ons (like ESPHome, File Editor, etc.)
• Improved system-level control for better automation integrations
• A clean foundation for my off-grid AI survival buddy system

Final Architecture

My setup now includes:

• Beelink SER5 Pro running Debian 12 with HA Supervised
• Jackery Explorer 500 and SolarSaga 100 for backup/off-grid power
• Samsung monitor and Logitech K400 for input
• HA integrations with Zigbee devices, Alexa, and security sensors

Everything is now running smoothly with automated backups and a clear recovery path in case of failure. This build also lays the groundwork for my long-term smart survival system that leverages local AI, Home Assistant, and solar power.