Home Assistant Core Vs. Supervisor: The Difference!
As the demand for smart home automation rapidly grows, the market is swamped with plenty of Automation platforms. Home Assistant is one of the most popular open-source platforms among them and it also has two main components: Home Assistant Core and Home Assistant Supervisor.
However, users seemed to get confused regarding the difference between Home Assistant Core and Home Assistant Supervisor, making it difficult for them to choose between these Home Assistant components.
That is why today’s article is intended to clear up that confusion by providing an in-depth comparison between these two. So that, when needed, users can choose between them with an informed mind.
So, let’s start learning from the very basics!
Takeaway
Home Assistant Core: What Is It?
Home Assistant Core or Container is built on a Python program that serves as the main foundation or software platform of Home Assistant. It allows users to manage and control their smart home devices from a central hub while using Home Assistant’s open-source automation system.
The Core can be installed and run on various operating systems and hardware (including devices from different manufacturers and platforms too) through integrations, such as
- Raspberry Pi,
- Linux,
- Windows,
- MacOS systems,
- ODROID, or
- A generic x86-64 machine.
These integrations act as bridges between Home Assistant and connected home devices or services. Then the interface delivers_
Related Article: Can I use Google Home to listen remotely?
Home Assistant Supervisor: What Is It?
Home Assistant Supervisor acts like a comprehensive management tool, application, or integration. This integration is available on Home Assistant Supervised or Operating System (OS). It is responsible for:
The Supervisor is a powerful component that works behind the scenes to manage and control your Home Assistant setup.
Related Article: Google Home Problem Connecting to Cloud: How Can You Solve this Issue?
What’s the Difference Between the Home Assistant Core and the Supervisor?
The Key difference between Home Assistant Core and Supervisor is that the Supervisor comes with a “Supervisor module” that helps manage the Docker Containers.
However, there are other notable differences between them based on their features, benefits, and limitations. So, let’s explore those details first before you decide on which one might be more suitable for you_
Home Assistant Core Vs. Supervisor: Features
The HA Core is the heart of the Home Assistant platform, and its main features include:
- Integration and Compatibility: It can integrate with a broader range of diverse smart devices and platforms. So, it allows users to control and monitor their devices from a single interface. HA Core supports popular brands like Samsung SmartThings, Philips Hue, and Google Nest for seamless integration.
- Various Sensors: It supports various built-in sensors that help to track, control, and automate your home. such as Active Sensor, Active Camera, Active Microphone, Activity Sensors, Android Auto Sensor, Android OS Sensors, App Data Sensors, and App.
- Customizable Automation: It offers extensive customizability and flexibility, where you can easily create complex and custom automation rules and routines using the built-in automation engine.
- Control Over Devices’ Interactions: This customizability isn’t limited to the Automation process. It also allows you to personalize the user interfaces and themes, as well as develop custom components. So, you can have more control over how the connected devices will interact with each other.
- Community Add-Ons: It also has a vibrant community of developers who contribute add-ons and integrations to extend the platform’s functionality with custom components and integrations.
Related Article: Google Home Routines not working: 9 Effective Ways You Can Fix This Issue
Some of the main features of the Home Assistant Supervisor include the following:
- User Interface: It provides a web-based user interface for easier management and configuration of the Home Assistant Core and its add-ons. It is also easy and convenient to install popular add-ons such as Node-RED, InfluxDB, and Grafana. You will also get clear insights into the status of your device from the dashboard to ensure seamless control via a simple, user-friendly interface.
- Add-on Store: It also includes an add-on store, which serves as a marketplace for various add-ons to extend the functionality of Home Assistant. It expands the capability of your smart home setup, where you can browse and install add-ons from a curated list.
- System Management: Due to its system management capabilities, it can monitor system resources, create backups, and perform system updates. HA Supervisor also provides a centralized location that manages the overall health and maintenance of the Home Assistant Core.
- Community Support and Development: The Home Assistant Supervisor also benefits from a vibrant and active community of developers and enthusiasts. It ensures that users are always well informed about the regular updates and new feature additions, as well as get extensive support resources.
In short, Home Assistant Core features refer to the basic functionalities provided by Home Assistant. It mainly focuses on the core automation and control features. Contrarily, Home Assistant Supervisor features are advanced functionalities that add management and usability enhancement to the overall HA system including the Core.
Home Assistant Core Vs. Supervisor: Benefits
Just like their features and functionality, Home Assistant Core and Supervisor also have their own set of benefits to compare between_
Home Assistant Core Vs. Supervisor: Limitations
The limitations of Home Assistant Core and Supervisor are listed here, so check them out:
Related Article: Home Assistant vs HomeSeer: Which One is Right for You?
Home Assistant Core Or Supervisor: Which One to Choose?
Home Assistant Core and Home Assistant Supervisor are the two main options for running a Home Assistant Automation System Giga Secure.
Home Assistant Core is a Python-based program that powers home automation, and you can install it on different platforms. On the other hand, Home Assistant Supervisor is a complete system that includes Home Assistant Core and a Supervisor module. It helps manage Docker containers and add-ons.
If you prefer a more hands-on, customizable approach, Home Assistant Core may be the better option. With HA Core, you will get full control and flexibility over the system, but it also requires more technical expertise to set up and maintain. Contrarily, if you are more interested in ease of use and an extensive selection of add-ons, then the HA Supervisor is ideal for you.
The Supervisor adds various functionalities on top of Home Assistant Core, including an add-on store offering pre-packaged extensions, automatic updates, and system backups. On the contrary, Home Assistant Core is for advanced users who are more into creating complex automation scripts and rules.
However, the final choice will highly depend on the specific requirements and preferences that you may have in mind.
Explore Also:
Creativehouseblog
Dietsheriff
Mycleanseplan
FAQs
What does the Home Assistant Supervisor actually do?
The Home Assistant Supervisor manages the installation and updates of the Home Assistant software itself to verify that you are running the latest version of the software.
It also monitors CPU and RAM usage, disk space, and network activity. By doing this the HA Supervisor ensures that your smart home setup is running optimally.
The Supervisor also takes necessary actions (such as restarting services or optimizing configurations) whenever any issues are detected.
Can Home Assistant Core be used without the Home Assistant Supervisor?
Yes, you can use Home Assistant Core without installing the Supervisor.
Can I run Supervisor on my Home Assistant Container (native Docker)?
Yes, you can. However, since the Supervisor manages the entire machine, including the Docker network. So, after that, it cannot be added as a container. That is why if you are planning to install the Supervisor and run it, make sure the Home Assistant Core and Supervisor are in separate containers.
