Noob SHS questions

Homey Self-Hosted Server
1

Hello,

Does an SHS with a lifetime license require an Internet connection or can it run for days / weeks / months without one?

Let’s say I have a dedicated tablet for the app (no SIM card). Can it connect directly to my SHS through the LAN and a) configure b) control my devices without accessing the Internet at any time?

Finally, does anyone have any experience with integrating Plejd devices to an Homey SHS?

Many thanks.

2

Yes and no, it can still execute your Flows even if you have no internet connection. However, for most functionality (like the web app at my.homey.app, API, integrations, webhooks, notifications) you need internet. The mobile app can work without it for up to 14 days.

No, the app needs internet for log in and to refresh its authentication token every 14 days with the Athom servers.

3

Tack! :slight_smile:

So if I understand correctly this means that even with a self-hosted server, user authentication is carried out by Athom’s servers? That seems slightly odd to me. Aren’t the users local to the (self-hosted) server?

4

Yes, account management happens on Athom’s side

Well, you can have multiple Homey’s in 1 account, so at least to me it’s very logical. Also this means you can sign in with Google/Apple for easier login. It’s also needed for OAuth for Google Home, Alexa and IFTTT. All Athom sites, apps and API integerations use this central identity (forum, developer tools, mobile app, web app, etc.)

5

Sure, that makes sense. Thank you for your time. :slight_smile:

6

Abe (Athom) responded like below.
(I still don’t know for how long it will run w/o the need to reach Athom servers to check upon licenses):

.

Yes, when you’ve configured Homey SHS first by adding a local account (see below);
But, as mentioned above here, I’m not very sure if it’s really unlimited to “at any time”.

.

Yes, but only for the online accounts.
The local accounts however are, well, local. Out of reach by Athom, and out of reach by the Mobile app → Meaning:
No Dashboards, No Energy Tab and other stuff not integrated by the web app.

Yes, but only after preparation which needs internet:

  1. The mobile app is first needed to register and add the new SHS to your account via internet @ Athom Cloud. This is mandatory.
  2. After you have created a local user per https://my.homey.app, you can reach Homey SHS fully locally per http://homeyshs.ip.address/
  • Of course all internet dependent devices / services don’t work w/o available internet connection, including Homey Weather
  • In case you (consider to) use a Homey Bridge as local radio bridge (like zigbee, z-wave): it can work fully locally as well,
    BUT,
    when you restart it (manually or f.i. due to power outages) it temporary needs internet in order to boot… → very odd, very inconvenient, bad choice
  • Physical Homey models need internet to determine the timezone and correct local time at boot! Unknown to me what Homey SHS uses to get the correct time at boot…
  • Local LAN/WiFi devices continue to work with Homey. F.i. Shelly WiFi devices can be configured to work without Cloud dependency
  • Tip: Local zigbee / Matter-over-Thread / Z-wave devices works headache-free with solutions like SMLight devices
7

I don’t really understand this comment, Homey SHS can only connect Homey Bridge. External dongles are not supported

It’s not a bad choice, it’s just the most secure option since it uses TLS encryption with your Homey on the LAN. This ensures that the connection cannot get intercepted by other devices, but in order to do that it needs DNS.

8

smlight communicates via mqtt to shs