Setting Up Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi 5 with NVMe SSD

Setting up Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi 5 with an NVMe SSD involves a two-step process. First, we use an SD card to update the firmware, then install Home Assistant on the SSD.

Step 1: Prepare the Raspberry Pi 5 Hardware

1. Prepare the SD Card:

  • Insert the SD card into your computer.
  • Use Raspberry Pi Imager to write Raspberry Pi OS (Raspbian) to the SD card.
  • In Raspberry Pi Imager, open the advanced options to configure:
    • SSH username and password.
    • WiFi credentials (if using WiFi; otherwise, use Ethernet as I did).
  • Eject the SD card and insert it into the Raspberry Pi.

2. Boot Raspberry Pi 5 from SD Card:

  • Connect the power adapter to the Raspberry Pi.
  • Wait a few minutes for it to boot up and connect to the network.
  • Use your router’s interface to find the device’s IP address.
  • Use an SSH client to connect to the Raspberry Pi:
ssh <your-username>@<raspberry-pi-ip>
  • Update the OS to the latest version:
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade -y
  • Upgrade the Raspberry Pi 5 firmware:
sudo rpi-eeprom-update
  • Ensure the NVMe SSD is detected:
lsblk
ls -l /dev/nvme*
  • Enable VNC to access the Raspberry Pi OS remotely:
sudo raspi-config

(Navigate to Interface Options > VNC and enable it.)

Note: If you have a monitor, keyboard, and mouse connected, you can complete these steps using the graphical interface.

Step 2: Install Home Assistant on NVMe SSD

1. Access the Raspberry Pi Remotely:

  • Use any VNC client to connect using the same SSH username and password.
  • Open the Start Menu and launch Raspberry Pi Imager.
  • Select the latest Home Assistant OS as the operating system.
  • Choose the NVMe SSD as the storage device.
  • Write Home Assistant to the SSD.

2. Change Boot Order:

  • Open the Raspberry Pi configuration tool:
sudo raspi-config
  • Navigate to Advanced Options > Boot Order > NVMe/USB Boot and select it.
  • Shut down the device:
sudo shutdown now
  • Remove the SD card.

Step 3: Boot and Configure Home Assistant OS

  • Power on the Raspberry Pi, ensuring the NVMe SSD is connected.
  • Wait for Home Assistant OS to boot up.
  • Access Home Assistant from your web browser:
http://homeassistant.local:8123
  • Complete the initial Home Assistant setup.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you have successfully set up Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi 5 with an NVMe SSD. This setup ensures faster performance and improved reliability compared to using an SD card. Enjoy automating your smart home!

Other commands and error

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade
$ sudo rpi-eeprom-update
Segmentation fault
 $ sudo rpi-eeprom-update
BOOTLOADER: up to date
   CURRENT: Mon 23 Sep 13:02:56 UTC 2024 (1727096576)
    LATEST: Mon 23 Sep 13:02:56 UTC 2024 (1727096576)
   RELEASE: default (/lib/firmware/raspberrypi/bootloader-2712/default)
            Use raspi-config to change the release.
$ lspci
0000:00:00.0 PCI bridge: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries BCM2712 PCIe Bridge (rev 21)
0000:01:00.0 PCI bridge: ASMedia Technology Inc. ASM1182e 2-Port PCIe x1 Gen2 Packet Switch
0000:02:03.0 PCI bridge: ASMedia Technology Inc. ASM1182e 2-Port PCIe x1 Gen2 Packet Switch
0000:02:07.0 PCI bridge: ASMedia Technology Inc. ASM1182e 2-Port PCIe x1 Gen2 Packet Switch
0001:00:00.0 PCI bridge: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries BCM2712 PCIe Bridge (rev 21)
0001:01:00.0 Ethernet controller: Raspberry Pi Ltd RP1 PCIe 2.0 South Bridge
$ lsblk
NAME        MAJ:MIN RM  SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINTS
mmcblk0     179:0    0  7.4G  0 disk 
├─mmcblk0p1 179:1    0  512M  0 part /boot/firmware
└─mmcblk0p2 179:2    0  6.9G  0 part /
$ ls -l /dev/nvme*
crw------- 1 root root 245, 0 Jan 31 11:17 /dev/nvme0
brw-rw---- 1 root disk 259, 0 Jan 31 11:17 /dev/nvme0n1
$ lsblk
NAME        MAJ:MIN RM   SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINTS
mmcblk0     179:0    0   7.4G  0 disk 
├─mmcblk0p1 179:1    0   512M  0 part /boot/firmware
└─mmcblk0p2 179:2    0   6.9G  0 part /
nvme0n1     259:0    0 465.8G  0 disk 
Change boot order
sudo raspi-config
Advanced Options > Boot order > NVMe/USB Boot

Setting up util-linux (2.38.1-5+deb12u3) ...
fstrim.service is a disabled or a static unit not running, not starting it.
dpkg: unrecoverable fatal error, aborting:
 unable to fsync updated status of 'util-linux': Input/output error
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (2)
E: Sub-process dpkg --set-selections returned an error code (100)
E: Couldn't revert dpkg selection for approved remove/purge after an error was encountered!
W: Problem unlinking the file /var/cache/apt/pkgcache.bin - pkgDPkgPM::Go (5: Input/output error)
E: Problem executing scripts DPkg::Post-Invoke '/usr/bin/test -e /usr/share/dbus-1/system-services/org.freedesktop.PackageKit.service && /usr/bin/test -S /var/run/dbus/system_bus_socket && /usr/bin/gdbus call --system --dest org.freedesktop.PackageKit --object-path /org/freedesktop/PackageKit --timeout 4 --method org.freedesktop.PackageKit.StateHasChanged cache-update > /dev/null; /bin/echo > /dev/null'
E: Sub-process returned an error code