Setup and Autostart in a Home Assistant Operating System Installation on RP4 that works for me

[egamper]

Prepare the Virtual Environment:

sudo mkdir /config/custom_components
sudo mkdir /config/custom_components/ca350

Copy config and script from GIT https://github.com/adorobis/hacomfoairmqtt/ to /config/custom_components/ca350
/config/custom_components/ca350/ca350.py
/config/custom_components/ca350/config.ini
Edit config.ini as needed

python3 -m venv /config/custom_components/ca350/python3venv
source /config/custom_components/ca350/python3venv/bin/activate
pip3 install paho-mqtt
pip3 install pyserial
deactivate

Create /config/custom_components/ca350/ca350runner.py:

import os
pid = os.fork()

if pid > 0:
    print("parent")
else:
    print("child")
    os.system('source /config/custom_components/ca350/python3venv/bin/activate && python3 /config/custom_components/ca350/ca350.py > /config/custom_components/ca350/output.log')

Edit configuration.yaml:

shell_command:
  start_ca350: python3 /config/custom_components/ca350/ca350runner.py &

Create a HA Automation to start ca350runner.py 2 minutes after HA startup:

alias: Start Pyton3 Shell Command ca350 on HA Start
description: ""
trigger:
  - platform: homeassistant
    event: start
condition: []
action:
  - delay:
      hours: 0
      minutes: 2
      seconds: 0
      milliseconds: 0
  - service: shell_command.start_ca350
    data: {}
mode: single

This configuration run stable on x86 HW with the actual ca350.py. Thanks @adorobis

[adorobis]

Many thanks for sharing that! Looks like a good candidate to start writing a wiki :)

[adorobis]

I've copied it now to a Wiki and added the FreeBSD from readme.
Many thanks!

[adorobis]

@egamper does this still work for you? I think that HA has a timeout now on shell_command of 60 seconds that cannot be changed.

[egamper]

Hi @adorobis @mannmawg , have you still problems?
I use the Generic x86-64 HA. Maybe the behavior its different on other Architectures.
I have a Serial to USB Device that does not work from Time to time. I need to power it off and on in order to make it work again. https://www.amazon.it/dp/B08L4ZFZMQ What device du you use?

[adorobis]

I have a serial port on my motherboard. The script runs on TrueNAS Core (based on FreeBSD). It is so stable that I have no willingness to try to move it anywhere else. It has never failed so far.

[Shady313FN]

Hi guys!

The script is amazing, thank you for the good work!

I have the same problem: I have a USB->Serial device which stops to work sometimes. If I run again the start script, the second instance starts to work again, but then I have two: a non-working one and a working one. I need to restart HA.

I'm running HAOS in Proxmox VM.

Have you found a solution? Or maybe could you share me a way to stop the existing non-working process or restart it from HA when it recognizes the data unavailable?

Thank you in advance!

[adorobis]

No idea, but you might consider to switch to a RS232-Ethernet (or wifi) gateway. There are also PoE versions. I've switched to it and now I don't need the HA/or other computer to be close to the Comfoair unit. I have the one with wifi, it is even powered from the 12V ports in the Comfoair unit. Some tested models are given in the docker install method wiki.

[Shady313FN]

Hello adorobis! Thank you for the answer. I have switched to docker in November and since that I have absolutely zero problems. :)

[up-cbs]

@adorobis
Hello adorobis! Thank you for your work with this integration! I have been running HA OS in a VM under proxmox since December 2024. Unfortunately, the same connection interruptions occur as described here before. I currently connect to my CA350 via an FTDI serial to USB converter.

I would now like to use one of the recommended RS232-LAN converters to make the connection more stable. Can this also be implemented under HA OS? How would I have to adapt the start scripts for this?

[adorobis]

I'm not a HAOS expert I'm afraid. You'll need socat command to be available in HAOS, check if you can run it there (or install it?), if yes, this should be enough. Alternatively you can just run comfoair container in proxmox. I believe this should be possible (although I don't have any proxmox experience).

[adorobis]

You can check with @Shady313FN - he has posted above that he's done that switch I believe even staying with the usb adapter.