Instructions for Homeseer on Ubuntu Server on Pi from bare metal.

[devanb]

To set up a basic firewall:

Install firehol

sudo apt-get install firehol

Backup configuration:

sudo cp /etc/firehol/firehol.conf /etc/firehol/firehol.conf.orig

Update configuration:

sudo nano -w /etc/firehol/firehol.conf

clear existing configuration lines (F9 repeatedly)
enter following:

version 6
server_hsspeaker_ports="tcp/10401"
client_hsspeaker_ports="default 10401"
server_hsunknown_ports="tcp/10400"
client_hsunknown_ports="default 10400"
server_hstouch_ports="tcp/10200"
client_hstouch_ports="default 10200"


# Accept all client traffic on any interface
interface4 eth0 homenet
        policy reject
        server ICMP accept
        server http accept
        server ssh accept
        server hsspeaker accept
        server hstouch accept
        server hsunknown accept
        client all accept

interface4 wlan0 homewifi
        policy reject
        server ICMP accept
        server http accept
        server ssh accept
        server hsspeaker accept
        server hstouch accept
        server hsunknown accept
        client all accept

Start firewall

sudo systemctl start firehol

Enable firewall to start on boot

sudo systemctl enable firehol

[devanb]

Install Mono:

SSH into Pi
Install mono via repository

sudo apt-key adv --keyserver hkp://keyserver.ubuntu.com:80 --recv-keys 3FA7E0328081BFF6A14DA29AA6A19B38D3D831EF

echo "deb https://download.mono-project.com/repo/ubuntu stable-bionic main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mono-official-stable.list

sudo apt update

sudo apt install mono-complete mono-vbnc mono-xsp4

Patch mono

sudo cp /usr/bin/vbnc /usr/bin/vbnc.orig

sudo nano -w /usr/bin/vbnc

#!/bin/bash
for x; do
if [[ $x = '/tmp'* ]]; then
sed -i '1{/#Externa/d}' $x
fi
done
exec /usr/bin/mono --debug $MONO_OPTIONS /usr/lib/mono/4.5/vbnc.exe "$@"

Install HS3
Download HS3 for Linux

cd /home/ubuntu

wget http://homeseer.com/updates3/hs3_linux_3_0_0_531.tar.gz

sudo tar xvf hs3_linux_3_0_0_531.tar.gz

Create service:

cd /etc/systemd/system

sudo nano -w homeseer.service

[Unit]
Description=HomeSeer Service

[Service]
ExecStart=/usr/bin/mono /home/ubuntu/HomeSeer/HSConsole.exe --log
WorkingDirectory=/home/ubuntu/HomeSeer
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=10

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

start homeseer

sudo systemctl start homeseer

Test Homeseer by going to browser:
http://IP address of Pi

Register via browser

Configure Homeseer to start on boot

sudo systemctl enable homeseer

reboot to verify

sudo init 6

Thank you for all the forum participants who have provided the steps and information used in this tutorial.

[devanb]

Hopefully this will help some new users get started with Homeseer on Pi.

Parts:
Sandisk Extreme 64Gb microsd card
Raspberry pi Model 3 B+
Case and heatsinks (Sunfounder ABS case)
Power supply (3A) (Mackertop Brand Pi 3 Power supply)
Ethernet cable to router

Software:
Windows or Mac or Linux system to burn Ubuntu
Etcher
https://www.balena.io/etcher/

Ubuntu for pi (arm)
https://www.ubuntu.com/download/iot/raspberry-pi-2-3

Putty (SSH)
https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~...ty/latest.html

Card preparation:
On your PC:
1. Insert microSD card into card reader.
2. "Cancel" when Windows asks you to format the card.
3. Using Etcher, select the downloaded file, the card, and then flash.
4. Wait
5. Close Etcher.
6. Remove card

Assemble Pi
1. Place heat sinks onto 2 chips on top, one on bottom
2. Install into case
3. Insert ethernet cable from router / switch
4. Insert microSD card.
5. Insert 3A power supply.
6. Wait about 2 minutes and look for a new device on your router called Ubuntu and note the IP address
7. Set up fixed IP address from your DCHP server for raspberry pi - wired
8. Using Putty, SSH into Pi using IP address above. Accept the fingerprint of your new device.
9. Login using user ubuntu password ubuntu
10. Change default password.
11. Login again with new password.
Reboot

sudo init 6

13. SSH (Putty) using IP specified in DHCP server (router)

Update ubuntu

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get upgrade

note: sudo apt upgrade either failed or hanged for 10 minutes.
Reboot Pi

sudo init 6

Ssh/login again

sudo apt-get update

There will be a list of packages "kept-back" Note packages.
Manually upgrade above packages. The command for my installation was:

sudo apt-get install linux-headers-raspi2 linux-image-raspi2 linux-raspi2 u-boot-tools

Reboot

sudo init 6

Set up wireless networking to help include devices later (optional)
Ubuntu moved from /etc/network/interfaces to Netplan. Here's how to set up.

1. Backup up old config

sudo cp /etc/netplan/50-cloud-init.yaml /etc/netplan/50-cloud-init.yaml.orig

Disable auto network configuration

sudo nano -w /etc/cloud/cloud.cfg/99-disable-network-config.cfg

network: {config: disabled}

Turn on wifi

sudo ifconfig wlan0 up

Confirm:

networkctl

Configure network.

sudo nano -w /etc/netplan/edit 50-cloud-init.yaml

network:
version: 2
  renderer: networkd
  ethernets:
    enp3s0:
      dhcp4: yes
      dhcp6: no

  wifis:
    wlp3s0:
     dhcp4: yes
     dhcp6: no
     access-points:
       "MY_HOME_ROUTER":
         password: "abcd1234"

note: don't forget the colon after SSID field like I did.
Note2: when editing yaml config files, do not use tabs, only spaces.

Sudo netplan try

sudo netplan apply

To troubleshoot:

sudo netplan --debug generate

Now you have an up to date Ubuntu server on Pi with Wifi enabled. Next post is how to actually install Homeseer!