Docker stack, 3 services, Cloudflare tunnels, MQTT broker
SyncSita needed a remotely accessible home automation platform that could control smart devices, monitor sensors, and integrate with ESPHome-flashed hardware. The system had to be secure enough to access from the internet without exposing the home network, reliable enough to run 24/7 without manual intervention, and maintainable enough to update and debug remotely from anywhere. Consumer IoT hubs like SmartThings lack the flexibility for custom automations, and cloud-dependent solutions introduce latency and privacy concerns.
I deployed a Docker-based stack on a Contabo VDS running Ubuntu 24.04 with 12GB RAM and 6 CPU cores. The stack includes Home Assistant for automation logic and dashboards, ESPHome for flashing and managing IoT devices over-the-air, and Mosquitto MQTT broker for lightweight device communication. Nginx reverse proxies route subdomains to each service (connect.syncsita.com for HA, esphome.syncsita.com for device management), secured with Cloudflare origin certificates and proxied DNS. SSH is hardened with key-only authentication on a non-standard port, and UFW firewall rules restrict SIP traffic to authorized Telnyx IP ranges only. The same server also runs additional services including an Asterisk PBX for VoIP and a WhatsApp Web Daemon, demonstrating the efficiency of containerized multi-service architecture.
Docker Stack
Home Assistant + ESPHome + Mosquitto MQTT, all containerized and manageable
Cloudflare Secured
Origin certificates, proxied DNS, and SSL termination at the edge
Remote Access
Full dashboard access from anywhere via connect.syncsita.com
Multi-Service
Same server also runs Asterisk PBX, coTURN, and WhatsApp Web Daemon
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