Resolving the AwesomeVersionCompareException in Home Assistant Docker Setup

BigBearBlog
1

If you run Home Assistant in a Docker container and encounter the AwesomeVersionCompareException: Can't compare <unknown > and <SimpleVer 0.50> error, it might be due to an empty or corrupted .HA_VERSION file. This guide will walk you through the steps to identify and resolve this issue.

Understanding the Issue

The error indicates a problem with version comparison in Home Assistant, often caused by an invalid or empty version string. This typically happens when the .HA_VERSION file is empty or improperly formatted.

Steps to Resolve the Issue

  1. Access the Home Assistant Configuration Directory:
    You need to locate and access the configuration directory of your Home Assistant setup, which is usually mapped to a host directory.

    docker exec -it <container_name> /bin/bash

  2. Check the .HA_VERSION File:
    Once inside the container, navigate to the configuration directory and check the .HA_VERSION file.

    cd /config
cat .HA_VERSION

    If the file is empty or does not exist, it is likely the cause of the error.

  3. Delete the .HA_VERSION File:
    If the .HA_VERSION file is empty or corrupted, you should delete it.

    rm .HA_VERSION

  4. Restart the Home Assistant Container:
    Exit the container and restart it to allow Home Assistant to recreate the .HA_VERSION file with the correct version information.

    exit
docker restart <container_name>

Verify the Fix

After restarting, Home Assistant should recreate the .HA_VERSION file correctly. You can verify this by checking the file again.

docker exec -it <container_name> /bin/bash
cat /config/.HA_VERSION

The file should now contain the appropriate version number.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can resolve the AwesomeVersionCompareException error in Home Assistant running in a Docker container. This fix addresses the root cause by ensuring the .HA_VERSION file contains the correct version information. If you encounter further issues, reviewing the Home Assistant logs and configuration files can provide additional insights.