Multiple Instance Support

[kingcode94]

I have read the documentation for multiple instance support and made the changes to my Frigate configurations with unique client ids.

Where do I let home assistant know which server I am referring to? I have tried adding the config below to my configuration.yaml in home assistant but it doesn't work and I am still getting the error "Camera initialization failed: API error whilst subscribing to events for unknown Frigate instance frigate". I can see the frigate instance is publishing client_id "frigate1" to the mqtt server correctly.

frigate:
  url: http://192.168.2.123:5000
  mqtt:
    topic_prefix: frigate1
    
cameras:
  - camera_entity: camera.frontporch
    frigate:
      client_id: frigate1

[inkeep-ai-assistant[bot]]

The configuration you're trying to add to configuration.yaml is not the correct approach. For multiple Frigate instances, you need to configure each instance through the Home Assistant integration interface, not through YAML configuration (1).

Here's the correct process:

1. In your Frigate configuration, ensure each instance has unique topic_prefix and client_id parameters (1):

mqtt:
  # Required: host name
  host: mqtt.server.com
  # Optional: topic prefix (default: shown below)
  # NOTE: must be unique if you are running multiple instances
  topic_prefix: frigate1
  # Optional: client id (default: shown below)
  # NOTE: must be unique if you are running multiple instances
  client_id: frigate1

(2)

2. Add each Frigate instance separately through the Home Assistant UI (1):

   • Go to Home Assistant > Settings > Devices & Services > Add Integration > Frigate
   • Configure each instance with its respective URL (e.g., http://192.168.2.123:5000)

3. For API URLs with multiple instances, you need to include the client_id identifier (1):

https://HA_URL/api/frigate/<client-id>/notifications/<event-id>/thumbnail.jpg

(1)

The error you're seeing occurs because the integration is looking for the default Frigate instance with client_id: frigate, but your instance is using client_id: frigate1 (3). The client_id from your Frigate MQTT configuration is what Home Assistant uses to identify which Frigate instance to communicate with (3).

When multiple Frigate instances are configured, you must explicitly specify which server you're referring to using the client_id parameter (1). The integration handles this automatically once properly configured through the UI rather than YAML.

📚 Sources:

1. Home Assistant Integration
2. Full Reference Config
3. Request error http 400 on /api/frigate call

---

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[NickM-27]

the API URL is used in automations or other things, it is not something that you configure

[kingcode94]

So i've added both instances but I get the error:

Camera initialization failed: API error whilst subscribing to events for unknown Frigate instance frigate

The frigate instances are publishing to MQTT correctly

[hawkeye217]

That error message isn't something from Frigate itself - are you using the Advanced Camera Card in HA?

[kingcode94]

Yes I am, I have made sure it’s up to date

[hawkeye217]

You likely need to change the client id in your card configuration. See here:

dermotduffy/advanced-camera-card#1727 (comment)

If you still have issues, I'd suggest posting on the card's repo as this repo is for Frigate itself.