Architecture Options

There are three ways to run a Lantern Power Monitor, each coming with a different set of pros and cons.

Lantern Hosted

    Pros
  • Easiest setup
  • All network connections encrypted with SSL
  • Automated nightly backups
    Cons
  • Your data leaves your home and lives on Lantern servers

    (Even though our privacy policy states that your data will never be sold to nor accessed by anyone else, some people may prefer that the data never leave their home)

    Who should use this?
  • I just want it to work
  • I don't have a background in software or IT
  • I have a background in software or IT but I don't want to spend my free time fiddling with configuring this
  • I don't have an issue with the data leaving my network so long as I own it, I can always keep it, and you won't sell it to anyone

Pi Hosted

    Pros
  • All data stays within your network
  • The available SD image for hosting on the Pi has Tomcat and MongoDB installed and pre-configured
    Cons
  • SD card write endurance is a serious concern. Depending upon environmental conditions, the loss of the SD card in the Pi would mean the loss of all your historical data.
  • You need to set up your own nightly backups
  • The default SSL certificate is self-signed. Getting a signed cert would require the purchase of your own domain and SSL certificate. SSL configuration is non-trivial.
  • Accessing your data from outside your home will require port forwarding
  • Connecting secondary hubs (if you are tracking more than 15 breakers) will require extra manual configuration
    Who should use this?
  • I don't want the data to leave my network
  • I don't trust your privacy policy
  • I'm ok with the possibility of an SD card failure
  • I want to use the Pi Hosted SD image as a starting point so I don't have to configure Tomcat myself

Self Hosted

    Pros
  • All data stays within your network
    Cons
  • You need to set up your own nightly backups
  • Configuring Tomcat and MongoDB is non-trivial
  • Getting a signed SSL cert requires the purchase of your own domain and SSL certificate. SSL configuration is non-trivial.
  • Accessing your data from outside your home will require port forwarding
    Who should use this?
  • I don't want the data to leave my network
  • I don't trust your privacy policy
  • I love fiddling with software and I'm willing to neglect my friends and family to do so