openHAB is an alternative to Home Assistant, and somewhat easier to configure. Where Home Assistant is Python/Yaml based, openHAB is Java.
Both systems has great capabilities, and differs a lot in the approach, but I do prefer openHAB and the UI is better and the UI configuration great.
Java install on Ubuntu
Do not install Java 10 or 11, currently only java 8 is supported (do review here)
sudo apt install openjdk-8-jdk java -version openjdk version "1.8.0_191" OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_191-8u191-b12-0ubuntu0.18.04.1-b12) OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.191-b12, mixed mode)
With Java 10 accidently installed, i experienced that all things suddenly was "uninitiallized".
Installing openHAB
Very simple, just follow https://www.openhab.org/docs/installation/linux.html#package-repository-installation
Backup
The easiest way is the make a cron job for backup, information on backup and restore are at https://www.openhab.org/docs/installation/linux.html#backup-and-restore
sudo vi /etc/crontab 0 22 * * * /usr/share/openhab2/runtime/bin/backup
If You run the backup job manually one time, the location of the backup file(s) are shown:
root@homeassist:/usr/share/openhab2/runtime/bin# ./backup
#########################################
openHAB 2.x.x backup script
#########################################
Using '/etc/openhab2' as conf folder...
Using '/var/lib/openhab2' as userdata folder...
Using '/usr/share/openhab2/runtime' as runtime folder...
Using '/var/lib/openhab2/backups' as backup folder...
Writing to '/var/lib/openhab2/backups/openhab2-backup-18_12_22-11_44_32.zip'...
Making Temporary Directory if it is not already there
Using /tmp/openhab2/backup as TempDir
Copying configuration to temporary folder...
Removing unnecessary files...
Backup Directory is inside userdata, not including in this backup!
Zipping folder...
Removing temporary files...
Success! Backup made in /var/lib/openhab2/backups/openhab2-backup-18_12_22-11_44_32.zip
root@homeassist:/usr/share/openhab2/runtime/bin#
Security
Notice that OpenHab has no security, and You need to install it in front of openHab. Do read Securing Communication and access to openHAB
Link for setting username password: Ngix and Apache
Camera Binding
I use https://github.com/Skinah/IpCamera for my HIKVisions, but only with images currently. It works okay.