# Episode 1

## **What we cover in this post**

In this first episode, we talk about:

1. **The relationship between CUBE OS, eWeLink Cloud, and iHost + how remote access works**
2. **How old devices (wifi & zigbee) can get a second life with CUBE OS**
3. **What hardware you can use to run CUBE OS (Raspberry Pi, NAS, Virtual Machines, etc.)**

***

### Q1: Does CUBE OS replace the official eWeLink Cloud? <a href="#p-240413-q1-does-cube-os-replace-the-official-ewelink-cloud-2" id="p-240413-q1-does-cube-os-replace-the-official-ewelink-cloud-2"></a>

**User asked:**

* Does this replace the official eWeLink server?
* How do devices connect to the self-hosted server instead of the official server?
* How does CUBE OS coexist with eWeLink Cloud?
* What is the difference between CUBE and iHost?

**Answer:**\
CUBE OS is **not a replacement**, but an **extra choice**.

* **Work with cloud or not, up to you**: You can still use eWeLink Cloud as usual, and at the same time run CUBE OS locally, or go fully local by setting up CUBE OS. This gives you a smoother and more private control experience. Many WiFi devices can be managed directly in CUBE OS, so they are no longer affected by internet connection issues.
* **Remote access**: CUBE OS has a **built-in secure remote access mechanism**. You can turn it on when needed, and the system will generate a **private access link** for you. With this link, you can safely reach your CUBE OS from anywhere. Of course, you can also use the Tailscale Addon to enable remote access.
* **Difference from iHost**: iHost is a hardware device that already includes CUBE OS. But CUBE OS itself can also run on Raspberry Pi, NAS, or even in a virtual machine. That means you don’t need to buy extra dedicated hardware.

***

### Q2: What about old eWeLink and SONOFF devices? <a href="#p-240413-q2-what-about-old-ewelink-and-sonoff-devices-3" id="p-240413-q2-what-about-old-ewelink-and-sonoff-devices-3"></a>

**User asked:**

* How about old eWeLink devices and SONOFF?

**Answer:**\
This is one of the highlights of CUBE OS.

* Many **older WiFi devices** can get a second life. Thanks to the built-in **Matter Bridge**, they can now work with **Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings**.
* This new Matter Bridge connection does **not rely on cloud-to-cloud linking** anymore, and it is completely **free**.
* For **Zigbee devices**, you can connect them to CUBE OS using a suitable Zigbee dongle.
* With **ZigBee2CUBE**, many popular Zigbee devices from other brands can also be added into your CUBE OS system.
* SONOFF is also launching **new dongles based on Silicon Labs MG24 chips**, which will support **Thread devices**. Please check [SONOFF official website](https://sonoff.tech/58) for more.

***

### Q3: What hardware can I use to run CUBE OS? <a href="#p-240413-q3-what-hardware-can-i-use-to-run-cube-os-4" id="p-240413-q3-what-hardware-can-i-use-to-run-cube-os-4"></a>

**User asked:**

* Synology?
* What Pi is recommended?
* Can CUBE OS run on Raspberry Pi 3B?
* Does it have an Android app?
* What Zigbee/Matter receiver is used?

**Answer:**

* **Where to run**: CUBE OS can run on Raspberry Pi, Synology NAS, Ugreen NAS, and also on **virtual machines** such as VirtualBox or VMware.
* **Recommended Pi model**: We recommend Raspberry Pi 4B (2GB/4GB RAM). We have **not tested** Raspberry Pi 3B.
* **How to control**: CUBE OS has a **built-in Web Portal**. You can open it in your browser at `cube.local` or your device IP. For remote access, use the private link generated by the system.\
  CUBE also has the **CAST Dashboard** – a clean interface for daily control, with controls and settings separated to avoid mistakes.
* **Zigbee & Matter support**: SONOFF already offers several Zigbee dongles. They can act as Zigbee/Matter receivers, and more options are coming.
* **For Synology users**: We have prepared a step-by-step **guide for Synology installation**, available in our documentation.

***

## **In summary** <a href="#p-240413-in-summary-5" id="p-240413-in-summary-5"></a>

CUBE OS is not about replacing, but about giving you **more choice**:

* Run it locally and enjoy full privacy and control
* Bring old devices back to life with Matter support for major platforms
* Deploy flexibly on Raspberry Pi, NAS, or virtual machines - no extra hardware needed
* Expand your system with more Zigbee and future Thread devices

This is only the first episode of **“You Ask, We Answer”**. We will keep collecting your questions and share more answers every two weeks. Stay tuned!