Compare Windows 11 Pro and Windows Server 2022 for Plex Server 24/7.
Compare Windows 11 Pro and Windows Server 2022 for Plex Server 24/7.
Setting up a Plex server with 36TB storage using an NVIDIA P5000 GPU and a 12,600K CPU. This setup will run continuously, handling its main task. Ideal for a home network. I’ll strip the software to reduce the OS size in Windows 11 Pro. Which operating system suits these needs better—Windows 11 Pro versus Windows Server 2022?
Windows 11 Pro and Windows Server 2022 both work well for setting up a Plex server. Windows Server 2022 is built for servers and can handle continuous operation better. It also includes Remote Desktop Services for remote access and offers stronger security and management tools. Windows 11 Pro is better for desktop environments and may lack some of the advanced features and management capabilities of Windows Server 2022. Your choice depends on your needs, but Server 2022 might be ideal for a dedicated, always-on Plex server.
Well, considering the cost of Windows Server, Windows 11 Pro could be a better fit—just a little tease here. Win Server 2022 is a server OS and won’t restart randomly for updates. Are there any Linux desktop options you’d like to explore?
Remote desktop setup on a 2022 server with Windows 10 or 11 Pro is manageable, especially if you're comfortable with Unifi for other services. It’s convenient to access and update systems from your friends' homes quickly. If this works well on your Plex server, it would be great to replicate that experience.
They’re not ideal for continuous 24/7 use. Both can be reduced in size, but they still handle analysis, updates, and background tasks. Running them in the background might eventually cause instability.
Sometimes Truenas or Unraid causes issues when trying to fix a remote. I use them fine, but they’re not my strongest spot for that kind of setup. I rely on Unraid and fight it for Nextcloud often. My goal is to keep things simple if he ever needs to experiment with it.
I've tested home servers with both client and server editions of Windows, and everything works well. Windows 11 may restart itself to apply updates eventually, so you might want to turn off automatic updates. Server editions won't reboot automatically. I’d recommend Server for this scenario, though the cost could be a concern. Windows can operate continuously without issues. Linux is solid too, but Windows remains a viable option. If the person prefers Windows more, it’s completely acceptable.
No issues reported with Plex or Nvidia drivers on server 2022.
The Linux remark about 24/7 seems ridiculous. I've managed nt4 Citrix servers for six months with more than 50 desktops running each day and no restarts—something I experienced 20 years ago. People used to say the same thing about Netware. Where has it gone? Nowadays, I mostly run smaller SQL servers and other tasks on Windows 10/11. Microsoft integrates everything into Server editions with Active Directory, making a Server OS less beneficial unless you require true Hyper-V support. Back then, XP was terrible for servers. Today, the differences between OSes are minimal except for services you won’t use. In fact, using Desktop Windows can be simpler when dealing with non-Microsoft software. Windows updates just annoy more on desktop systems that push more often about reboots. There are plenty of clever workarounds online to counteract that nonsense.