Win11 vs. Win10 LTSC for NAS

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Which Windows O/S for a NAS: Win11 on unsupported hardware or Win10 LTSC?

Purchased a used Lenovo Thinkserver TS150 to use as a NAS. I was able to install Win11 using Rufus and it works just fine. Concerned/Worried that Microsoft will close loopholes.

I want a NAS to back up everything. I am hesitant to use something like TrueNAS because I am so familiar with Windows.

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I’d be inclined to use LTSC in your case. If it’s a NAS, you won’t be using it for day-to-day stuff and would want stability. Or you could even use Windows Server 2019 or 2022 if you have the licences for it.

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SFA Expert wrote:

I want a NAS to back up everything. I am hesitant to use something like TrueNAS because I am so familiar with Windows.

I’m using Windows 11 Pro for my NAS, just recently upgraded to Windows 11 23H2 without issue.  It is unsupported hardware, circa 2013.  I found a TPM 1.2 chip to plug into the socket on the motherboard and used Microsoft’s hack to upgrade to Windows 11 Pro from Windows 10 Pro.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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The nice thing about a self contained NAS OS (like TrueNAS) is it runs out of the box and you can get on with storing files instead of configuring Windows. And there is plenty of support.

cheers, Paul

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Paul T wrote:

The nice thing about a self contained NAS OS (like TrueNAS) is it runs out of the box and you can get on with storing files instead of configuring Windows.

My DIY NAS has an Intel motherboard with NAS support on the board for RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10 (most Intel-based boards have this feature).  The configuring is done, once, in BIOS/UEFI for the array.  There is no configuring required in Windows other than Sharing the RAID array, which Windows sees as a single drive.  Piece of cake, particularly if Windows is one’s OS of choice already.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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I think I will use TrueNas: so many unknowns with Win11 on unsupported hardware or Win10 LTSC: just getting a license is a pain in the rear.

Thanks for commenting.

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next year in late 2024, Win11 will have an LTSC edition of their own

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