Upgrading media server to Win11 - pro, cons

[xanalog]

I'm running an enterprise grade media server on win10. Server is a wildly overspec'd HP DL380 G7. So, with Win10 going away I'm considering just ignoring it and carrying on. This unit is connected to the Internet but really doesn't do anything except be a network media server and Plex server. No web browsing, no downloading, no email.

To be clear, this thing is old - pathetic graphics, no sound card, etc etc and getting it to run Win10 wasn't straightforward. I'd expect the upgrade to be worse. Still, for my purposes it's just fine. So, is there really any reason to upgrade? Please, let's stay away from how this thing make no sense anyway It doesn't, I just like it. Thanks for any comments and cheers,

Hope I am not too late to recommend that you do an "image" (backup) of your current (win10) operating system's drive, before anything else.
In case things don't go smoothly, although Win11 now has capability to roll back the upgrade to Win10; if it detects the procedure did not go smoothly.
Since XP days, I have never done a 'clean install' of latter Windows releases but I trust my 'Acronis TrueImage' to get me out of unsuccessful upgrades/installs even when I am confronted with what was called BSOD (now, more like GreenSOD).

Oddly enough, creating backups via Windows SystemRestore and/or Windows RecoveryEnvironment always lets me down but Acronis always brings me back to a functional OS again.

Be forewarned that your old and trusted "ControlPanel" is being slowly killed ("deprecated") by Microsoft, in efforts to migrate us to the 'Settings' applet and PowerShell.
The latest Windows11's 24H2 release is also trying to gravitate everyone away from local accounts, and during your upgrade efforts, you may have no options but to create a network log-in to instal and/or to upgrade to it. Check to see if Rufus will assist you to customize a bootable USB drive for your 24H2 upgrade.

I have unsuccessfully attempted to upgrade from Windows11Pro 23H2 four times. Three of my attempts ended up w/disasterous results but saved by Acronis TrueImage. The fourth attempt (last week) was also unsuccessful but Windows was able to recover back to 23H2 on its own.
There is one important step before you can upgrade though, since you first have to run "PC Health Check App" to confirm your old hardware is conducive for 24H2 install.

Do yourself a favor and familiarize yourself with many of the intracies that may be particular to the current setup of your Windows10 before starting the install procedures.
I would highly recommend to upgrade to the Windows11 "Pro" version if robust networking is one of your primary reasons for the upgrade.

 

[klettermann]

Hope I am not too late to recommend that you do an "image" (backup) of your current (win10) operating system's drive, before anything else.
In case things don't go smoothly, although Win11 now has capability to roll back the upgrade to Win10; if it detects the procedure did not go smoothly.
Since XP days, I have never done a 'clean install' of latter Windows releases but I trust my 'Acronis TrueImage' to get me out of unsuccessful upgrades/installs even when I am confronted with what was called BSOD (now, more like GreenSOD).

Oddly enough, creating backups via Windows SystemRestore and/or Windows RecoveryEnvironment always lets me down but Acronis always brings me back to a functional OS again.

Be forewarned that your old and trusted "ControlPanel" is being slowly killed ("deprecated") by Microsoft, in efforts to migrate us to the 'Settings' applet and PowerShell.
The latest Windows11's 24H2 release is also trying to gravitate everyone away from local accounts, and during your upgrade efforts, you may have no options but to create a network log-in to instal and/or to upgrade to it. Check to see if Rufus will assist you to customize a bootable USB drive for your 24H2 upgrade.

I have unsuccessfully attempted to upgrade from Windows11Pro 23H2 four times. Three of my attempts ended up w/disasterous results but saved by Acronis TrueImage. The fourth attempt (last week) was also unsuccessful but Windows was able to recover back to 23H2 on its own.
There is one important step before you can upgrade though, since you first have to run "PC Health Check App" to confirm your old hardware is conducive for 24H2 install.

Do yourself a favor and familiarize yourself with many of the intracies that may be particular to the current setup of your Windows10 before starting the install procedures.
I would highly recommend to upgrade to the Windows11 "Pro" version if robust networking is one of your primary reasons for the upgrade.

Thanks for the comments, which I hope others follow as well. I've been surprised how often I've been chided by people falsely assuming that I thought RAID 10 was a substitute for a real backup. I regularly do backups and use Acronis to do it. After running this thing for years I've never had to do a full restore, though I do end up swapping in a new HD every year or 2. But to be clear, I have no intention of upgrading to Win11. Functionally I have no reason to do so and my unit supposedly doesn't support it anyway (though it seems that MS is becoming less strict about that?). My concern was that MS would force it somehow. And I want to avoid all of MS's "deprications," AI rubbish and cloud-everything. I'd be more likely to revert back to Server2012. Not entirely sure what you mean by robust networking. in my context. As far as the network goes, it's just bunch of shared drives feeding media to several TVs and audio systems. Cheers,

 

[xanalog]

[1] I regularly do backups and use Acronis to do it...
[2] I do end up swapping in a new HD every year or 2...
[3] But to be clear, I have no intention of upgrading to Win11...
[4] Functionally I have no reason to do so ...
[5] I'd be more likely to revert back to Server2012...
[6] Not entirely sure what you mean by robust networking. in my context. As far as the network goes, it's just bunch of shared drives feeding media to several TVs and audio systems.
Cheers,

Disclaimer: If your reasons for resistance to upgrading (your hardware/software complement) is partly financial; please, ignore the following.
[1] Hope they are not incremental AcronisTIB images (try offline and full AcronisTIB imaging via boot from CD).
[2] If you are running HDDs; WinOS' built-in S.M.A.R.T. feature, can tell you the 'health' of your HDDs but you also make TIB images of your other co-located drives << let them keep going. You may be shocked (and happy) discovering how much faster the SSDs (*and NVmE drives) have become. BTW: Old motherboards don't live forever!
[3] Why not?
[4] You may find more functionality and compatibility (hw/sw), with an up-to-date OS (I will not try to talk you into *NIX), in addition to better connectivity and security.
[5] imo: for shame!
[6] 'Robust', in a sense that you may discover you can interconnect many security cameras, NAS, HTPCs, printers, SIPs, mobile devices, networked audio devices, DVRs, entertainment, streaming and game devices all together and make a secure/private (i.e., robust) network that is your own oyster.

 

[Hipocrates]

My concern was that MS would force it somehow

nah, what it will happen is that security upgrades will cease. But in your application... a semi-isolated file server will be fine, just be sure that you close all the ports that you won't use.

If at some point if your server becomes an issue, you can explore more modern hardware solutions, no reason to play with W11 its telemetry and nonsense on a non-supported device that is doing what you need.

Yes one can make a lot of IoT and automation on these day and age, if that is what you want , but that can be added and build in parallel, so don't worry too much, keep enjoying your setup, just remember to set up you firewall accordingly.

BTW, 2012 server Extended Security Updates are available until October 13, 2026. Just in case

 

[klettermann]

Disclaimer: If your reasons for resistance to upgrading (your hardware/software complement) is partly financial; please, ignore the following.

Not financial apart from my reluctance to buying stuff that I don't see much need for or benefit. Tha said......

[1] Hope they are not incremental AcronisTIB images (try offline and full AcronisTIB imaging via boot from CD).

I only do full, image BUs.

[2] If you are running HDDs; WinOS' built-in S.M.A.R.T. feature, can tell you the 'health' of your HDDs but you also make TIB images of your other co-located drives << let them keep going. You may be shocked (and happy) discovering how much faster the SSDs (*and NVmE drives) have become. BTW: Old motherboards don't live forever!

The RAID card does that, more or less, and warns of predicted failures. As for SDDs, I see no benefit to the speed. As it is, this thing will concurrently stream 2 4k movies with no problem. And 10Tb would be pretty expensive.

[3] Why not?

This was the basis of the whole post. Here it is again:

To be clear, this thing is old - pathetic graphics, no sound card, etc etc and getting it to run Win10 wasn't straightforward. I'd expect the upgrade to be worse. Still, for my purposes it's just fine. So, is there really any reason to upgrade? Please, let's stay away from how this thing make no sense anyway It doesn't, I just like it.

Most of the respondents to this question said "NO" given my usage case.

[4] You may find more functionality and compatibility (hw/sw), with an up-to-date OS (I will not try to talk you into *NIX), in addition to better connectivity and security.

Again, I DON'T NEED ANY OF THAT STUFF.

[5] imo: for shame!

At least I'd get NIC teaming back.

[6] 'Robust', in a sense that you may discover you can interconnect many security cameras, NAS, HTPCs, printers, SIPs, mobile devices, networked audio devices, DVRs, entertainment, streaming and game devices all together and make a secure/private (i.e., robust) network that is your own oyster.

And yet again, I don't need any of that stuff. Cheers,

 

[klettermann]

nah, what it will happen is that security upgrades will cease. But in your application... a semi-isolated file server will be fine, just be sure that you close all the ports that you won't use.

If at some point if your server becomes an issue, you can explore more modern hardware solutions, no reason to play with W11 its telemetry and nonsense on a non-supported device that is doing what you need.

Yes one can make a lot of IoT and automation on these day and age, if that is what you want , but that can be added and build in parallel, so don't worry too much, keep enjoying your setup, just remember to set up you firewall accordingly.

BTW, 2012 server Extended Security Updates are available until October 13, 2026. Just in case

Another vote for "just keep it!"

 

[klettermann]

Nice! And maybe if I had an unused basement space, I could make that, plus the requisite 4-post rack, and companion NAS work. But in an urban apartment, not so much! The cooling fans in those HP servers can really shriek when they're running at full blast. Of course, I'd have wanted to get the lights-out subsystem working too, for the smug satisfaction of not actually needing to be present to fire the things up.

Fortunately for me, unused basement space is exactly what I DO have. As you say, it's way to loud for normal domestic use. Interesting you mention the Lights-Out feature. I tried to get it going at one point but couldn't. If I recall it was a licensing issue that I couldn't resolve. So I settle for little auto turn-off script. The graphics card is pathetic, but it doesn't matter using Remote Desktop.

 

[JeffS7444]

The graphics card is pathetic, but it doesn't matter using Remote Desktop.

I can't think of any class of PC less suited to gaming

Oh by the way, if any of this is exposed to the outside world, beware of open RDC ports, because evildoers are looking for exactly that. It got so bad at my last job that we had to put those behind a VPN.