As Windows 10 approaches EOL, I am weighing upgrading to 11. Of course, I could go a different way and return my media server to Linux. Does plex really run better in Linux, or is that just homelab enthusiasts’ preference of OS?
It’s more what your comfortable with. Linux has a sharp learning curve but once locked in is very stable requiring few reboots. Windows will have more friendly support as Linux users having to learn by ‘school of hard knocks’ tend to be a little short with helping others. Also Linux PLEX support tends to fall a bit behind Windows for the latest and greatest.
That said I use Linux Ubuntu and prefer it over Windows for running PLEX headless, though there can be times where resolving issues can be troublesome. Once you’ve figure out the how to describe the problem, you’ve already researched and found a solution to issue’s of other things that may never arise. I’d run a testbed on Linux if I were you first, getting to know user rights, file sharing, and how to set up the file permissions properly. As with all OS’s ‘Backup, Backup, Backup’ is the key. Quite a few issues I’ve resolved by restoring back before the problem arose.
I was a long-term user of Plex on Windows and switched over to Ubuntu w/Docker about 18 months ago. I think it runs much better on Linux. Also I never have it rebooting to apply patches, etc.
Yes, there’s a learning curve but once you get past that it just seems a lot more solid.
I run many operating systems and I am by no means a Windows hater. In fact, I am a Windows enjoyer.
I still run Plex under Linux.
(If you just like computers in general, there is a good chance you would find leaning enough Linux to get Plex going to be pretty fun.)
1 Like
Agreed. It did help that I had a new tiny PC server available to setup under Linux (while keeping my old server running until I had stuff figured out).
I still use my old Windows 10 server for various stuff that I’m more comfortable with (also work on Win 11 daily for work).
As @AllenDK said, it’s really more about what you’re comfortable with. If you want to invest the time in learning a whole new ecosystem, go with Linux. If you’re going to use Windows, just make sure you go use Windows Pro. True, unlike most Linux OS updates, to apply Windows feature updates you generally have to reboot, but with Pro, you do it on your own schedule.
Honestly, in the 5ish years I’ve been running Plex/Blue Iris on my mini PC, I haven’t had any stability issues or forced reboots caused by Windows, or even Plex (I don’t let Plex auto update, either).
There are both Windows haters and Linux deniers in these forums… Ignore them.. Use what you want.
Personally, if you’re curious, I’d recommend getting a cheap used mini PC and try setting up a secondary Plex server on Linux. See if that’s a rabbit hole you’ll actually enjoy or not.
This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.
