If you're a part of the home lab community, you may have noticed that a majority of the OS designed for server tasks have Linux roots. Considering the more secure nature, massive development-oriented packages, and huge community support for Linux, it's no wonder that Windows isn't the platform of choice for most DIY lovers and home server enthusiasts.
While I'm inclined to agree with the general sentiment that Proxmox, XCP-ng, and other Linux-based platforms are better for hardcore tinkering, I must admit that Windows 11 has a couple of noteworthy features that make it surprisingly decent for your experimentation server.
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4 Beginner-friendly GUI environment
With RDP built into it for your remote desktop needs
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Virtualization platforms typically ship with a dedicated web UI, where you can deploy virtual guests, tinker with different settings, create backups, and perform other server-side operations. While platforms like Proxmox and Harvester offer relatively simple interfaces, you might have some trouble getting accustomed to them if you're a complete beginner.
A full-fledged desktop OS like Windows 11 is a better option if you're in the early days of your DIY journey, as you can build all your projects inside a familiar GUI. Better yet, Windows 11 Pro supports Remote Desktop Protocol, which works incredibly well when you want to access the server from other devices over your home network.
3 Higher RAM limit and support for dual-CPU setups
At least, compared to Windows 11 Home
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There are plenty of ways to turn your Windows 11 machine into a home server behemoth, though you're bound to hit the RAM ceiling on the Home version of the OS once you start working on complex projects. Likewise, Windows 11 Home can only support a single CPU, which is a major bottleneck if you're planning to build your home lab on Microsoft's flagship OS.
Thankfully, Windows 11 Pro gets rid of these bottlenecks. Since it supports more than 128GB RAM, Windows 11 Pro edition is better than its home counterpart for multi-VM workloads that hog up memory like there's no tomorrow. Plus, you don't have to worry about your extra CPU going to waste either, as the OS works well in dual-processor setups.
2 Built-in Hyper-V toolkit
Perfect when you want to run Windows 11 VMs
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Capable of delivering top-notch performance in home lab workloads, Hyper-V is a rock-solid hypervisor that can hold its own against KVM and Xen. If you're pursuing a career path in the sysadmin and DevOps fields, you'd want to build your Hyper-V muscles as it's one of the most popular Type-1 hypervisors in the tech industry. For tinkerers whose experiments involve mostly Windows 11 virtual machines, Hyper-V provides a significantly better experience than its rivals.
It's true that you won't be able to access the more advanced virtualization features of Hyper-V without paying the exorbitant premium charged by Windows Server 2025. However, the Hyper-V tools bundled with Windows 11 Pro are more than enough for Windows-powered home labs and DevOps learners.
1 All-in-one workstation
That's as useful for server projects as it is for gaming and everyday tasks
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Besides the beginner-friendly nature of Windows 11 Pro, a home lab powered by Microsoft's flagship can also double as a solid everyday machine. If you're a fan of hosting private game servers, setting them up on a native Windows 11 Pro system can help you avoid compatibility issues with Wine, especially if you're using an excessive number of mods.
Unless you're willing to deal with the madness called PCI passthrough, you can easily game, edit videos, and work on other GPU-intensive tasks on your Windows 11 Pro server - all while hosting your favorite services and running experimental virtual machines.
Linux-based virtualization platforms have their own perks, though
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Although I've highlighted some perks of using a Windows 11-powered server, this article would be incomplete if I didn't mention the drawbacks of the OS. Unlike Linux, Windows machines are far from secure. Compared to your average home lab distro, Windows 11 also has huge performance overhead, making it less desirable for low-end workstations.
Personally, I consider Windows 11 Pro the perfect entry point for the home lab ecosystem. Once you're comfortable hosting containers, modifying config files, and deploying virtual machines, you can switch over to a Linux-based home server OS and use it to bring your cool projects to life!
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