Would you automatically update your Windows 10 that's used as a file server?

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turtleattacks

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#312417 15-Apr-2024 10:48

Hi guys,

I have a Windows 10 unit that's being used solely as a file server.

It has no monitor or input attached to it and I only remote desktop in occasionally.

For this machine, would you set the machine to automatically download and install Windows updates? Or would you just go into the machine once every quarter or so to install updates.

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#3218525 15-Apr-2024 10:59

well you've only got 18 months left of updates for windows 10.

I'd configure security updates automaitcally update.

But personally, I wouldnt use a windows 10 machine as a file server, its not designed for that and theres much better alternatives, but thats not was asked, so security updates auto, new features, no.

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turtleattacks

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#3218527 15-Apr-2024 11:01

reven:

well you've only got 18 months left of updates for windows 10.

I'd configure security updates automaitcally update.

But personally, I wouldnt use a windows 10 machine as a file server, its not designed for that and theres much better alternatives, but thats not was asked, so security updates auto, new features, no.

Would love to know your suggestions of alternatives?

Chills

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#3218528 15-Apr-2024 11:03

You could use Chris Titus Techs windows tool to not allow normal windows updates for 3 months at a time (to combat zero day exploits), and you can allow Security updates to go through normally but best point is made above.

nzkc

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#3218529 15-Apr-2024 11:04

turtleattacks:

Would love to know your suggestions of alternatives?

Personally I'd probably do it through Linux (and Samba) so I had the flexibility to do some other things (docker containers etc). But if its only going to do file server work then things like Open Media Vault, TrueNAS, Next Cloud (which is way more than a file server)

reven

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#3218530 15-Apr-2024 11:04

Didnt want to be that guy and say "dont use that!" and then not answer your question :)

My personal preference is unRAID for a file server, its paid, but its very easy to use and very easy to expand as your needs change. but there also truenas and openmediavault

turtleattacks

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#3218531 15-Apr-2024 11:05

nzkc:

turtleattacks:

Would love to know your suggestions of alternatives?

Personally I'd probably do it through Linux (and Samba) so I had the flexibility to do some other things (docker containers etc). But if its only going to do file server work then things like Open Media Vault, TrueNAS, Next Cloud (which is way more than a file server)

What would the advantages be? File transfer speed? Power usage? Security?

reven

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#3218534 15-Apr-2024 11:12

unRAID pros

designed to be a file server
if a drive fails, you have parity so can restore lost data
can be configured via a web interface and not need direct access to machine
can expand storage as needed and mix and match drives, so 4x4tb, 2x2tb. The parity drive just has to be the biggest drive in the system, so if you did 1x16tb, 2x8tb, the parity drive is the 16tb and the other 8tb on that drive arent used, so you would have to get 2x16tb so one is parity then the other one you have the full 16tb, so 2x16tb + 2x8tb would give you about 32tb of storage
can run applications using docker containers, which can be installed/configured through a "Community apps store"
all files are stored fully on one drive, so in the worst case scenario you lose parity drive and another drive, you still can read the files off the remaining drives by plugging them into another computer. other raid solutionst he file are split and this isnt possible
can add smb/nfs shares easily

cons

linux, does scare some users away, but very easy to setup, lots of guides/tutorial on it if needed
its not free, but its totally worth the price, and has a free tier/trial period
not as fast as proper raid solution as the file is read all from one drive, but you can use a cache drive for recent files etc. writing to unRAID can write to a cache nvme drive so writes can be fast.

Lias

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#3218541 15-Apr-2024 12:19

Regardless of what OS you are running, not patching regularly is not a wise decision.

To your other question, the obvious answer for a windows based file server is , well, Windows Server, but that's not a practical option for many people. TrueNAS and Unraid are both popular alternatives in the the home user space.

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gehenna

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#3218542 15-Apr-2024 12:20

Unraid would be my pick, or even just a USB bootable Linux of some kind with some manual file shares. Doesn't need Windows at all, and I wouldn't call Windows Server an obvious pick for Windows file sharing, at least in a home context, unless you want a homelab specifically to tinker with that stuff. If it has to be Windows then the current implementation is a more obvious pick IMO, since it's already there and works fine. You just have to figure out your patching schedule.

gzt

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#3218557 15-Apr-2024 12:55

turtleattacks: Hi guys, I have a Windows 10 unit that's being used solely as a file server.

Assuming this is your own, for home use, not critical, and regularly used then I'd have automatically install all updates with the reboots at some hour of the early morning. If some failure prevents operation you will know about it soon enough and can rollback or fix. Btw, windows delivers some critical updates via store only and you'll need a scheduled task to get those if I remember correctly.

Tinkerisk

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#3218865 16-Apr-2024 06:52

openmediavault

- NET: FTTH, OPNsense, 10G backbone, GWN APs, ipPBX
- SRV: 12 RU HA server cluster, 0.1 PB storage on premise
- IoT: thread, zigbee, tasmota, BidCoS, LoRa, WX suite, IR
- 3D: two 3D printers, 3D scanner, CNC router, laser cutter

coffeebaron

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#3219061 16-Apr-2024 11:58

Or get a NAS; Qnap or Synology.

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MadEngineer

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#3219068 16-Apr-2024 12:15

Don't laugh but I have this on a Windows based NVR.

The speed of Windows updates nowadays makes the outages unnoticeable.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

richms

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#3219069 16-Apr-2024 12:21

My one in the shed has automatic updates on, and twice I have had it stop responding to RDP, and when I had a look the windows was at that blue "lets set up your computer" crap where it wants to change the browser to edge, turn on telemetry and log in with a microsoft account.

Once I had gone thru that it had changed the LAN to be public when it did its updates and I had to set that back to get RDP working again.

Other occasions and update had made the network change to public but no other issues, and had to turn that back to private to get RDP and file shares and plex and stuff working again on it. Not sure what provoked that to happen when it updated.

Otherwise its taking all updates and rebooting when it feels like it.

Richard rich.ms

turtleattacks

877 posts

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#3219072 16-Apr-2024 12:28

Given that it's only going to be used as an internal file server - would it make sense just to block internet access to the W11 machine?

(upgraded to W11 from W10).

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