Beelink N100 as Server. Windows or Ubuntu Server best?

Channels DVR Server
#1

I've just received my Beelink N100 that is going to replace my Raspberry Pi 4 as my DVR Server.

I'm not a Windows fan and have replaced Windows with Linux Mint for my desktop PC, so my instinct is to install Ubuntu Server on the N100. I already have a USB stick prepared with the ISO image for Ubuntu Server 24.04 ready to install.

But, the N100 does comes pre-installed with Windows 11, so just before I bite bullet on replacing it with Ubuntu I thought I would ask for peoples experience of running Channels Server on a similar device. Is it a no-brainer to go Ubuntu or is Windows for this purpose just as reliable? Or it there another OS people recommend?

The N100 will purely be for Channels, nothing else. I just want it to run as simply and reliably as the Raspi has but with a bit more "grunt" for comskip and possibly transcoding for remote access which I haven't needed up until now but might in the future.

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#2

Ubuntu: You control the software. Windows: The software controls you.

With Ubuntu you won't face unexpected reboots and other annoyances that arrive by updates every week or so.

The benefits you discovered by using Ubuntu as your desktop OS are more pronounced on the server version compared to Windows.

#3

Thanks. That was the exact reassurance I had hoped for.

#4

You might also consider Debian. Every Linux OS you mentioned above is based on Debian.

It's super-simple to install as a server or desktop version from the same installation media.

It works exceptionally well, which is probably why so many other distros start with it, and then add packages.

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#5

Ubuntu is always a no brainer if just for the amount of support you can find online.

Also, use the latest LTS release, not just the latest release, so you have the longest support for security updates.

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#6

I would also add that you should set up Channels DVR Server with Docker, and then you can set up lots of other services on the same computer with Docker.

Just use Docker Compose and keep a big long yaml file of all your services.

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#7

Thanks for the input everyone.

Just starting up the install with Ubuntu Server LTS 24.04

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#8

Enjoy!
Tailscale, installed via the Ubuntu repository, will give you remote access to both your DVR and Portainer (for Docker container management).

#9

Both work fine. Make a backup of the Windows install before going to Ubuntu. The Window Pro licence on your Beelink will cost you more than the computer did.

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#10

I would never pay a penny for Windows, so that's a moot point!

After a bit of a glitch (which I think was self inflicted) I've now got a shiny new N100 Ubuntu server running my Channels DVR.

I've just tested comskip on a new recording. On my Raspi 4 it used to take pretty much real time to process comskip ie a 30 min recording took 30 mins to process the comskip. On my N100 it took under 3 minutes.

#11

I saw your comment and now I am curious. I just got a new Ubuntu N95 device and set up Channels, I also have a rasp pi 3 running a Home Assistant server and was thinking about moving that to the new device and running both Channels and Home Assistant. What is the benefit of running multiple services in Docker vs just having the services running on the device normally?

#12

Because docker keeps the host clean. Running different services like that ends up a big mess.

Docker also serves as a great system manager to keeping services running at boot.

When you get to 5-6 self hosted pieces of software, you’ll be glad it’s organized with Docker.

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#13

Then why did you ask?

#14

Because the N100 came with Windows built in and if plenty of users had said it was perfect for Channels it would have been the simplest Channels install.

I couldn't see how Windows, with it's love of updates that take forever and need restarts, would be any good for an always on server, but wanted to double check before I binned it.

#15

This was the phrase that stopped me going down the docker route!

I remember yaml from when I had a play with Home Assistant and it still makes me shudder. One missing or additional space anywhere and you're screwed - what warped mind came up with that?!!

I can see the advantage of Docker and did even try it for a bit on a Raspi, but every new level of software just feels like it introduces a whole new area that I don't fully understand :frowning:

Googling and copy/pasting commands with no clue what they do is quite unnerving even when they apparantly work!

#16

Honestly, the best OS is going to be the one the user/maintainer is most comfortable with and the time investment they want to put in.

I used to have my server on Windows because that is what I was comfortable with. When I upgraded my server, I wanted to get into virtualization and moved to proxmox. Its now deployed to its own LXC and runs great.

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#17

Cool, I think I might give that a try then, thanks!

#18

In theory that’s true but in reality sometimes when TVE demands a newer version of chrome the docker image is extremely slow to adapt and push a new container with updated chrome. While this hasn’t happened recently I recall multiple threads when people were clamoring to get chrome to update with work arounds. If TVE is not used by all means run it in docker but personally I’d steer clear if you use TVE as a source.

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#19

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