In this Server Guide:
- The "Raspberry Pi Graduation": Why you need x86
- Proxmox VE: Free, Enterprise, and Fast
- Unraid: The King of Storage & Media
- Home Assistant: Which runs it better?
- Verdict: Which OS belongs on your server?
So, you started with a Raspberry Pi running Home Assistant. It was great, until the SD card corrupted. Or maybe you want to run Plex, Frigate NVR, and a Minecraft server, and the little Pi is choking.
It is time to build a real home server. But when you fire up that old Dell Optiplex or custom PC, what OS do you install? The battle comes down to two titans: Proxmox VE and Unraid.
1. Proxmox VE (Virtual Environment)
"The Professional's Playground"
Proxmox is an open-source "Type 1 Hypervisor." It sits directly on the hardware and lets you create Virtual Machines (VMs) and LXC Containers.
The Pros
- It's Free: The community edition costs $0. Full features. No limits.
- Performance: It uses very little RAM for itself. LXC containers are lightning fast.
- Backups: The built-in backup server is incredible. You can snapshot your entire Home Assistant setup instantly.
The Cons
- Storage is Hard: Unlike Unraid, adding a new hard drive isn't simple. You usually need ZFS pools, which are rigid.
- Learning Curve: It looks like an enterprise dashboard because it is one.
The Secret Weapon: Helper Scripts
In 2025, Proxmox is easier than ever thanks to the community "Proxmox Helper Scripts". You copy-paste one line of code into the shell, and it automatically installs Home Assistant, Plex, or Pi-Hole for you.
2. Unraid
"The Media Center King"
Unraid is an OS that boots from a USB stick. It is famous for its unique ability to mix and match hard drives of different sizes into one massive storage pool.
The Pros
- The Array: Add a 4TB drive today, add an 8TB drive next month. It just works. Perfect for media hoarders.
- Community App Store: Installing Docker containers (like Plex or Radarr) feels like using the iPhone App Store. It is incredibly visual and easy.
The Cons
- The Cost: It is not free. Depending on the license tier, you pay an annual fee or a high lifetime cost.
- Write Speeds: The array is slower than Proxmox ZFS because of how it calculates parity (though Cache drives fix this).
Which is better for Home Assistant?
This is the most common question we get on "Great Meets."
| OS |
Installation Method |
Stability |
USB Pass-through (Zigbee Stick) |
| Proxmox |
HAOS VM (Virtual Machine) |
Rock Solid |
Easy (GUI mapping) |
| Unraid |
Docker or VM |
Good |
Easy (But Docker has limitations) |
Winner: Proxmox.
Running Home Assistant OS (HAOS) as a VM on Proxmox is the gold standard. It allows you to use "Add-ons" inside Home Assistant perfectly, and you can take a snapshot of the VM before every update. If an update breaks your smart home, you can roll back in 30 seconds.
Verdict: Choose Your Path
Choose Unraid if:
Your primary goal is a Media Server (Plex/Jellyfin) with lots of movies, and you want to run Home Assistant on the side. The ability to easily add hard drives makes it the best NAS OS.
Choose Proxmox if:
Your primary goal is Home Automation and Labbing. If you want the most stable Home Assistant experience, fast LXC containers, and you want to learn enterprise networking skills for free, Proxmox is the winner.
Need the Scripts?
We have curated a list of the best "Proxmox Helper Scripts" and "Unraid Community Templates" in our repository. Don't type commands manually if you don't have to!
Access Script Repository ?