3CX Installation: Windows Server or Windows 10 Pro?

[Mina]

Hello!

What is the difference: When installing 3CX on Windows Server 2019 or Windows 10 Pro?
Any problems with that if 3CX system is installed in Windows 10 Pro/Enterprise machine?

For example, if i install 3cx system on windows 10 pro (virtual machine), does it have some kind of "network limitations" or what?
Difficult to handle with Webmeeting and ~30 incoming calls same time - no resource etc..

thanks!

 

[Saqqara]

I would say the limitation is hardware spec and not the operating system.

Looks at the hardware specs for 3CX based on extensions - https://www.3cx.com/docs/recommended-hardware-specifications-for-3cx/

Where are you thinking of hosting the 3cx server - internally or cloud based.

Have you thought about using 3cx on debian - less resources required than MS operating systems

Webmeeting is hosted by 3cx and not on your 3cx server

 

[Mina]

Hosting 3CX server - internally.

No, we want to use MS operating systems

So, am i clear: Limitation is only hardware spec and not the operating system?
And Windows 10 Pro/Enterprise could handle perfectly with 3CX System hosting..?

 

[ChrisC_3CX]

First off, as @Saqqara said, technically speaking if your 3CX instance is compliant with our hardware requirements you should not face any sort of performance issues with the said instance. When it comes to Windows OS requirements, using any of the following is all that's required to keep your 3CX instance a supported deployment:
• Windows 10 (Pro, Enterprise)
• Windows Server 2016 (Standard, Datacenter)
• Windows Server 2019 (Standard, Datacenter)

Now, in regards to differences between these OS versions I can't say that we have detected something specific that would, by itself, improve or hinder the 3CX PBXs performance hence nothing on this is mentioned in our system requirements-related-documentation. I'm sure more knowledgeable community members here will correct me if I'm wrong but I think you should decide what OS to use based on your hardware as it would make sense that Windows Server OS versions have probably been designed to take full advantage of server grade hardware as opposed to an OS such as Windows 10 which is more of a "home PC" OS.

In any case, if you're looking for the nitty gritty you might want to consider reviewing Microsoft's documentation.

 

[CentrexJ]

How many extensions and how many simultaneous calls are you going to run on this pbx? On the rare cases we use windows these days to host PBX's we generally use windows 10 pro for 4 and 8sc and Windows 2019 server for anything higher. That said it doesn't mean that 16SC+ won't work on windows 10 just larger customer run their applications on windows server.

 

[SteveITS]

For example, if i install 3cx system on windows 10 pro (virtual machine), does it have some kind of "network limitations" or what?

Win10 and 11 Pro have a license limit of 20 connected devices.

 

[leejor]

If it comes down to a decision between Windows 10 Pro, or Windows 10 Enterprise, keep in mind that with Enterprise, you, not Microsoft, have control of any updates/reboots.

 

[SteveITS]

windows 10 pro (virtual machine)

I missed the VM comment...Win 10 requires special licensing to run in a VM.
https://download.microsoft.com/down...g_Windows_Desktop_OS_for_Virtual_Machines.pdf

If you're looking at a VM I would strongly consider Debian. As a plus 3CX will upgrade the OS, at least they did from 9 to 10. [not applicable to Raspberry Pi]

 

[Mina]

Win10 and 11 Pro have a license limit of 20 connected devices.

Thanks all for replying!

So, few questions again:

1. What does exactly limit of 20 connected devices mean. If we have 25 PCs, every PC has 3CX program installed, then 5 of them cant use 3cx due limitation?

2. In near future: WebMeeting on Your Local Network or Cloud
-Webmeeting: If it is on your local network, then ..20 connected device limitation will be problem?
-In cloud = That will be not problem? all network connection goes through cloud?

 

[SteveITS]

I don't know how/if Windows Pro limits TCP connections but my past experience years ago with Windows file sharing is that once one gets to the 19th PC mapping a drive, connection problems start to appear (it's technical but IIRC Windows makes two connections when mapping a drive then drops one, or something like that...been a decade or so). It is however a license limit.