The Operating Systems I Actually Use in My Home Lab in 2026 (And Why)

In this video, I break down the operating systems I actually use in my home lab in 2026 and why each one plays a critical role. From Talos Linux for Kubernetes and NixOS for declarative infrastructure, to Ubuntu Server, Alpine Linux, and Windows Server, I show how these OS choices make my lab more stable, reproducible, and easier to manage. If you're building or upgrading your home lab, choosing the right operating system for each workload can make all the difference. Written blog post: https://www.virtualizationhowto.com/2... Home Lab mini PC I recommend: https://geni.us/zs83Eif (affiliate link) Check out the VHT forums to get your questions answered: https://www.virtualizationhowto.com/c... ★ Skool Community https://www.skool.com/homelabexplorer... ★ Substack URL: bleevht.substack.com ★ Subscribe to the channel:    / @virtualizationhowto   ★ My blog: https://www.virtualizationhowto.com ★ Twitter:   / vspinmaster   ★ LinkedIn:   / brandon-lee-vht   ★ Github: https://github.com/brandonleegit ★ Facebook:   / 100092747277326   ★ Discord:   / discord   ★ Pinterest:   / brandonleevht   Chapters: 00:00 Why Operating Systems Matter in a Home Lab 00:51 Rebuilding My Home Lab in 2026 01:23 Talos Linux for Kubernetes 03:44 NixOS for Declarative Infrastructure 05:46 Ubuntu Server 24.04 (My Go-To OS) 07:29 Alpine Linux for Lightweight Workloads 09:00 Windows Server in the Home Lab 10:06 How I Use These Operating Systems Together 10:59 My Shift to Declarative and Reproducible Systems 11:14 Choosing the Right OS for Your Home Lab 11:52 Final Thoughts and Questions