Hi
My advice for managing multiple versions of LabVIEW is always the same :
>>> Install only one LabVIEW version per partition if you also need to install any driver, toolkit or module. Or need other software that integrates with LabVIEW in some way. No exceptions.
I do have VMWare installed with Windows XP to be able to open ancient LabVIEW versions like 6.1 or read the old CHM help files, accepting the sluggish performance of the VM environment. I avoid using it for anything 'serious'.
To manage the span between LabVIEW 2018 and 2024 I would divide the disk into two partitions and install two copies of Windows and then install LabVIEW.
To manage multiple partitions and selecting which to boot from by default, I recommend installing EasyBCD. But you don't have to. Windows creates a simple multiboot menu itself.
There are other options too. But they require some dedication going into the art of multiboot management.
¤ You can install Windows on an external USB3 connected disk, SSD or FlashDisk. Microsoft abandoned the concept in 2020. But a program called Rufus revived the concept and now there are many tools that gives this as an opportunity. Works splendidly even with Windows 11.
¤ Some laptops ( and desktops of course ) support easy change of the disk. Sometimes using a replaceable disk craddle instead of the DVD drive.
Good luck
Redis is certainly high performance and suited to multiple, loose writers, readers and subscribers, with bindings for so many ecosystems. One of its several features, which I haven't perused, are Streams. I'd be curious too to know whether continuous cross-app data streaming could be efficiently implemented using them.