Synology DS423+ 4 Bay Desktop NAS Storage Server

Product Information

For more information on the most important terms to understand when discussing/researching a NAS as a Plex Media Server can be found in my video below:

While many were already aware of the potential of this NAS device just by looking at its CPU and RAM, the DS423+ brings more to the table than its predecessor. Especially in regard to NVMe support for user-usable volumes, as well as better USB speeds. The main thing for most is the fact that Synology chooses to stay on the Intel-based CPU for this class of devices, giving the option to continue using it as a media center device. However, there are also some notable cons to consider. For example, the DS423+ comes with DDR4 non-ECC SODIMM memory, which could be a disadvantage for those looking for more robust memory options. Although the DS423+ comes with a 2GB DDR4 SODIMM, it is upgradable to 6GB, which may not be enough for more intensive applications. The DS423+ is also compatible with up to four 3.5″ or 2.5″ SATA SSD/HDD drives, which can be hot-swapped for easy maintenance. Synology guarantees full functionality, reliability, and performance only for Synology-branded disks listed in the compatibility list. Users can also choose from a range of supported RAID types, including Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR), Basic, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, and RAID 10. In terms of speed, this NAS can deliver enough when it comes to network transfers with 1GbE (100MB/s) or with the use of the new SMB multichannel option up to 200MB/s between compatible platforms. Do note that multi-channel is still not supported via DSM's File Station and remote share, so to utilize it there will be a need to run it against a compatible OS like Windows, or macOS that support it. [ ID] Interval Transfer Bitrate Powered by Synology's DiskStation Manager (DSM)operating system, the DS423 comes with intuitive solutions to organize and protect data, collaborate across locations, and protect premises with video surveillance. DSM leverages the advanced Btrfs file systemto provide file self-healing, which protects against data corruption, and to create point-in-time snapshots, allowing users to reverse any unintentional or malicious changes. Syncing and hybrid storageThen there is the soon to be arriving HAT3300 Synology/Seagate NAS HDDs coming soon that will most certainly be highlighted as a recommended choice for the DS423+ NAS. These four bays also allow you to use a large range of RAID configurations (redundant array of independent disks – a system of combining multiple drives to benefit storage scale, performance and/or data redundancy/safety-net). The usual configurations are here, RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 6, but the system also supports Synology’s Hybrid RAID (SHR) which allows you to mix different HDD/SSD capacities. It’s pretty unlikely that you will mix drive media on day 1, but if you partially populate or want to upgrade your drives gradually a few years down the line, SHR is SIGNIFICANTLY easier to expand and absorb newer/larger drives into an existing RAID. That said, the performance of SHR is a pinch lower than RAID 5, so for those hoping to take advantage of the 10GbE connectivity might do well to think about their Day 1 RAID and it’s impact down the line. Tests were performed one after the other with a short break between each test, so you might see the tail end of the previous test on a CPU graph, but I have pointed at the are of the % utilization that is important as per each test. With support for a maximum 72 TB of raw storage, the DS423's size and capacity make it perfect for remote employees or small businesses looking to consolidate data onto a centralized platform and gain access to Synology's essential data management applications.

Well (and this is going to get VERY ‘inside baseball’), but those that have been following Synology these last few years will know that this is not the first time the J4125 has been used on a Synology Plus series NAS. Indeed, it has appeared several times in previous NAS systems (DS920+, DS720+, DS620slim, DVA1622 and DS1520+) love the last three years. In that time, not only has Intel moved on a couple of times to new cycles of processors (the N5105, N5095, J6415) which provide better power efficiency, PCI gen support and memory caps, but also competitor NAS brands have rolled out 1-2 more generations of hardware with configurations that capitalizes on Intel’s newer Celeron models. Now, it CAN be argued that because Synology have spent so much time and research exploring the capabilities of this processor, that they can get the most out of it for DSM. Equally, Synology has always been very clear that the jewel in their crown (and indeed the main selling point for their systems) is the DSM software and not the hardware. Then there is the fact that ‘at least it’s an Intel integrated graphics CPU, when Synology has been very ‘AMD Emb.Ryzen’ heavy of late! Finally, there is the argument that when the J4125 was featured previously, it was in their fully-featured ‘SMB’ tier – so the DS423+ in their more affordable Home/Prosumer tier is actually scaled up in having this quad-core Celeron processor. There are ALOT of different ways to look at Synology putting the Intel Celeron J4125 in the DS423+ NAS. But I think it would be fair to say that users of the DSx16+ and DS18+ generation that opted to skip the DSX20+ generation to ‘wait and see’, might be a little underwhelmed. Lets discuss the Synology DSM software and what the DS423+ can do for you and your data. Synology Chat – Aimed at businesses, Synology Chat is an IM service that transforms the way users collaborate and communicate. The Synology DS423+ NAS drive is a system that, in the short time since it was first revealed, has been quite a hotly debated little system. Over the last 12-18 months, Synology has been getting quite alot of criticism from home/prosumers who are looking for a compact NAS that finds a good balance between home multimedia support, fully featured applications and still enough power to run those small but numerous home-lab services! Now, that isn’t to say that the big name in NAS has not been churning out solutions – quite the contrary, as the last year or so has seen the largest frequency in releases from the brand that I have ever seen. Yet, despite this, there has certainly been a whiff of ‘enterprise’ and ‘bigger business’ in these solutions, with selected components changing gears towards high-end file processes and away from alot of general consumer services. The Synology DS423+ NAS is, arguably, an attempt to supply a solution to those users ‘lower down the server foodchain’, as the brand is clearly redefining it’s portfolio and tiering. The DS423+ is seemingly designed to partially/fully occupy the tier formerly occupied by the 2020 released DS920+ (an exceptionally popular NAS and one that will be referenced ALOT in this video), but at a lower launch price and a little clipping of it’s wings. So, is the DS423+ NAS a great example of Synology giving users what they want? Or something of a compromise? Let’s discuss if the Synology DS423+ NAS deserves your data! Bellevue, WA (May 17, 2023) - Synology today launched the 4-bay DiskStation DS423, its newest addition to the Value Series, designed as a multipurpose storage solution for homes and small businesses. Passive airflow is definitely a big focus on the design of this chassis, with almost every side of the case featuring ventilation of one sort of around, with the Synology logo being vented. As this system will be in operation 24×7, it is heavily reliant on the rear fans to push air effectively through the system and over the assortment of internal heatsinks as effectively as possible and this chassis does that very well indeed. The Diskstation series at the 2/4 Bay level has always done a great job of melding modern design with necessary system temperature management and the DS423+ is no exception.One of the standout features of the DS423+ is its powerful Intel® Celeron® J4125 CPU. This quad-core processor is capable of handling even the most demanding tasks with ease. Paired with 2GB of DDR4 SODIMM memory, which is expandable up to 6GB, this NAS can easily handle multitasking and running multiple applications simultaneously.